Leading up to the tournament, Florida experienced unseasonably cold conditions that kept water temperatures cooler than typical for early February. Practice reports suggested the bite was inconsistent and the fish were difficult to find. Adding another layer of challenge, Bassmaster had recently hosted National High School, College, and Bassmaster Open events on the chain in the weeks prior, increasing fishing pressure across the system. Most reports indicated the fish were in a late pre-spawn phase, staging and preparing to move, but not yet fully committing.

When lines came out and final submissions were tallied, Adam Riser of Tennessee emerged victorious with an even 100.00 inches for his best five fish. In a field stacked with both regional standouts and national-level competitors, Riser’s triple-digit performance proved to be the difference. Less than two inches separated first and second place, highlighting just how competitive the top of the leaderboard remained throughout the day.