TOp baits: Kissimmee Chain
The South Region paired with the National Bassmaster Kayak Series trail for the 2026 Kissimmee Chain event on February 7th, 2026. Record numbers came to the Sunshine State and battled it out in difficult conditions. The Top 3 anglers in the Florida Bass Nation Kayak Series share what brought them the most success.
1st Place - Adam Riser (100.00”)
Riser caught all of his fish sitting in one area all day, rotating between two key baits. A Nishine Simcoe 75 lipless crankbait (1/2 oz Copper Shad) produced his biggest fish, while a Z-Man ChatterBait Elite EVO (Golden Shiner) allowed him to build numbers and cull throughout the day. He worked both lures across an open area, barely lifting them off the bottom with a blade-style presentation to trigger reaction strikes.
2nd Place - Ryan Matylewicz (98.75”)
Matylewicz not only sealed second place at the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation tournament with this technique, he also won the two-day Bassmaster Kayak Series using it. He caught all of his fish on an umbrella rig paired with Rapala Crush City “The Mayor” and 3/0, 1/4 oz Berkley Fusion Swimbait Jig Heads.
Targeting the north end of Lake Toho, he focused on hard-bottom areas just outside spawning zones. The name of the game was keeping the bait in the strike zone as long as possible. Making 100-yard casts with his 7’6” Heavy Shimano Expride and an 8.5:1 gear ratio reel allowed him to keep the bait in the proper water column. With a little rest and recovery, he was able to repeat the pattern again on day two.
3rd Place - Christopher Blanco (90.75”)
Blanco caught all of his fish on a single lure—a Booyah Hard Knocker lipless crankbait. He focused on grass flats where the vegetation was rising one to two feet off the bottom, using the bait to cover water quickly and efficiently as the fish were scattered across the area. In a heavily pressured lake, triggering reaction strikes with that fast-moving presentation was the key to getting them to commit. As pressure continues into day two, switching to a wacky rig 5’’ Gary Yamamoto Senko in Plum color. Slowing down with a finesse presentation got the bites to secure a limit.
Big Bass - garin butler (24.75’’)
Big fish love thick grass mats, and that’s exactly what Butler was targeting. This time of year, finding a healthy hyacinth mat is almost a guarantee for a bite. Butler located one sitting over 2.5 to 3 feet of water and picked up his 7’2” Heavy Fast action Ark Catalyzer paired with an 8.1:1 Shimano Curado 70XG.
The bait choice was more instinct than anything—a chance to try something new. He went with a Rapala Crush City Clean-Up Craw in the Red Craw color, rigged with a 3/4-ounce tungsten weight, a 4/0 Mustad Alpha Point flipping hook, and 60-pound braid.
CHRIS MITCHELL
Written by:
01/12/2026