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Keith Fels Wins 2014 Rayovac FLW Series Southeast Division Event On Lake Okeechobee

by Rob Newell
FLW Press Release

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – For an entire year Keith Fels of Ocala, Fla., has had to live with the nightmare that occurred last year at the Rayovac FLW Series on Lake Okeechobee.

In that event, Fels entered the final day of the event in fifth place. Everything was going according to plan on the last day, including the 20-plus pounds that was swimming in his livewell. Then his cranking battery died. He was able to jump it off and made a fateful decision to keep the outboard running in neutral while he fished from the front deck without his kill switch attached.

Luckily, Fels day 2 bag was super heavy because
he almost let it slip away today.
(Photo: FLW)

The grievous error constituted a rules infraction that requires the kill switch to be attached to the pro anytime the motor is running. As result, Fels catch for the day was disqualified, costing him his first Rayovac Series win.

Today, Fels redeemed himself from the mistake, holding a Rayovac FLW Series trophy in his hands.

“Redemption,” sighed an exasperated Fels, who is a driver for Fed Ex in Ocala. “This helps make up for last year for sure. That’s 40 grand I can use to pay off my truck and boat.”

Fels took a healthy 12-pound lead into the final day, but his four-bass bag weighing in at only 7 pounds, 15 ounces today left the door open. Jared McMillan tried to take advantage of the opportunity to rain on Fels’ wire-to-wire parade, but Fels had built up too much of a lead overcome with his previous days’ bags of 20 pounds, 9 ounces and 26 pounds, 7 ounces, respectively. In the end, Fels held on to victory with a three-day total of 54 pounds, 15 ounces, winning by 2 pounds, 4 ounces.

And Fels might forever remember the 10-pound, 9-ounce monster he caught on day 2 – that he had to hand-line in after his line broke – which pushed him over the top.

Fels’ week centered on pitching a Gambler 1-1/4-ounce Jigzilla, trailed with a Gambler Megadaddy trailer (both black/blue), into holes in hydrilla in several feet of water. He fished the big jig on 65-pound braid with Fitzgerald’s Rods in lengths of 7-foot, 6-inches and 7-foot, 10 inches.

Fels could not confirm whether the fish were bedding in the holes saying, “the water was too dingy to see down that far.”

As to why his catch fell off so dramatically today, Fels said that the wind wreaked havoc on his boat control in the matted hydrilla.

Keith Fels Wins 2014 Rayovac FLW Series Southeast Division Event On Lake Okeechobee

More details coming...

Rayovac FLW Series Lake Okeechobee Day2: Fels Take Command

Florida pro compounds lead with 10-9 giant

    Story and Photos by Rob Newell FLW Press Release
    

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – After a rather lackluster day one of the Rayovac FLW Series event on Lake Okeechobee, anglers were certain day two was going to be better.

After all, much warmer air and intermittent sunshine drove the water temperatures up into the low 60’s. The bite did improve a tad, but overall it still was not the Okeechobee bag-buster everyone was hoping for.

One man who seems to have the Okeechobee bite wired is Keith Fels of Ocala, Fla.

The bite definitely improved for Fels today as he added 26 pounds, 7 ounces to his 20 pounds, 9 ounces from yesterday to compile a commanding lead with 47 pounds even, some 12 pounds heavier than second place.

Fels's big bass show why Florida is always a great place
for a tournament.

Fels’ limit today included the day-two big bass weighing in at 10 pounds, 9 ounces. He has been the only angler to crack the 20-pound mark each day.

“I had those by 9:30 this morning and I was done,” Fels said. “When I caught the 10-pounder, it culled my little fish and I left the area to save it for tomorrow.”

Fels did reveal he is pitching, but the way he managed to get the 10-pounder in the boat borders on miraculous.

“I made a pitch, got a bite, set the hook and missed,” he said. “I pitched right back in there, got another bite, set the hook and it was on. I fought the fish until it bogged up into a huge wad of vegetation. As I was heaving on the line pulling the wad in, my 65-pound test braid broke up in the rod. The tag end of the line laid across a mat of hydrilla. The fish was so bogged down, it didn’t move. I reached out, grabbed the tag end of line and basically hand-lined the giant wad of weeds to the boat and wrapped up inside was that 10-pounder.”

Ware second

Kent Ware of Wadmalaw Island, S.C., moved up eight spots to second place on the strength of his 19-pound catch today for a two-day total of 34 pounds, 11 ounces.

Ware was the Angler of the Year in the Southeastern Division of the Rayovac Series last season. And here’s the unique part: he did most of it with a spinning rod.

Ware uses a spinning rod most of the time, including here at Okeechobee, to punch vegetation like most do with conventional baitcasting gear.

“It’s what works for me,” Ware said. “I’m just a lot more efficient with a spinning rod. It’s faster and quieter for me and I can get away with lighter baits.”

Here at Okeechobee, Ware’s spinning rod set-up is a heavy action 7-foot G. Loomis rod spooled with 50-pound braid.

Rayovac FLW Series Lake Okeechobee Day1: Fels Leads Tight Race

TOP TEN

position/angler/hometown/weight (#of bass)

1	KEITH FELS	OCALA, FL	20-09 (5)
2	THOMAS HELTON	CHARLESTON, TN	19-08 (5)
3	JARED MCMILLAN	BELLE GLADE, FL	19-04 (5)
4	JARED DIAL	WINTER HAVEN, FL	18-08 (5)
5	VU AU	TUCSON, AZ	16-03 (5)
6	LIONEL BOTHA	OKEECHOBEE, FL	15-14 (5)
7	TRENT PARDUE	TROY, NC	15-12 (5)
8	STEVE DANIEL	CLEWISTON, FL	15-11 (5)
8	BRANDON MCMILLAN	CLEWISTON, FL	15-11 (5)
8	KENT WARE	WADMALAW ISLAND, SC	15-11 (5)

Win with X-Zone

This week we want to hear everyone's fishing New Year's resolution! 

Are you trying to learn a new technique? Trying to get out on the water more? Spend more time fishing with friends and family? We want to hear what you're trying to do different in 2014!

Just comment on this post with your resolution to be entered in this week's contest.

Deadline is 12pm Friday

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WIth a full aluminum frame, 6-bearing drive system and dual cast control systems, the Okuma Krios packs a ton of performance into a retail price that's often less than $100.

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IBASSIN Rules #5 3 Soft Stickbait Presentations You Must Know!

Starting off 2014 with a new IBASSIN Rules. This video explains 3 Soft Stickbait presentations you must know! Senkos or Stickbaits are amazing and learning how to rig a wacky, neko and texas rig with these baits will help you catch more bass.

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