{"id":9798,"date":"2025-02-05T19:11:19","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T01:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanbassanglers.com\/news\/?p=9798"},"modified":"2025-02-05T19:17:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T01:17:27","slug":"fisher-wins-top-150-solo-season-opener-on-lake-okeechobee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanbassanglers.com\/news\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/fisher-wins-top-150-solo-season-opener-on-lake-okeechobee\/","title":{"rendered":"Fisher Wins Okeechobee Top 150 Opener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ATHENS, Ala.<\/strong> \u2013 Patrick Fisher claimed victory at the 2025 American Bass Anglers Top 150 Solo, presented by Caymas Boats, during the Florida Division 3 season opener, held January 31 and February 1, 2025, on Lake Okeechobee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competing out of Roland Martin Marina in Clewiston, FL, the Colbert, GA, angler caught a two-day total of ten bass weighing 36.25 pounds. For his win in the Pro Division, Fisher earned a $9,000 payout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI shared a little area with Greg Bartz, who had 25 pounds yesterday. I was fishing slightly shallower than him, catching buck bass. I only had 12.91 pounds yesterday, but I caught 12 pounds early this morning on a weightless black magnum trick worm because it\u2019s so shallow there. Greg left about ten minutes too early, and as soon as he did, the fish started schooling. I caught three big ones in a row. That\u2019s when I realized they were bedding fish. I anchored down with my Power-Pole and stayed there all day, fishing on the west side of the lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve won. I\u2019ve actually been focusing on my son\u2014he\u2019s fishing for Emmanuel College\u2014but they didn\u2019t have a great tournament. I wish I could\u2019ve put him on these fish,” Fisher said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In second place, Gary Milicevic of Labelle, FL, landed a two-day total of seven bass weighing 33.74 pounds. His performance earned him a $3,300 prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the first day, I thought I had some fish on beds, so I ran to one spot. The water wasn\u2019t too dirty, and I thought I could catch some fish there, but I couldn\u2019t. So, I made a run all the way up near King\u2019s Bar to another area where I thought fish were bedding. The water there was a little stained, and I missed one fish. I only had three bites on Day 1 and managed to put just two fish in the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I went to a spot I practiced at about a month ago, where I knew the water was clear. I started by throwing a frog early in the morning but didn\u2019t get a bite for about 20 minutes. I realized they weren\u2019t ready to eat a frog, so I switched to a Gambler Why Not and started flipping it. I caught four fish on that\u2014two around three pounds and two around four pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around 10:30 a.m., I picked up the frog again, and this time a seven-pounder crushed it. Once they started biting the frog, I put everything else down and stuck with it for the rest of the day. I caught another seven-pounder and then an eight-pounder using the Gambler frog. On my way out, I came across another patch. I threw the frog, but the fish didn\u2019t take it. I looked at the Gambler Why Not, then at a Gambler jig, and said, \u2018Well, I\u2019ve got to go big.\u2019 I flipped the jig, and sure enough, I caught a five-pounder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes going big pays off, and sometimes it doesn\u2019t,\u201d Milicevic said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harry Linsinbigler of Dover, FL, secured third place in the Pro Division. He caught a two-day total of ten bass weighing 32.33 pounds and earned $3,000 for his efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn Day 1, I went to an area that I knew should be productive. It\u2019s a community hole, and I couldn\u2019t get in there during practice because the college kids were fishing it. I didn\u2019t want to crowd them, so I just waited and found a group of fish when I finally got in. I stuck it out there for most of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I only caught one fish in a different area on Day 1. I was alternating between a worm, a Senko, and flipping a beaver-style bait all day. I worked up and down the stretch and left around 1:00 p.m. I culled one more time before leaving. I didn\u2019t catch anything over three pounds\u2014just solid fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Day 2, I was hoping the bigger fish would move into the area, and they did improve a bit. I caught a five-pounder and a four-pounder right off the rip, but I couldn\u2019t land any real giants. I needed one big fish to really move up in the standings. It was close. I didn\u2019t realize I had a shot at winning, but without that big fish, it just didn\u2019t happen,” Linsinbigler said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finishing in fourth place, Donald Tripoli of Webster, NY, caught a two-day total of ten bass weighing 29.09 pounds. Jimmy Frye of Groveland, FL, rounded out the top five boaters with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 27.76 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big bass award went to Clifton \u201cGreg\u201d Sallee of Tavares, FL, for a 9.32-pound bucketmouth. Sallee earned $1,000 for his catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI only caught one fish in two days. I was flipping buggy whips around King’s bar with a Netbait Paca Craw around 10:30AM.\u201d Sallee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winner of three Watt Cycle Lithium trolling motor batteries was Steve \u201cBoogie\u201d Brown, of Kissimmee, FL for his finish, just outside the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt feels awesome to win these batteries. I’ve been eyeing them for a while, and they\u2019re a great product. I like that they\u2019re smart batteries. It feels good\u2014really good,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the season, the top 15 anglers from each of the four divisions across the nation will advance to the 2025 Top 150 Solo Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 50<\/p>\n

\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n\n\n MemberID<\/th> MemberID2<\/th> Season<\/th> Circuit<\/th> Region<\/th> Division<\/th> Date<\/th> Date2<\/th> Location<\/th> AnglerType<\/th> Pl<\/th> Name<\/th> Service<\/th> F<\/th> FishReleased<\/th> Weight<\/th> Penalty<\/th> BB<\/th> Total<\/th> Pnts<\/th> Payout<\/th> <\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\n \n \n\n\n
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\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
1.000.009.017<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n Patrick B. Fisher<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 36,25<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 36.25<\/td>\n 250<\/td>\n 9.000<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.026.447<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 2<\/td>\n Gary K. Milicevic<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n 33,74<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 33.74<\/td>\n 249<\/td>\n 3.300<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.038.410<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n Harry L. Linsinbigler<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 32,33<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 32.33<\/td>\n 248<\/td>\n 3.000<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
44.434<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 4<\/td>\n Donald S. Tripoli<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 29,09<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 3.46<\/td>\n 29.09<\/td>\n 247<\/td>\n 2.250<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.032.088<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n Jimmy R. Frye<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 27,76<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 27.76<\/td>\n 246<\/td>\n 1.000<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.026.187<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n Val Osinski<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 27,64<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 4.78<\/td>\n 27.64<\/td>\n 245<\/td>\n 900<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.034.624<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 7<\/td>\n Greg R. Bartz<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 26,96<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 7.20<\/td>\n 26.96<\/td>\n 244<\/td>\n 775<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.031.157<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 8<\/td>\n Jeff Jeff A. Justice<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 25,34<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 25.34<\/td>\n 243<\/td>\n 750<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.030.129<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n Richard S. Newberry<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 24,56<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 24.56<\/td>\n 242<\/td>\n 725<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.032.233<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n Jason P. Blair<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 23,33<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 4.92<\/td>\n 23.33<\/td>\n 241<\/td>\n 700<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.001.862<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 11<\/td>\n Billy J. Charland<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 23,24<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 23.24<\/td>\n 240<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.012.033<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 12<\/td>\n Steve The Boogieman C. Brown<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 22,71<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 5.27<\/td>\n 22.71<\/td>\n 239<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.028.720<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 13<\/td>\n Neil C. Nix<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 22,42<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 22.42<\/td>\n 238<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
60.475<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 14<\/td>\n Stanley F. Hunt<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 22,24<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 22.24<\/td>\n 237<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.035.021<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 15<\/td>\n Kennie L. Steverson<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 22,00<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 22.00<\/td>\n 236<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.038.512<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 16<\/td>\n Steve A. Lopez<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 21,53<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 21.53<\/td>\n 235<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.011.222<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 17<\/td>\n Mark A. Blevins<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 21,38<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 21.38<\/td>\n 234<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.036.697<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 18<\/td>\n James Jae A. Evans<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 20,15<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 20.15<\/td>\n 233<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.020.255<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 19<\/td>\n Roger L. Gonzalez<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 19,38<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 19.38<\/td>\n 232<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.028.374<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 20<\/td>\n William William L. Troyer<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 19,14<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 19.14<\/td>\n 231<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.035.034<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 21<\/td>\n Kevin S. Thomas<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 17,97<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 2.71<\/td>\n 17.97<\/td>\n 230<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.026.446<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 22<\/td>\n Patrick J. Layhew<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 8<\/td>\n 8<\/td>\n 17,01<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 17.01<\/td>\n 229<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
2.010.028.728<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 23<\/td>\n Richard S. Denoyelles<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n 16,41<\/td>\n 0,50<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 15.91<\/td>\n 228<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.038.341<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 24<\/td>\n David G. Kilbury<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 12,44<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 2.07<\/td>\n 12.44<\/td>\n 227<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
1.000.028.220<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 2.025<\/td>\n Top150Solo<\/td>\n 1<\/td>\n 3<\/td>\n 01\/31\/2025<\/td>\n 02\/01\/2025<\/td>\n Okeechobee<\/td>\n P<\/td>\n 25<\/td>\n Kenneth J. Sharpless<\/td>\n <\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 6<\/td>\n 12,35<\/td>\n 0,00<\/td>\n 0.00<\/td>\n 12.35<\/td>\n 226<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody> \n\n \n \n \n <\/table>\n\n<\/div>