Shaw Takes the Lead on Day 2 at Okeechobee!
CLEWISTON, Fla. – The second day of the Toyota Series presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event at Lake Okeechobee turned out to be a significant improvement over the first day. Anglers found that it was much easier to catch limits today, and the quality of the fish was noticeably better. However, despite these improvements, success didn’t come easily, and many competitors struggled to maintain their momentum. Remarkably, only two professional anglers managed to stay consistent: Banks Shaw and Kyle Cortiana.
On this day, Shaw showcased his skills by weighing in 18 pounds, 3 ounces, which catapulted him into the lead from his previous second place, giving him a total of 35 pounds, 9 ounces. Cortiana also made strides, adding 17 pounds, 15 ounces to his catch, putting him in second place with a total of 35 pounds, 1 ounce. The two pros are separated by a mere 8 ounces, highlighting just how close the competition is.
The leaderboard saw quite a bit of reshuffling behind the leaders. Val Osinski surged into third place with a catch of 17 pounds, 3 ounces, jumping from 20th position. Meanwhile, Joel Richardson, who led on Day 1, only managed to catch 8 pounds, 7 ounces today, causing him to drop to fourth place. Tyler Nekolny moved into fifth place but lags nearly 8 pounds behind the front-runners. As Day 3 approaches, the top 25 competitors will take to the water again, and anyone in that group could potentially dethrone Shaw, though Cortiana appears to have the clearest path ahead.
In the co-angler division, Bob Morin remains atop the standings, having caught limits for both days and adding 11 pounds, 10 ounces today for a total of 21 pounds, 14 ounces. Close behind him is Ryan Yarian, who had a tough Day 1 with just one fish, but rebounded strongly with a limit today weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces, bringing his total to 18 pounds, 9 ounces.
A Steady Course for Shaw
In the past couple of years, forward-facing sonar technology has faced various restrictions in bass fishing. Whether intentional or not, many of these changes seemed to coincide with a time when utilizing this technology became more challenging, as fish began adapting to being targeted using tools like LiveScope. The pressure of only having three hours to fish precisely can pose a significant challenge for many anglers. However, Shaw excelled today, demonstrating his expertise by scouting early and not needing the full allotted time.
"I definitely think I’m figuring it out more," Shaw reflected. "As I planned, I activated my sonar a bit later today, around 11 a.m., and managed to catch all five of my fish. After that, I explored some new areas and unfortunately lost a nice 5-pounder near the boat."
Shaw was quick to point out that while he had a solid day, there were moments where he could have done even better, leaving him hungry for a perfect performance. "It was a good day overall, but I did lose some decent ones; it wasn’t as great as it seems. I could have easily had around 22 or 23 pounds, but that’s fishing. I know there are some big ones still out there. If I can land two or three of those, it could be an amazing day."
He explained that he primarily fished alone in an area known for larger fish, and the results were evident in his weigh-in. "This spot suits my style perfectly. I’m targeting steeper banks where fish are hugging the shore and hiding among isolated patches of grass."
While Shaw had success without his sonar on Day 1, he acknowledged that attracting the larger fish often requires modern technology.
"I can catch fish without it, but targeting the really big ones is significantly more challenging. They don't seem overly intelligent; they’re just in a peculiar mood right now. However, they are incredibly difficult to catch—perhaps some of the toughest I've ever faced."
Cortiana Battles Mechanical Issues to Stay Competitive
Chasing after his third consecutive win in the Toyota Series, Cortiana found a way to keep up with Shaw, despite encountering problems with his trolling motor on Day 2.
"By about 9 a.m., I had four or five fish, and then my trolling motor failed," Cortiana recounted. "While I was working on it, I felt a big one grab my worm. I thought I had a fish on, but I was still trying to fix the motor. When I finally set the hook, the fish took off like a rocket and came off right under the boat. It was a heartbreaker. So, I ended up losing a big one just as my trolling motor quit on me."
Fortunately, Cortiana managed to keep fishing throughout the day, although his trolling motor was unreliable. During the period he relied on his forward-facing sonar, he managed to catch a 4-pound fish and lost another quality catch.
Using a BOOYAH Flash Point Deep jerkbait and a Texas-rigged YUM Thump’n Dinger, he was able to catch a total of 20 keepers but also suffered the loss of three substantial fish.
As he heads into Day 3 with a fixed trolling motor, Cortiana believes he has a strong chance to catch up to Shaw. However, he avoids becoming overly confident. "Both of us have lost fish each day, so whoever can fish cleanly will probably come out on top if we get similar opportunities. But given how tough this lake has been lately, I feel fortunate for every bite I’ve gotten. I’ve seen others struggling to catch anything at all."
Top 10 Pros:
1. Banks Shaw – 35 pounds, 9 ounces (10 fish)
2. Kyle Cortiana – 35 pounds, 1 ounce (10 fish)
3. Val Osinski – 28 pounds, 1 ounce (9 fish)
4. Joel Richardson – 27 pounds, 13 ounces (10 fish)
5. Tyler Nekolny – 27 pounds, 12 ounces (10 fish)
6. Alex Terescenko – 26 pounds, 10 ounces (8 fish)
7. Adriano Theriot – 26 pounds, 3 ounces (10 fish)
8. Charles Abshire – 26 pounds, 1 ounce (9 fish)
9. Doug Wooldridge – 25 pounds, 11 ounces (10 fish)
10. Brian Holder – 25 pounds, 5 ounces (10 fish)
For complete results, visit here.
