LEESBURG, Fla. – Catching back-to-back bags in the teens on the final two days, Parker Knudsen got it done in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats event on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Hailing from Minnesota, the 26-year-old earned the Strike King co-angler win with 14 bass weighing 34 pounds, 1 ounce. For the win, Knudsen takes home a new Phoenix boat package valued at $33,500, plus $500.
Today, fishing with James Ford, the young angler had a dream start to the day.
“It was unreal, today nothing could go wrong,” he said. “I was putting them in the boat left and right on a lipless, and then I put a Speed Worm on and caught like a 5 1/2 that anchored my bag. I had it wrapped up around 9:30, it was a good little spot that James Ford had going for him. He’s a local here, so he knew what’s up.”
Mixing and matching on the week, Knudsen said he caught fish on a fluke, a Speed Worm, a lipless bait and an OutKast Tackle Heavy Cover Edition Pro Swim Jig.
This winter, Knudsen, who guides near the Twin Cities, has been hitting it hard on the co-angler side of things.
“I’ve been trying to be a sponge in the back of the boat and learn everything down in the South,” he said. “It’s been good.”
This week, the best tidbit he learned was to be patient.
“Coming from the north country, you’ve gotta slow down – big time,” he said. “From a Minnesota guy, you’ve got to slow down, and pick at every strand of grass you can.”
Wrapping up the win was icing on the cake for Knudsen, and it sounds like he’s really enjoyed the Strike King co-angler program.
“I want to give a huge shoutout to all my boaters, they were awesome people,” he said. “If people want to pursue this, want to know all the ropes, definitely check out being a co-angler for the learning experience. It’s an awesome way to step into it.”
Top 10 Strike King co-anglers
1. Parker Knudsen – 34 – 1 (14) – $34,000
2. Kermit Crowder – 33 – 6 (15) – $5,525
3. Fernando Rosa – 33 – 0 (15) – $4,300
4. Garrett Gomes – 31 – 1 (15) – $3,650
5. Benton Peoples – 29 – 11 (15) – $3,300
6. Brady Lunsmann – 28 – 15 (15) – $2,650
7. David Williams – 27 – 13 (15) – $2,150
8. Frank Lauria – 26 – 10 (13) – $1,825
9. Aaron Gengler – 25 – 9 (15) – $1,530
Complete results
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