KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Brian Snowden of Missouri has not always loved Florida, but those days may be over after he jumped from third place on Day 2 to win the inaugural CarrotStix PAA Series presented by Phoenix Boats.

Snowden caught five bass Saturday totaling 17.75 pounds and finished with a three-day total of 52.44 pounds. Steve Kennedy of Alabama was second with 48.70 and Todd Faircloth of Texas was third with 48.68.

 Snowden said strategy and a little teamwork was a key ingredient in his success.

 "I started fishing reeds and pads with a worm during practice," he said. "My friend, Matt Reed, gave me a little advice and I moved out."

 That adjustment was what it took to unseat the Day 2 leader, Shaw Grigsby of Florida, who finished 10th with 39.52. Grigsby had the tournament lunker, a 13-plus pounder on the first day. He had a tough final day and had one keeper that weighed 1.50 pounds.

 Snowden fished in close proximity to Reed, but said, “I was just fortunate enough to get the bigger bites.”

 Snowden fished an Xcalibur XR-75 rattle bait in “Foxy Shad” color, targeting open grass in 6.5 to 7 feet of water. He threw the big bait on a St Croix Legend 7-foot medium-heavy rod, with 17-pound XPS Fluorocarbon line on a BPS Johnny Morris Signature reel.

The next event in the CarrotStix PAA Series presented by Phoenix Boats will be April 9-11 on legendary Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Ala.