JASPER, Texas – Pro William M. Davis of Russellville, Ala., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 51 pounds to lead round one of the EverStart Series Central Division event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Jasper. His two-day total is an EverStart Series record, breaking the record of 48 pounds, 14 ounces set last month at Lake Okeechobee by 7 UP pro J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md.
Anglers were greeted with more rain and cooler temperatures on Thursday, but once again, the weather didn’t overshadow the fishing. Despite heavy rain and strong, chilly winds, anglers still managed to weigh solid limits, nearly as impressive as the total weight of 3,388 pounds, 1 ounce caught on day one.
“The big fish pulled up shallow the first part of the week, so there are a bunch of fish in the bushes,” Davis said. “I’m just flipping around the bushes and alternating that with a small spinnerbait.” Davis has two key areas and feels there are plenty of bass, but they aren’t feeding until the middle part of the day. “My bites have been between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and it’s just been tough for me up until the mid part of the day.” Davis plans to continue what he’s been doing, as he’s confident the fish are there for him to catch.
Rounding out the top-five pros are Castrol pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla. (10 bass, 41 pounds, 6 ounces); David Curtis of Trinity (10 bass, 39 pounds); Kevin Lasyone of Dry Prong, La. (10 bass, 38 pounds, 6 ounces); and James Fredieu of St. Martinville, La. (10 bass, 37 pounds, 1 ounce).
Gilbert Herald of Pittsburgh caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 1 ounce to lead the Co-angler Division.
“Fishing was really good Thursday,” Herald said. “We caught fish all day long and both my pro partner and I culled.” Davis primarily threw a spinnerbait to catch his limit but admitted that one of the fish he weighed came on a red Rat-L-Trap.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Randy Coffman of Corydon, Ind. (9 bass, 27 pounds, 5 ounces); Bobby Lebert of Brookeland (10 bass, 27 pounds); Jeary Wheeler of Batesville, Ark. (7 bass, 25 pounds, 12 ounces); and Ernie Hillebrandt of Sam Rayburn (10 bass, 25 pounds, 10 ounces).
Donnie Williams of Paris, Tenn., and Brian Beatty of Mount Juliet, Tenn., both caught a 10-pound largemouth to split the $750 Snickers Big Bass Award in the Pro Division on day two, while Wheeler caught an 8-pound, 2-ounce largemouth to win $250 for big bass in the Co-angler Division.
Anglers caught 1,220 bass Thursday weighing an impressive 3,230 pounds, 2 ounces.
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers – based on two-day accumulated weights – advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.
For more information on the EverStart Series or any of FLW Outdoors’ eight tournament trails, browse this Web site.