EUFAULA, Ala. – Pro Tim Peek of Sharpesburg, Ga., caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces to lead day three of the EverStart Series Southeast Division event on Lake Eufaula. With one competition day remaining, Peek – the round-one leader – holds a commanding lead of nearly 7 pounds. With a lead of more than 10 pounds, the co-angler leader from round one, Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., is also dominating his division. Peek and Thrift fished together Friday.
Bass in Lake Eufaula are in a postspawn mode and are slowly moving to deeper water. Peek is fishing offshore hydrilla, and his pattern appears to be improving each day as more fish move off the beds. The weather, however, could throw a wrench in everyone’s plans. Severe weather is expected for Saturday.
“I actually had more and bigger fish on my spot today,” Peek said. “But I didn’t want to wear my fish out, so I went way down the lake and tried something completely different and ended up catching a 6-pounder and 4 1/2-pounder. If I can go out and catch five keepers tomorrow, I’ll win.
“In my first spot today, which is where I’ve been going first each morning to catch a quick limit, I did the exact same thing I did yesterday – throw an FLW Rabbit Dog spinnerbait.”
Rounding out the top-five pros are Koby Kreiger of Okeechobee, Fla. (five bass, 16 pounds, 8 ounces); Jim Murray Jr. of Arabia, Ga. (five bass, 15 pounds, 14 ounces); Patrick Pierce of Jacksonville, Fla. (five bass, 14 pounds, 9 ounces); and Richard Szczerbala of New Hill, N.C. (four bass, 12 pounds).
Thrift caught a limit – the only limit caught in the Co-angler Division Friday – weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces – 10 pounds, 2 ounces more than the nearest competitor. Thrift’s weight would actually put him in second place in the Pro Division.
“With that lead, I’m feeling really good right now,” Thrift said. “I just threw a 1/2-ounce spinnerbait, and was also swimming a jig.”
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Gary Thacker of Covington, Ga. (three bass, 8 pounds, 11 ounces); Matthew Parker of Whitesburg, Ga. (three bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces); Jerry Goble of Sherrills Ford, N.C. (two bass, 6 pounds, 3 ounces); and Arch Cornett of Huntsville (two bass, 4 pounds, 2 ounces).
Anglers caught 65 bass Friday, including 7 limits, weighing 185 pounds, 1 ounce.
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.