Stevens takes EverStart co-angler title on Potomac

Virginia native nets new Ranger boat with victory

MARBURY, Md. – Despite languishing in 17th on the waiting list prior to the event, co-angler Terry Stevens of Sterling, Va., overcame a host of obstacles to finish an improbable run and net first place overall on the Potomac River. Using a three-day catch of 37 pounds, 10 ounces, Stevens out-fished 123 competitors to grab the most important title of his career.

“It’s awesome. It’s the best feeling in the world right now,” said Stevens. “I fished three different ways each day and had three terrific partners. It’s just a dream come true.”

Stevens said that he used a combination of ChatterBaits and jigs, targeting largemouth bass holding to grass. However, his victory wasn’t easy by any means. With winds clocking in 20 mph through a good portion of the day, fishing was difficult at best.

“We basically just tried to get to areas where the wind wasn’t blowing,” said Stevens. “It was really rough out there. It was windy and raining, but we made the best of it.”

After Stevens was handed his first-place trophy, the Virginia native said he was still in disbelief that he pulled off the victory.

“It feels great. I still can’t believe it,” said Stevens. “To have my wife and kids here, it couldn’t be any better. This is the proudest day of my life. Overall, I loved every minute of it.”

Gerber settles for second place

Although he fished an outstanding tournament, Robert Gerber of The Plains, Va., couldn’t quite catch Stevens on the final day. Using a total catch of 35 pounds, 12 ounces, Gerber ultimately finished the tournament in second place, winning more than $3,800 in the process.

“Anytime you finish in the top 10 you have to be happy,” said Gerber. “I lost a couple of good fish out there and my thumb is killing me, but I really can’t complain. Finishing in second place – I’ll take it.”

Like many competitors, Gerber said his final day on the water was far from easy.

“Believe it or not, I was throwing a topwater frog today in 20 mph winds,” he said. “I was just chucking it out there and letting it fall. It was definitely a grind out there today. But I probably culled four or five times, so overall it turned out to be a pretty good day.”

Gerber, who took home the first place trophy in the Co-angler Division at a Walmart BFL event last week on the Potomac River, was hoping to make it two for two. Unfortunately, he just came up a little bit short.

“My wife told me there is no way I could win back to back tournaments but I almost pulled it off,” he said. “I’m pretty happy right now. What a week.”

For his efforts, Gerber took home more than $4,000 in winnings.

Denina finishes in third

Vince Denina of Willis, Texas, used a total catch of 33 pounds, 10 ounces to finish the Potomac River event in third place.

“It was a very good day,” said Denina. “I caught a lot of fish and had a great time. I actually caught my last fish with about 2 minutes left so I was pretty happy.”

Denina said that he targeted largemouth bass most of the week using a ChatterBait and custom craw worm.

In the end, Denina walked away with over $3,800 in winnings.

Wedding nails down fourth

On the strength of a total catch of 32 pounds, 9 ounces, Robert Wedding of Welcome, Md., finished the Potomac River event in fourth place.

“I definitely had a lot of fun this week,” said Wedding. `The only bad thing was that my fifth fish came off at the boat today and I only came in with four. But other than that, it was a great week.”

Wedding said he targeted largemouth bass using a black-and-blue ChatterBait.

“I used that bait to catch every fish this week,” said Wedding. `The key for me was just finding the fish. Once you did that, they were really grouped up.”

In the end, Wedding took home over $3,100 in winnings.

Meanwhile, Brian Keister of Cedar Brook, N.J., finished in fifth place overall with a total catch of 30 pounds, 11 ounces. Keister ultimately won more than $2,700.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-10 co-angler finalists:

6th: David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va., 30-10

7th: John Robinson of Fairfax, Va., 29-9

8th: Nicholas Toman of Washington, D.C., 29-8

9th: Jerry Pyles of Middletown, Md., 28-1

10th: Casey Zaremba of Brecksville, Ohio, 24-11

EverStart action resumes during the 2011 EverStart Series Championship, slated for Kentucky Lake in Buchanan, Tenn., Oct. 27-30.