EverStart Western Division kicks off Jan. 28

Second season promises even more excitement, intrigue than 2003 debut

When the Western Division was added to the EverStart Series in 2003, tournament organizers were gambling that bass fishing’s popularity out West was strong enough to sustain another major fishing tour. After all, other tournament organizations had headed out West before with decidedly mixed results. Taking past history into account, tournament organizers worked tirelessly, hoping to come near their goal of landing 100 pros and another 100 co-anglers for the inaugural event. However, any worries that organizers would fall short of expectations proved short lived. By the time registration was completed, the first EverStart Western Division tournament in the history of FLW Outdoors had swollen to more than 350 anglers in total. In short, on the same day the Western Division was born, it was also clear that it was here to stay.

2003 year in review

Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., put himself in the record (and trivia) books after winning the very first Western Division event in history last January on Lake Pleasant. Using a catch of 13 pounds, 12 ounces on the final day of competition, Hite squeaked out a 7-ounce victory over fellow competitor Art Berry of Ramona, Calif., to win one of the closest contests of the year.

In March of 2003, Sean Minderman of Post Falls, Idaho, gutted out a tough victory on an even tougher fishery (Lake Mead). Although Minderman only recorded an 8-pound, 3-ounce stringer in the finals, it was enough to defeat second-place competitor Mike Folkestad of Yorba Linda, Calif., by nearly 2 pounds.

With two tournaments in the books, the tour turned to California for its final two events of the season. In April of 2003, Luke Clausen of Veradale, Wash., recorded a mammoth 25-pound, 5-ounce stringer on arguably the best fishery in the nation – Clear Lake – and coasted to victory by defeating Wayne Breazeale of Kelseyville, Calif., by more than a 6-pound margin.

The final event of the year also took place in California, this time in May on the California Delta. There Gary Dobyns of Yuba City, Calif., turned in a final-day stringer weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce to easily defeat second-place competitor and FLW Tour veteran Andre Moore (14 pounds, 8 ounces) of Scottsdale, Ariz.

2004 season will feature best and brightest

After a successful inaugural season, the nascent EverStart Western Division appears ready to shed its image as the new kid on the professional bass-fishing block. The competition is more seasoned and will undoubtedly be more difficult. Specifically, in 2004, Western Division anglers will be gearing up to tackle Lake Pleasant (Arizona) in January, Lake Havasu (Nevada) in March, Clear Lake (California) in April while closing with the California Delta in May.

To be sure, many anglers blossomed on the tour in 2003 and should be forces to be reckoned with this year as well. Among those anglers who could make a huge impact in 2004 is Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., who took home last year’s Western Division Angler of the Year title. With three consecutive third-place finishes at the first three Western Division events of 2003, Ehrler’s only minor hiccup all season was at the final event at Clear Lake where he finished in 41st place.

Clint Johanson of Benton City, Wash., was a model of consistency last year as well. Johanson finished second overall in the angler of the year standings, posting 31st-place, ninth-place, 16th-place and 21st-place finishes throughout the season.

In addition to last year’s tournament winners, who will undoubtedly raise the bar for Western Division anglers throughout 2004, Dave Nollar of Redlands, Calif., also deserves special mention. Finishing fourth overall in the angler of the year competition in 2003, Nollar strung together 55th-place, 20th-place, 14th-place and 12th-place finishes throughout the year, improving his standing at each successive tournament.

In sum, the 2004 EverStart Western Division not only promises to deliver some of the most exciting and fishing-friendly venues in the nation, but also some of the newest and most promising young anglers in the sport today.