Davis takes overall lead heading into EverStart finals on Lake Ferguson

Carlile coaxes top qualifier spot in Co-Angler Division

GREENVILLE, Miss. – Harmon Davis of Marlow, Okla., used a 13-pound, 11-ounce catch to grab the lead in the Pro Division heading into tomorrow’s all-important final day of EverStart Central Division competition on Lake Ferguson. Davis, who was in 10th place at the end of yesterday’s action, said he is thankful to have gotten this far.

“I had a really bad practice and I wasn’t even sure I was going to catch a fish today,” he said. “In fact, I haven’t been sure I was going to catch any fish all week. I was just hoping to get some (angler of the year) points this tournament. But so far, it’s worked out pretty well. I feel good.”

So far, Davis has relied on an amazingly small area to reap his bounty.

“I’ve basically caught all of my fish fishing off three different trees. I’m not fishing a big area at all,” Davis said. “This whole tournament I’ve just been cruising up and down, back and forth, making a circle past those trees. It’s kind of crazy if you think about it. And it’s really hard sitting in the same spot day after day. But so far, it’s working.”

Not surprisingly, Davis said his fate in tomorrow’s competition will be determined by the productivity of his tiny area of tree cover.

“For me to win tomorrow, that spot is going to have to hold up one more day,” he said.

Best of the rest

Chris McCall of Jasper, Texas, finished the day in second place with a catch of 13 pounds, 1 ounce. Third place belonged to Adam Wright of Benton, Ark., who turned in a catch of 11 pounds, 1 ounce.

Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla., was in fourth place after netting a catch weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces. Raymond Thomas of Checotah, Okla., grabbed the fifth spot with a total catch of 9 pounds, 13 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 were Steve Bowman (sixth) of Little Rock, Ark., with a catch of 8 pounds, 14 ounces; Shane Allman (seventh) of Sam Rayburn, Texas, with a catch of 8 pounds, 12 ounces; Bill Smith (eighth) of Prestonsburg, Ky., with a catch of 8 pounds, 1 ounces; Bob Weaver (ninth) of Lawton, Okla., with a catch of 7 pounds, 3 ounces; and Roger Stegall (tenth) of Iuka, Miss., with catch of 7 pounds, 2 ounces.

Carlile records top spot in Co-Angler Division, second top-10 finish of career

Charlie Carlile of Tulsa, Okla., finished in first place in the Co-Angler Division after landing a total catch of 10 pounds, 14 ounces. Carlile, who was in fifth place after yesterday’s competition, said he couldn’t be more happy with his performance.

“I’m very pleased. I’m elated,” said Carlile. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of when you make the top 10. It’s hard to get out of a pack of 150 anglers in a tournament like this.”

Carlile, who has been fishing a black-and-blue jig almost exclusively throughout the tournament, said he has no plans on changing his strategy come tomorrow’s competition.

“I’m going to be doing the same thing on Saturday,” he said. “Hopefully I can carry over my past success to tomorrow.”

Gary Clark of Sheridan, Ark., who was in 29th place after yesterday’s competition, made a dramatic move up the standings, grabbing second place with a catch of 9 pounds, 2 ounces. Guy Lindstrom of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., took the third spot with a catch of 8 pounds, 10 ounces.

Don Smith of Belton, Ky., finished in fourth place with a catch of 5 pounds, 15 ounces. Chuck Lawless of Park Hill, Okla., registered a fifth-place finish with a total catch of 4 pounds, 8 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 were Dennis Huggins (sixth) of Broken Arrow, Okla., with a catch of 4 pounds, 7 ounces; John Ballard (seventh) of Parkview, Mo., with a catch of 4 pounds, 1 ounce; Mike Jones (eighth) of Lebanon, Mo., with a catch of 3 pounds, 14 ounces; Chris Darby (ninth) of Mount Ida, Ark., with a catch of 3 pounds, 12 ounces; and Jimmy Brown (tenth) of Little Rock, Ark., with a catch of 3 pounds, 5 ounces.

Once again, all anglers will start from zero tomorrow, as the combined weights do not carry over into the semifinals or finals. Saturday’s competition will resume at 6 a.m. at the Washington Street Boat Ramp, located off Main Street in downtown Greenville, Miss.

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