Fabiszak finds first win on EverStart Series
Co-angler takes it home despite slow start
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Ron Fabiszak found a way to catch them when it counted. The Sound Bend, Ind., native bounced back from a low 2-pound total catch on day one to win the Co-Angler Division of the inaugural EverStart Series Northern Division tourney Saturday on the Mississippi River.
Fabiszak caught the only full five-fish stringer on the co-angler side today and that was the difference. His total weight in the final round was 9 pounds, 14 ounces, giving him a decisive almost-4-pound edge over second-place finisher Richie Eaves of Nauvoo, Ill., who caught four bass weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces.
“It was a good feeling when I got my fifth fish,” said Fabiszak, who was remarkably reserved in the wake of his first EverStart win. “I’ll relax when I get home.”
The rookie co-angler took home $6,000 for his efforts this week – and quite an effort it was. He began the week in a paltry 84th place on Wednesday, but had a good day two Thursday and just slipped into the top 30 – 27th place – by 3 ounces to make the semifinal-round cut. Friday he edged into the finals in seventh place.
In a show of good timing, he caught his first limit of the tourney today and ran away with the win.
“I had a good partner (pro Chet Reed of Muskegon, Mich.),” Fabiszak said.
He caught his winning weight flipping brush with a Zoom brushhog.
Finishing behind Fabiszak and Eaves, who won $4,000, in the Co-Angler Division were Michael Smith (3rd place, $3,500) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces; Pete Hayes (4th, $3,000) of Liberty, Ky., with two bass weighing 5 pounds, 5 ounces; Jeff Barth (5th, $2,500) of Marshfield, Wis., with two bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces; Joseph Pappas (6th, $1,900) of Southgate, Mich., with one bass weighing 1 pound, 15 ounces; Ted Will (7th, $1,800) of Zeeland, Mich., with one bass weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces; Michael Froseth (8th, $1,7000) of Eau Claire, Wis., with one bass weighing 1 pounds, 8 ounces; Paul Dostal (9th, $1,600) of La Crosse with no bass; and Thomas Strangstalien (10th, $1,500) of West Salem, Wis., with no bass.
The next EverStart Series Northern Division event of the season is scheduled to take place at 1000 Islands Lake Ontario in Clayton, N.Y., from July 25-28.
Day-four related links:
Photos
Results
Pairings
Press release
Monsoor crowned first Northern Division pro champion