Eufaula euphoria

Anglers kick off second EverStart Eastern Division tournament of 2002 season on Lake Eufaula

EUFAULA, Ala. – With a beautiful sunrise, near-summer temperatures and the scenic vista of the Eufaula Wilderness Area serving as backdrop for today’s takeoff, 330 anglers from more than 30 states made their way past Lake Point State Park marina shortly after 6 a.m.

As the second EverStart Eastern Division of the season commenced, anglers raced toward their favorite fishing holes in an attempt to position themselves to make a run at the tournament title as well as the lucrative first-place prize – $15,000 and a brand new 500 series Ranger Comanche boat for the winner of the Pro Division and $6,000 for the eventual winner of the Co-angler Division.

In addition, anglers will be competing for valuable year-end standing points which are crucial for qualifying for the 2002 EverStart Championship – scheduled to take place Nov. 6-9 on Lake Martin in Alexander City, Ala. Currently Wayne Clifton of Goose Creek, S.C., (200 points), Russ Bringger of Pompana Beach, Fla., (199 points) and Billy Bowen, Jr., of Ocala, Fla., (198 points) stand atop the year-end Eastern Division standings.

EverStart action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Lake Point State Park, located at 104 Lake Point Drive in Eufaula, Ala.

Vital statistics

Sunrise: 5:46 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees
Expected high temperature: 80 degrees
Water temperature: 65 degrees
Wind: From the southwest at 5 mph
Relative humidity: 87 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy

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