Collins claims co-angler win at Pleasant
PEORIA, Ariz. – Gary Collins has been close before, but Saturday he finally grabbed his first EverStart Series victory. The 41-year-old Internet Web designer from Moorpark, Calif., won the Co-angler Division of Western Division competition at Lake Pleasant with a final-round total of 14 pounds, 1 ounce. He collected $4,700.
Collins was the beneficiary of a stellar pairing Saturday. Fishing with pro winner Marcus Clouse, he capitalized on the unusually proficient bass bite in Clouse’s tiny honey hole and caught a limit weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces – quickly.
“At 10 o’clock I had zero fish,” he said. “By 10:05 I had a limit.”
What happened was that the cloud cover that Clouse had been craving broke for a brief spell, allowing a little sun to shine. Itching for warmer water, the prespawn bass in the hole started heading for the sun-stroked water surface.
“One came up, then a second one came up,” Collins said. “Then they just erupted. It lasted for about 30 minutes.”
Having been shut out using a drop-shot all morning, Collins saw the bass surface and immediately dug for his top-water baits.
“I don’t think I’ve ever tied on a rig so fast,” he said. “It was incredible. We had to beat them off with sticks. Today, I went bubba-fishing. What a day.”
Collins seemed exceptionally gratified by the victory, especially after finishing twice in the top 10 (including at Lake Pleasant) and once in the top 20 in last year’s Western Division.
“I really wanted to win one,” he said. “I’ve come so close before. I’ve been praying that this bite would happen all week.”
The top five
Hot hand Tony Sarkis of Phoenix finished in second place for the co-anglers after hovering in the top five all week. He caught a final-round total of 13 pounds even and collected $3,200.
“I’ve just fished (Lake Pleasant) a lot and had some good draws,” he said.
Friday’s co-angler leader Rick Klassen of Spring Valley, Calif., finished in third place and collected $2,450 with a final-round weight of 11 pounds, 8 ounces.
Mark Meddock of Woodland, Calif., came up with a limit Saturday, moving up to finish in fourth place and collect $2,100 with a final total of 10 pounds, 10 ounces.
Shane Meisel of Alta Loma, Calif., finished fifth and collected $1,900 for a final-round weight of 9 pounds, 8 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finishers at EverStart Lake Pleasant are Jeff Grant of La Mirada, Calif., with a final-round weight of 9 pounds, 2 ounces (6th place, $1,600); Matt Lowery of El Cajon, Calif., also with 9-2 (7th, $1,450); Jed Christensen of Ogden, Utah, with 6-11 (8th, $1,350); Steve Amata of Payson, Utah, with 6-3 (9th, $1,200); and John Morla of Ione, Calif., with 4-15 (10th, $1,100).
Coming up
The next EverStart Series event is a Central Division contest at Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Jasper, Texas, Feb. 25-28.
The next Western Division tournament will be held at Lake Havasu near Lake Havasu City, Ariz., March 17-20.