Follow the leader
Top-10 EverStart Series finalists attempt to slow down Jeff Michel’s seemingly unstoppable tournament-title run on Lake Shasta
REDDING, Calif. – Although Jeff Michels technically will be fishing against nine other pros during Saturday’s final round of EverStart Series action on Lake Shasta, the truth is that his main competition is himself. In short, with a total catch of 30 pounds to his credit and a lead of nearly 8 pounds over his next closest rival, the tournament title is Michels to lose.
That’s not to say that Michels is a sure bet to win. But for the competition to wrest the title away, they are going to have to pull out all of the stops – and hope Michels stumbles.
“I’m in survival mode right now,” said second-place qualifier Rob Bass of Redding, Calif., who boasts a 22-pound, 2-ounce catch heading into the final day of competition. “I’m going to try to catch a good limit and try not to drop out of second place. I’m not going to die in one spot hoping they bite.”
However, in order to leapfrog Michels for the title, Bass acknowledges that plenty of things are going to have to go his way.
“To win the title I’m going to need some luck,” said Bass. `I’m just going to have to take it one cast at a time. I’ve caught some big fish in practice and if those fish bite today, I’ll have a chance. I know a few places I haven’t even fished yet where there are 3- and 4-pounders. I also left my good spot after 10 a.m. each day to protect my area and save some fish for the finals.
“If Jeff stumbles and I have a good day, I have a shot,” continued Bass.
Bass said he’s going to continue targeting bass that have been keying on salmon schools in the upper Sacramento River.
“I probably have 100 hours in that area since September and I know there are some big fish there,” he said. “For the past few months, I’ve done nothing but practice for this tournament. This tournament is the biggest tournament I’ve ever fished in my life and I want to do well. We’ll just have to see what happens out there today.”
On the other side of the equation is the quest for the Co-angler Division title. Currently, Bryant Smith of Castro Valley, Calif., holds the top spot with a total catch of 18 pounds, 3 ounces – more than 3 1/2 pounds greater than his next closest rival Lonnie Foster of Kneeland, Calif.
Tourney format
During EverStart Series competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement. Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers. Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. During Saturday’s competition, the top-10 pros and top-10 co-anglers will fish one final day to determine the champion. Ultimately, the winner from each division will be determined by who returns to the scales with the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days.
Pros are fishing for a top award of $35,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger 177TR with 90-horsepower outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the Angler of the Year title along with $5,000 for the pro and $2,000 for the co-angler. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from each respective division will qualify for the EverStart Series Championship that will be held on Kentucky Lake in Buchanan, Tenn., Oct. 27-30.
EverStart Series action continues during Saturday’s final weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Bridge Bay Resort, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif.
Bass-fishing fans take note
Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 3 p.m. Pacific Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s final EverStart Series weigh in. Fans interested in watching the outcome of the National Guard FLW College Fishing Western Division qualifier on Lake Shasta can tune in shortly before 1:30 p.m. to catch the college weigh-in live as well.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 7:32 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 45 degrees
Expected high temperature: 69 degrees
Water temperature: 48-50 degrees
Wind: From the north-northwest at 3 mph
Humidity: 88 percent
Day’s outlook: Partly cloudy