Richardson wins Co-Angler Division title on Eufaula
Florida co-angler earns EverStart win by a single ounce
EUFAULA, Ala. – If you are going to win an EverStart Series event as a co-angler, you might as well make it dramatic
Take Aaron Richardson of Destin, Fla., for example. He entered his very first EverStart event as a co-angler this week on Lake Eufaula and he won it by a single ounce. Given Richardson is currently out of work and badly needed the win makes it all the more dramatic.
“This feels fantastic,” Richardson said after his win. “I’ve been fishing tournaments for a long time at the lower levels and I decided to step up this week and try it at the next level, so I’m thrilled.”
On day one, Richardson fished with pro Peter T and caught four bass for 6 pounds, 12 ounces on a Carolina-rigged black grape Trick Worm.
On day two, he fished with pro Brent Anderson who took Richardson to the places he wanted to go.
“I fish Eufaula quite a bit and I practiced for this event and found a few places with some fish on them,” Richardson said. “Brent was more than generous with his hospitality as he took me to some of my places. My best spot was a ridge in about 6 feet of water that dropped off in to 10 feet of water.”
Richardson seined the ridge with a Zoom Ol’ Monster worm (Candy Bug) with a 3/8-ounce weight, tied to 20-pound test Vanish to catch 10 pounds, 7 ounces, putting him in the lead.
On the final day, Richardson was paired with pro winner Scott Canterbury. He caught just two skinny Eufaula keepers weighing a total of 3 pounds, but it was enough to win a Ranger boat by a mere ounce.
Peek second
Richard Peek of Centre, Ala., finished second in the Co-Angler Division with a three-day total of 20 pounds, 2 ounces worth $4,409.
Peek described his fishing on Lake Eufaula for the week as “junk fishing,” throwing swim jigs, topwaters, crankbaits and Carolina rigs.
“I used everything in the box this week,” Peek said. “I tried it all and there was no real rhyme or reason to what the fish would bite. One keeper would come on a topwater, the next on a Carolina rig.”
Trathen third
Trathen Dollar of West Jefferson, N.C., finished third with a three-day total of 20 pounds even worth $4,111.
Dollar said he relied on one lure most of the week: A Lucky Craft Sammy topwater in American Shad.
Richardson, Bucy round out top five
James Richardson, Sr., of Harrison, Ohio, finished fourth with a three-day total of 17 pounds, 11 ounces.
Richardson used a Ribbit Frog in the pads and a Trick Worm on a shaky head for his catches during the week.
Blaine Bucy of Follansbee, W.V., finished fifth with a three-day total of 16 pounds, 10 ounces.
Bucy’s key bait for the week was a green pumpkin Speed Worm.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers in the EverStart Series event on Lake Eufaula:
6th: Hale White of Thompsons Station, Tenn., three-day total of 15-12, $2,449
7th: Joey Aderhold of Birmingham, Ala., three-day total of 15-12, $1,959
8th: Charles Stevenson of Albany, Ga., three-day total of 15-12, $1,470
9th: Jeffrey Hankins of Dothan, Ala., three-day total of 14-15, $980
10th: Thomas Helton of Charleston, Tenn., three -day total of 12-10, $784
The fourth and final EverStart Southeast Division will be held on Pickwick Lake June 9-11, 2011.