Mark Smith of West Monroe, La., worried about putting together a limit Sunday after learning he would be fishing an extra day against Bassmaster Elite Series pro Edwin Evers. The two anglers weighed in identical weights of 35 pounds, 9 ounces and to settle the competition, both moved on to the additional day of fishing at the Bassmaster Central Open finale on the Atchafalaya Basin.
Those worries became reality when Smith was only able to compile 10 pounds, 8 ounces, while Evers brought in 14-7.
“I only caught six fish today,” Smith lamented, noting the conditions caused the few fish left in his area to spread out. “I caught my fifth (weigh) fish with five minutes left to fish.”
Evers, on the other hand, boated the heaviest sack of the tournament by making a more than 2-hour run east and working his lures in and around vegetation.
“In the mornings the fish were roaming on the outsides of that grass, and I’d catch them on a spinner bait,” he said. “But my better fish came from undercut banks with vegetation.”
Once the bite on the Bass Pro Shops Lazer Eye spinner bait turned off – usually less than an hour after he started fishing – Evers began punching water hyacinths on the undercut banks with a combination of a Yum Money Craw under a 1-ounce weight and a Yum Craw Papi topped with a 3/16-ounce weight.
The key to the entire tournament for Evers, however, came less than an hour into the first day of competition.
“I abandoned an area where I really felt I would catch fish, and moved on and really went looking,” he said. “That’s when I found this area I won the tournament in.”
The area, which he refused to identify because it’s a potential target for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic set for New Orleans, was one he had seen in practice but never fished.
“I saw it and knew it looked good, but I didn’t fish it until the first day of competition,” Evers said. “I just figured, ‘I’ll give it 15 minutes and see what happens.’ It paid off.”
Even though the veteran pro was confident he had the winning weight, Evers kept his fingers crossed on the long run back to the landing.
“I knew if I break down I have to get in on my own,” he said. “There were no other competitors to pick me up. That was my main concern.”
The win marked Evers’ fifth Bassmaster win. With the victory, Evers earned more than $32,000.
“You just need to cherish each one,” he said. “They’re so hard to come by.”
2009 BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN- ATCHAFALYA BASIN- FINAL STANDINGS- PRO
2009 Central 3 - Morgan City, LA BO 11/05-11/07 Atchafalaya River Basin, Morgan City La.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 15 35-09 305 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 14-03
2. Mark Smith West Monroe, La. 13 35-09 305
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 3 9-08
3. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 15 32-00 290 $12,240.00
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 9-07
4. Wade Leblanc Gonzales, La. 12 29-12 285 $9,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 4 9-02 Day 3: 4 9-07
5. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 14 29-07 280 $7,200.00
Day 1: 4 7-10 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 9-13
6. Danny Smith Monterey, La. 14 28-13 276 $6,480.00
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 4 9-12
7. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 14 28-01 272 $5,760.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 9-01 Day 3: 4 7-05
8. Kyle Fox Lakeland, Fla. 12 27-00 268 $5,040.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 4 8-15 Day 3: 3 6-03
9. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 14 26-09 264 $4,320.00
Day 1: 4 7-08 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 8-08
10. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 14 26-08 260 $3,600.00
Day 1: 4 6-05 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 9-10
11. James Biggs Bedford, Texas 10 26-06 257 $2,880.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 2 3-10 Day 3: 3 9-01
12. Keith Caka Huntsville, Texas 13 25-12 254 $2,520.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 3 7-03 Day 3: 5 8-05
13. Dale Jackson Van, Texas 11 25-09 251 $2,160.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 1 4-03
14. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 11 25-09 248 $1,800.00
Day 1: 3 9-12 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 3 5-12
15. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 13 25-06 245 $1,620.00
Day 1: 4 8-01 Day 2: 4 7-14 Day 3: 5 9-07
16. Chris McCall Jasper, Texas 12 24-06 243 $1,440.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 3 5-14 Day 3: 4 8-15
17. Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 13 24-00 241 $1,404.00
Day 1: 5 7-09 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 3 6-05
18. Paul Ferguson Whitehouse, Texas 12 24-00 239 $1,368.00
Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 5 9-12 Day 3: 2 4-12
19. Clark Reehm Russellville, Ark. 14 23-10 237 $1,332.00
Day 1: 5 8-01 Day 2: 4 6-15 Day 3: 5 8-10
20. Gary Key Laveen, Ariz. 12 23-08 235 $1,296.00
Day 1: 3 6-04 Day 2: 4 7-15 Day 3: 5 9-05
21. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 11 23-00 233 $1,260.00
Day 1: 5 8-15 Day 2: 3 6-02 Day 3: 3 7-15
22. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10 22-13 231 $1,224.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 3 7-13 Day 3: 2 3-00
23. Dustin Evans Eads, Tenn. 10 22-10 229 $1,188.00
Day 1: 4 8-08 Day 2: 3 7-13 Day 3: 3 6-05
24. Ken Iyobe Tokoname, Japan 9 21-13 227 $1,152.00
Day 1: 3 7-14 Day 2: 3 6-01 Day 3: 3 7-14
25. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 9 18-05 225 $1,116.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 5-04 Day 3: 1 2-01
26. Zachary King Clarksville, Ark. 9 17-13 223 $1,080.00
Day 1: 3 5-11 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 1 1-08
27. Sam Swett Covington, La. 9 17-09 221 $1,044.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 3 4-13 Day 3: 1 2-00
28. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 8 17-08 219 $1,008.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 3 7-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
29. Dave Mansue Hemphill, Texas 8 15-11 217 $972.00
Day 1: 3 5-10 Day 2: 4 8-07 Day 3: 1 1-10
30. Duane Pittman Prairieville, La. 6 15-02 215 $936.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 1 2-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 26 285 578-06
2 17 244 478-10
3 9 94 200-12
----------------------------------
52 623 1257-12
2009 BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN- ATCHAFALYA BASIN- FINAL STANDINGS- CO-ANGLER
2009 Central 3 - Morgan City, LA NB 11/05-11/07 Atchafalaya River Basin, Morgan City La.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. David Cooper Vidalia, La. 9 21-11 315 $32,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 2 3-13 Day 3: 2 4-09
2. Jeff Wade Cabot, Ark. 9 21-11 295 $3,600.00
Day 1: 4 8-12 Day 2: 3 6-15 Day 3: 2 6-00
3. Charles Hewitt Prairieville, La. 8 19-12 290 $2,880.00
Day 1: 1 2-05 Day 2: 4 12-00 Day 3: 3 5-07
4. Brent Cutrer Natchez, Miss. 10 16-13 285 $2,160.00
Day 1: 5 8-15 Day 2: 1 1-09 Day 3: 4 6-05
5. Sammy Strong Orange, Texas 7 13-07 280 $1,800.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 3-01
6. Matt Guerin Zachary, La. 6 13-02 276 $1,620.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-10
7. John Moon Brookeland, Texas 7 13-00 272 $1,440.00
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 1 2-11
8. Dustin Wood Keithville, La. 5 12-10 268 $1,368.00
Day 1: 4 9-03 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 3-07
9. David Cortinas North Richland Hills, 6 12-06 264 $1,224.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 7-11 Day 3: 2 4-11
10. Tom Haynes Tulsa, Okla. 5 11-06 260 $936.00
Day 1: 3 6-13 Day 2: 2 4-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
11. Gerald Rome Donaldsonville, La. 4 11-06 257 $792.00
Day 1: 3 8-08 Day 2: 1 2-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
12. Terry Blackmon Covington, La. 6 10-13 254 $720.00
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 1 1-09 Day 3: 3 5-06
13. Josh Stewart Albany, La. 5 10-02 251 $648.00
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 3 5-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
14. Charles Major Morganza, La. 6 10-00 248 $576.00
Day 1: 3 4-14 Day 2: 3 5-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
15. Charles Poland Denham Springs, La. 6 10-00 245 $504.00
Day 1: 3 4-15 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
16. Richard Earle Youngsville, La. 4 9-05 243 $486.00
Day 1: 2 4-00 Day 2: 1 1-14 Day 3: 1 3-07
17. Randy Pitre Natchez, Miss. 5 8-13 241 $468.00
Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 2 3-15 Day 3: 1 1-09
18. Bill McCarty Morgan City, La. 4 8-12 239 $450.00
Day 1: 3 7-00 Day 2: 1 1-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
19. Rodney Teel Ponchatoula, La. 4 8-06 237 $432.00
Day 1: 2 4-10 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 1 1-10
20. Brad Rodrigue Pierre Part, La. 4 8-05 235 $414.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 6-11 Day 3: 1 1-10
21. Will Major Port Allen, La. 4 7-08 233 $396.00
Day 1: 3 6-00 Day 2: 1 1-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
22. Dan Hester Keithville, La. 4 7-06 231 $360.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 7-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
23. Takuji Naruo Moriyama, Japan 2 7-05 229 $342.00
Day 1: 1 5-11 Day 2: 1 1-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
24. William Watts Beaumont, Texas 4 7-04 227 $324.00
Day 1: 3 5-02 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
25. Gary Fields New Orleans, La. 3 7-03 225 $306.00
Day 1: 2 4-14 Day 2: 1 2-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
26. Alan Sward Moss Point, Miss. 4 7-00 223 $288.00
Day 1: 2 3-01 Day 2: 1 2-06 Day 3: 1 1-09
27. Tom Atkeson New Orleans, La. 4 6-11 221 $270.00
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 2 3-13 Day 3: 1 1-07
28. Gennaro Dicola Bedford, Texas 3 6-04 219 $252.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 2 4-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
29. Claude Rabb Vidalia, La. 3 5-07 217 $234.00
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
30. John Fain Spring, Texas 3 5-07 215 $216.00
Day 1: 1 2-09 Day 2: 2 2-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 4 128 254-06
2 1 106 196-15
3 0 27 54-07
----------------------------------
5 261 505-12
2009 BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN POINTS STANDINGS
2009 Central 3 - Morgan City, LA - Central 3 - Morgan City, LA Boater Points After Atchafalaya River Basin, Morgan City, La. Ending 11-07-2009, Day 3
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 James Niggemeyer Texas 829
2 Cliff Crochet La. 793
3 Edwin Evers Okla. 786
4 Chris McCall Texas 744
5 Todd Castledine Texas 723
6 Gary Key Ariz. 718
7 Bradley Hallman Okla. 702
8 Stephen Johnston Texas 701
9 Dave Mansue Texas 681
10 Jerrel Pringle Texas 637
11 Cody Bird Texas 629
12 Dennis Tietje La. 586
13 Harold Allen Texas 585
14 Takahiro Omori Texas 584
15 Mike McClelland Ark. 571
16 Jeff Kriet Okla. 563
17 Charles Bebber Texas 557
18 Clark Reehm Ark. 555
19 Zachary King Ark. 553
20 Keith Caka Texas 546
21 Arnie Lane Fla. 540
22 Russell Parrish Texas 536
23 Todd Faircloth Texas 534
24 Kyle Fox Fla. 532
25 Wade Leblanc La. 529
26 Lee Sisson Fla. 516
27 Terry Segraves Fla. 515
27 Yukinari Uchiyama Texas 515
29 Justin Haynes Okla. 514
30 Jimmy Mize Ark. 501
31 Kris Wilson Texas 495
32 Tim Carmouche La. 476
33 Corey Waldrop Texas 474
34 James Stricklin Texas 468
35 Vince Fulks Okla. 467
36 Mark Smith La. 463
37 Charles Hammack Texas 459
38 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 455
39 Bryan Talmadge Ala. 451
40 Sam Swett La. 447
41 Cliff Pace Miss. 444
42 Tony Chachere La. 443
43 Homer Humphreys La. 439
44 Gary Riffle Texas 437
45 Rob Burns Texas 432
45 James Biggs Texas 432
47 OT Fears Okla. 422
47 Sandy Gaudet La. 422
49 Billy Hurt Tenn. 417
50 Jamie Laiche La. 414
51 Joe Erwin Okla. 409
52 David Curtis Texas 406
53 Sam Newby Okla. 398
54 Paul Ferguson Texas 393
55 Brannon Long Texas 385
56 Ken Iyobe Japan 378
57 Danny Smith La. 375
58 Larry Byrd La. 374
59 Chris Burnham La. 371
60 J Todd Tucker Ga. 360
61 Chad Sposito La. 359
62 Duane Pittman La. 353
63 Robert Byrd Texas 350
64 Porter Trimble La. 348
65 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 347
66 Phil Addison Texas 346
67 Tommy Martin Texas 344
68 Matt Reed Texas 342
69 Mark Goines Okla. 335
70 Ed Whaley Texas 330
71 David Gillham Texas 328
72 Craig Massey Texas 319
73 Wayne Hauser N.C. 314
74 Derek Remitz Ala. 304
74 Glen Freeman La. 304
76 Bill Burns Texas 299
77 Landon Ware Texas 285
78 Keith Poche Ala. 281
79 Pete Ponds Miss. 280
79 Dustin Evans Tenn. 280
79 Jamie Narramore Ark. 280
79 Scott Rook Ark. 280
83 Mac McDaniel Miss. 279
83 Ken Warren Iowa 279
85 Dale Jackson Texas 277
86 Scott Dean Texas 276
86 Todd Littleton La. 276
88 Lance Vick Texas 275
89 Bart Doty Texas 274
90 Stephen Browning Ark. 272
90 Justin Hamner Ala. 272
92 Andrew Upshaw Texas 269
92 Cliff Crowder Ark. 269
94 Billy Billeaud La. 268
95 Andre Moore Ala. 260
95 Ben Matsubu Texas 260
97 Gary Klein Texas 259
98 Donald Corey La. 256
99 Carl Svebek III Ark. 254
100 Kurt Dove Texas 253
101 Bert Thompson La. 252
102 Jeff Cloud Texas 250
103 Jason Berg Minn. 249
104 Marvin Ettredge La. 247
105 Brian Jackson Tenn. 242
106 Ryan Lavigne La. 240
106 Brent Broussard La. 240
108 Vance Montgomery Okla. 239
108 Frank Scalish Ohio 239
110 Logan Sherrer La. 237
110 Mike Michalec Texas 237
112 Anthony Cerar Okla. 233
113 Jeff Avery Ark. 228
114 Jelani Hennessey Va. 227
115 Eric Wilson Texas 226
116 David Truax Texas 219
117 Ryan Brown La. 215
118 Jeff Buchanan Texas 213
118 Steve Gulloto La. 213
120 Mike Hawkes Texas 209
121 Roy Sanford Texas 207
122 Jim Culp Okla. 204
123 Jimmie Johnson La. 197
124 Gene Eisenmann Texas 196
125 Avery Usand La. 193
126 Shane Gibson Texas 191
127 Brannon Jones Ala. 187
127 Tommy Dickerson Texas 187
129 Gary Vining La. 186
130 Neal Gilmore Texas 185
131 Eric Nethery Ga. 184
131 Donnie Courtney La. 184
133 Shane Williams La. 183
134 Dennis Fikes Texas 179
135 Mike Haggerty Tenn. 176
136 Daniel Stokes Texas 174
136 Ronnie Buquet La. 174
138 Randy Qualls Ark. 172
139 Preston Frazell Okla. 169
140 Mike Burns Texas 168
140 Doug Vahrenberg Mo. 168
142 George Jeane La. 161
143 Chris Lane Ala. 159
143 Gene Pizzolato La. 159
145 Wade Middleton Texas 154
145 James Kennedy La. 154
145 Joey Deveer La. 154
148 Don Hutchinson La. 147
149 David Sherrer La. 146
150 Ray Brazier Tenn. 143
151 Darrell Lyons Texas 141
152 Scott Mcgehee Miss. 135
152 Mike Norsworthy Miss. 135
154 Bill Lee Texas 132
155 John Burns Miss. 130
156 Bud Pruitt Texas 127
157 Jason Christie Okla. 125
158 Randy Allen La. 123
159 Jeremy Montoya Colo. 121
159 Jason Reyes Texas 121
161 Jeremy Guidry La. 120
162 Johnny Grice Texas 115
162 Quinn Peacock Texas 115
164 Rick Clunn Mo. 113
164 Michael Randolph Texas 113
166 Terry Butcher Okla. 111
166 Timmy Reneau Texas 111
168 Teb Jones Miss. 109
168 Tommy Durham Texas 109
170 Kyle Allen La. 107
171 Glynn Reid La. 103
172 Preston Johnson Wisc. 102
172 Mike Lott Texas 102
174 Patrick Pierce Fla. 101
174 Craig Dowling La. 101
176 Jerry McKinnis Ark. 99
177 Michael Bass Texas 97
177 Danny Owens La. 97
179 Jimmy Mason Ala. 95
179 Roger Boler La. 95
181 Stan Gerzsenyi Texas 93
182 Lloyd McDaniel Miss. 91
183 Kathy Crowder Ark. 90
184 Ross Watkins Miss. 89
185 Jerry Williams Ark. 86
186 Morris Hymel La. 82
187 Bradley Stringer Texas 79
188 Michael Wohl Texas 76
189 Darrell Newman Texas 75
189 Melinda Mize Ark. 75
189 Cody Naquin La. 75
192 Trent Durst Texas 72
193 Rodney Clawson Tenn. 71
194 Joe Joslin La. 69
195 Bob Sealy Texas 67
196 Guy Adams Texas 64
197 Mitchell Nezat La. 61
197 Phil Marks Texas 61
199 Sammy Burks Mo. 59
200 Jonathon Vandam Mich. 57
201 Albert White Texas 56
202 Chad Griffin Texas 55
202 Ricky Fields Ala. 55
204 Garrett Mercer Calif. 52
204 Brian Kanke Texas 52
206 Lonnie Dean La. 50
206 Ernest Smoak La. 50
208 Mike Holland La. 49
209 James Smiley Calif. 47
210 Larry Todd La. 43
211 Theron Caldwell Texas 42
212 Joe Copeland Okla. 41
213 Deryl Janzen Ark. 37
214 Travis Gray La. 36
215 Aaron Johnson La. 35
216 Greg Watts Fla. 34
217 Joseph New Texas 33
217 Willard Moore La. 33
219 Douglas Jones Okla. 32
220 Steve Hayden N.M. 31
221 John Cromwell Tenn. 29
222 Sean Hoernke Texas 26
223 Mary DiVincenti La. 24
223 Yarri Schreibvogel Texas 24
225 Shawn Johnson Texas 23
226 Byron Velvick Texas 22
227 Jacky Hawthorne Texas 21
228 Travis Loyd Ill. 18
229 Chris Michels Texas 15
230 Lucy Mize Ark. 14
231 Pat Baker Texas 12
232 Billy Brewer Texas 9
233 Cecil Kingsley Kan. 8
234 Reed Sartin Texas 3
235 Derek Allen La. 2
236 Jeff Jordan Okla. 1
236 Thomas Loving Texas 1
236 Jason Lieblong Ark. 1
236 Kathi Hurst Miss. 1
236 Dave Lance La. 1
236 Bryan Schmidt Texas 1
236 Scott Reed Tenn. 1
243 Morris Herring Texas 0
243 Vincent Parello Texas 0
243 Ish Monroe Calif. 0
243 Yoshikazu Sato Japan 0
243 Greg Bourdonnay La. 0
243 Conrad Picou La. 0
