CLEWISTON, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2005) - Pro Daryl Deka of Wellington, Fla. caught a final-round total of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 6 ounces to win the EverStart Series Southeast Division bass fishing tournament at Lake Okeechobee. Deka won $10,000 plus a Ranger 519 VX.
"I made the cut pitching a 10-inch worm to spawning fish in reeds," Deka said. "But I'd been saving an area on the east side of Monkey Box for the final round. All the other anglers have been fishing on the west side. I switched to a 4-inch Gambler crawdad today and caught three 6-pounders out of that spot."
Deka also used Garmin Electronics and won the Garmin Grand award worth $1,000.
Rounding out the top-five pros are J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md. (10 bass, 30 pounds, 12 ounces); Edward Guice of Decatur, Ala. (10 bass, 27 pounds, 11 ounces); Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala. (10 bass, 24 pounds, 15 ounces); and Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla. (10 bass, 23 pounds, 15 ounces).
In addition, Kenney won the Ranger Cup award worth $1,500.
The top co-angler of the tournament, Edwin Kimbrough of Sebastian, Fla., caught a final-round total of 10 bass weighing 22 pounds to earn $5,000.
"I was fishing the Monkey Box, same as everyone else," Kimbrough said. "I've been flipping and pitching, and I caught two good fish today on that pattern. One was an 8-pounder and the other was a 3-pounder." Kimbrough said he's been fishing a similar pattern for the duration of the tournament. He added that pressure has been heavy in the best areas, and that there were four other boats in his area today.
Kimbrough was fishing with pro Sandy Melvin of Boca Grande, Fla., who finished the event in sixth place.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Ed Dixon of Helen, Ga. (eight bass, 16 pounds, 5 ounces); Aymon Wilcox of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (seven bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces); Kenneth Owens of Wise, Va. (10 bass, 6 pounds, 9 ounces); and Alan Weiss of Greensburg, Pa. (six bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces).
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.
The next EverStart Series Southeast Division event will be held March 2-5 on Santee Cooper in Manning, S.C. Boats will launch from John C. Land III Landing on Lake Marion in Summerton, S.C. on Wednesday morning. The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the event. Friday and Saturday's weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart on 481 W. Boyce St. in Manning.
For more information on the EverStart Series or any of FLW Outdoors' eight tournament trails, visit FLWOutdoors.com.