PARIS, Tenn. – Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers got the kind of bite Thursday that helps a professional angler separate himself from the field in a tournament like BASSfest tournament at Kentucky Lake. But when the mammoth 8-pound largemouth first bit, he wasn’t sure what he had.
“I set the hook on that thing, and I thought I had the bottom,” Evers said. “It was a really cool bite. I didn’t think she would weigh that much, but she was solid.”
The big fish of the day helped Evers put together a five-bass limit that weighed 27 pounds, 2 ounces and pushed him into the lead with a two-day total of 51-2. Michigan superstar Kevin VanDam is second with 47-14, while Alabama pros Derek Remitz and Tim Horton are next with 47-4 each.
Evers’ 8-pounder was the biggest fish of the day and the biggest of the event so far. The fish also helped him claim the $2,000 Rigid Industries big-bass jackpot. Also as the leader on the second day of the tournament, Evers will be awarded the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500.
“I caught that fish from a spot where I had already caught several,” Evers said. “It was mixed in with a bunch of fish, but they weren’t all 8 pounds, like that one.”
Unlike Wednesday, when Evers caught most of his 24-pound limit before 10 a.m., it took a while for him to land the five fish he eventually weighed in Thursday. But once he felt he had enough fish in the livewell, he did some looking around and found good reasons to be excited about the next round.
“I feel great about Saturday,” Evers said. “I found another school today that I’m pretty excited about. I made two casts and caught two giants.”
Evers holds more than a 3-pound lead over VanDam, who came back to the weigh-in site almost two hours early Thursday with a five-fish limit that weighed 24-5. Anglers are allowed to weigh their catch early when they’re concerned the fish may die, and VanDam had at least one fish he said was laboring. The loss of fishing time didn’t hurt him — even though his bites came slower Thursday than they did on Day 1.
“You just never know on this lake,” VanDam said. “There was a lot less current today, so it didn’t happen as fast for me. I have no idea what’ll happen going forward, but I’ve had two solid days.”
Despite the smaller pro field Saturday, VanDam said heavy local boat traffic could be a factor.
“Saturday is a really challenging time on a lake like Kentucky Lake,” VanDam said. “Electronics are so good now that a lot of people know where to fish. You just have to do the best you can.”
The biggest bag of the day – five fish that weighed 28-1 – belonged to Remitz, who is establishing himself as one of the tougher anglers to beat on Tennessee River lakes. After finishing in third place at Lake Guntersville in April, Remitz is in third again, less than 4 pounds out of the lead. One of Remitz’s largest fish weighed just over 6 pounds and didn’t give up easily.
“The fish just had one hook in the corner of its mouth,” Remitz said. “I couldn’t really get my hand in its mouth, so I just tried to scoop it into the boat. I had him against the boat with one arm, and the hook came out of his mouth. I just used my other hand and dumped him in the boat.
“When that happens and you still land the fish, you know it’s going to be your day.”
The Top 50 anglers will take a break from fishing Friday while those who finished 51st or lower compete in a special Second Chance tournament on nearby Lake Barkley. The Top 10 anglers from the Second Chance event will rejoin the original Top 50 on Kentucky Lake Saturday with only the Top 12 advancing to Sunday’s championship round.
It took 33-9 to make the Top 50 and qualify for the day off on Friday. Friday’s takeoff will be at 6:15 a.m. from Lick Creek Recreational Area in Dover, Tenn. Weigh-in is scheduled back at the recreational area for 2:30 p.m.
2015 BASSfest at Kentucky Lake 6/3-6/7
Kentucky Lake, Paris TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 51-02 100
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 27-02
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 47-14 99
Day 1: 5 23-09 Day 2: 5 24-05
3. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 47-04 98
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 28-01
4. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 47-04 97
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 27-01
5. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 46-11 96
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 5 23-06
6. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 45-12 95
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 26-11
7. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 45-03 94
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 22-05
8. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 44-09 93
Day 1: 5 26-07 Day 2: 5 18-02
9. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 43-06 92
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 22-10
10. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 10 42-08 91
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 22-06
11. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 42-06 90
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 17-02
12. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 42-05 0
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 21-06
13. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 42-03 89
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 20-10
14. Chris Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 42-00 0
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 20-13
15. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 41-14 88
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 20-02
16. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 41-00 87
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 19-04
17. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 40-13 86
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 21-13
18. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 40-07 85
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 19-14
19. Shin Fukae Palestine, TX 10 40-06 0
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 17-08
20. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 40-04 84
Day 1: 5 22-07 Day 2: 5 17-13
21. Matt Lee Auburn , AL 10 39-09 83
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 20-13
22. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 10 39-04 82
Day 1: 5 22-08 Day 2: 5 16-12
23. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 38-14 81
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 18-07
24. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 38-13 80
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 21-04
25. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 38-07 79
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 18-05
26. JT Kenney Palm Bay, FL 10 38-04 0
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 17-15
27. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 10 38-01 78
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 16-08
28. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 37-07 77
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 15-08
29. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 37-07 76
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 17-12
30. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 37-06 0
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 16-01
31. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 37-05 75
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 18-11
32. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 9 37-04 74
Day 1: 4 14-02 Day 2: 5 23-02
33. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 36-12 73
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 18-06
34. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 36-11 72
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 19-05
35. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 10 36-07 71
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 19-12
36. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 10 36-06 70
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 19-03
37. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 36-03 69
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 15-03
38. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 36-00 68
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 15-11
39. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 36-00 67
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 15-15
40. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 36-00 66
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 17-01
41. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 35-12 65
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 15-08
42. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 35-10 64
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 14-08
43. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 10 35-07 63
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-02
44. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 35-03 62
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 18-15
45. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 34-14 61
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 20-12
46. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 34-12 60
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 16-12
47. Jordan Lee Vinemont, AL 10 34-09 59
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 17-02
48. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 34-03 58
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 17-02
49. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 33-13 57
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 16-14
50. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 33-09 56
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 17-02
51. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 33-08 55
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 14-03
52. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 32-12 54
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 13-13
53. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 10 32-10 53
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 13-04
54. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 32-09 52
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 18-04
55. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 32-06 51
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-13
56. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 32-02 50
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 20-13
57. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 10 31-13 49
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 19-01
58. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 9 31-07 48
Day 1: 4 11-13 Day 2: 5 19-10
59. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 31-00 47
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 13-13
60. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 30-14 46
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-15
61. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 30-10 45
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 16-00
62. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 30-07 44
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 15-09
63. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 29-11 43
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 13-10
64. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 29-09 42
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 12-12
65. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 9 29-07 41
Day 1: 4 18-01 Day 2: 5 11-06
66. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 29-05 40
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
67. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 8 28-03 39
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 5 17-14
68. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 28-01 38
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-14
69. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 10 27-15 37
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 17-14
70. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 10 27-13 36
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 14-00
71. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 9 27-03 35
Day 1: 4 10-07 Day 2: 5 16-12
72. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 10 27-03 34
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-15
73. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 10 26-15 33
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 14-13
74. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 8 26-14 32
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 3 09-11
75. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 26-08 31
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 14-04
76. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 26-08 30
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-15
77. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 26-07 29
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
78. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 8 26-03 28
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 5 21-07
79. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 26-00 27
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 12-01
80. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 25-15 26
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 12-12
81. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 24-11 25
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 11-08
82. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 24-09 24
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 10-12
83. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 24-09 23
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-09
84. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 23-15 22
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-15
85. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 9 23-13 21
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 4 09-13
86. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 9 23-05 0
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00
87. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 8 22-04 20
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 3 09-13
88. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 22-03 19
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 12-01
89. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 9 22-02 18
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
90. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 9 21-10 17
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 12-11
91. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 10 21-00 16
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 10-13
92. David Walker Sevierville, TN 6 20-15 15
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 5 18-03
93. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 6 20-12 14
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 1 03-10
94. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 9 20-12 13
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 4 10-05
95. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 7 20-06 12
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 2 04-08
96. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 8 20-05 11
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 07-03
97. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 7 19-14 10
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 5 13-13
98. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 6 19-12 9
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 1 01-13
99. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 8 19-10 8
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 08-13
100. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 7 18-14 7
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 2 07-09
101. Troy Broussard Beaumont, TX 8 18-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 3 06-07
102. Casey Scanlon Lanexa, KS 6 18-07 6
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 1 04-03
103. Chad Wiley Pineville, LA 8 17-02 0
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 3 05-13
104. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 8 16-05 5
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 3 05-14
105. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 7 15-15 4
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 3 07-10
106. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 7 15-10 3
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 3 07-09
107. Gary Clouse La Vergne, TN 5 14-04 0
Day 1: 4 10-06 Day 2: 1 03-14
108. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 7 14-03 2
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 2 04-12
109. David Smith Del City, OK 6 12-11 1
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 5 11-01
110. Jesse Tacoronte Orlando, FL 4 12-07 0
Day 1: 2 06-08 Day 2: 2 05-15
111. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 5 12-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 3 08-02
112. Scott Barnett Mansfield, TX 3 10-12 0
Day 1: 3 10-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Jared Miller Norman, OK 6 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 2 02-11
114. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 4 10-08 0
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 2 04-09
115. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 4 08-13 0
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 2 06-07 0
Day 1: 2 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
117. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 1 01-08
118. Craig Workman Fort Worth, TX 3 06-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
119. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 1 01-06
120. David Williams Maiden, NC 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-09
121. Stephen Longobardi Northford, CT 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
123. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Logan Sherrer Karnack, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 94 543 1801-14
2 91 517 1722-15
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185 1060 3524-13