CORNELIUS, N.C. - It's been a tough year for bass fishing locals. First, Peter Thliveros snatched a victory away from central Florida native Jim Bitter at the Harris Chain of Lakes in February. Today, Oklahoma's Edwin Evers took a win away from local top gun Jason Quinn at the $618,000 Bassmaster Tour stop at Lake Norman. Evers' 10-pound, three-ounce catch gave him a four-day total weight of 46-6, just 13 ounces better than Quinn.
To add insult to injury, Evers managed to land a three-pound, six-ounce largemouth on his last cast of the day to take Big Bass honors and $1,000. That last fish was certainly the difference between his catch and Quinn's.
"I was concentrating on docks that were in pockets," explained Evers. "I was flipping a jig hoping to get a big bite. I made a real big flip into a back hole and that's when I got it!"
Evers caught his five-fish limit flipping that jig and casting a crankbait in water five feet deep or less.
"I started by casting a Rapala Shad Rap on points in really shallow water, catching spotted bass," said Evers. "I had my limit by 10 a.m. and caught eight or nine keepers for the day."
Evers' game plan included fishing smaller pockets and the backsides of boat docks.
Quinn, a Clover, S.C., pro and sometime Lake Norman fishing guide, took second place after leading the previous two days of the tournament. In the final round, Quinn managed to bring in just four bass weighing six pounds, 14 ounces for a total weight of 45-9.
"I had been watching a six- or seven-pound largemouth sunning the last few days and had been waiting for her all week," said a disappointed Quinn. "I missed her on the first cast, and on the second cast I nailed her. I set the hook, and she was coming at me, but then she broke me off."
Quinn caught most of his bass on a bronze Luhr-Jensen Speed Trap, running and gunning from one boat dock to the next and fishing as many docks over the course of the day as he could.
Four-time Classic champion Rick Clunn moved up from fifth to third on the final day with a limit catch weighing 12 pounds, five ounces, bringing his tournament total to 45-8. Clunn's big bag made him the winner of the day, earning him an additional $1,000.
Clunn fished a bait of his own design to finish third. He was casting a Lucky Craft Rick Clunn 1.5 crankbait in copper green shad in one to three feet of water.
"I've been committed to the area where I caught my 15-pound bag [on Day One]," said Clunn. "The fish finally started hitting around 9:30 a.m., and I was looking for one big kicker but never found her."
Louisiana's Greg Hackney, the 2004 Toyota Rookie of the Year, claimed fourth position with an 11-pound, eight-ounce catch on Sunday, bringing his total weight to 45 pounds.
"I went to one boat dock and caught five right off. Once you stir them up, you can catch them without your bait ever hitting the bottom."
Hackney used a four inch, green pumpkin straight-tailed plastic worm to catch his bass, running boat docks the entire four days.
Kotaro Kiriyama fell from second after Day Three to finish fifth overall. He began the event with what proved to be the biggest catch of the tournament, but could only bring two fish weighing 3-13 to the scales in the final round.
"Today, I had a bad day," said Kiriyama. "All week I was fishing in a current in the middle of the dam by rocks and stumps. Today, I fished with no current, and the fish really needed it."
California pro Ishama Monroe rounded out the Super Six with a catch of nine pounds, four ounces and a total weight of 40-14. Monroe threw Zoom Baby Brush Hogs to brush piles scattered around the lake.
The Bassmaster Tour event on Lake Norman will be telecast on The Bassmasters on Saturday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
2005 North Carolina Bassmaster Tour Pro 03/17-20
Lake Norman, Near Charlotte, N.C.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 20 46-06 305
$103,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 12-15 Day 4: 5
10-03
2. Jason Quinn Clover, S.C. 19 45-09 305
$38,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 9-12 Day 4: 4
6-14
3. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 20 45-08 290
$24,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 9-14 Day 3: 5 8-03 Day 4: 5
12-05
4. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 20 45-00 285
$20,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 10-08 Day 4: 5
11-08
5. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 17 41-03 285
$16,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 8-05 Day 3: 5 9-10 Day 4: 2
3-13
6. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 20 40-14 276
$14,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 8-15 Day 3: 5 8-03 Day 4: 5
9-04
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Big Bass
Day
1 Randy Blaukat Lamar, Mo. 5-10 $1,000.00
2 David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5-12 $1,000.00
3 Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 3-05 $1,000.00
4 Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 3-06 $1,000.00
Purolator Bonus
Day
2 David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5-12 $1,000.00
Big Bass of Tournament
David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5-12 $1,000.00
Heavyweight
Day
1 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 19-07 $1,000.00
2 Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 16-12 $1,000.00
3 Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 12-15 $1,000.00
4 Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 12-05 $1,000.00
Angler of the Year Leader
Marty Stone Linden, N.C. $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 84 609 1282-00
2 62 548 1077-15
3 7 44 85-00
4 4 26 53-15
----------------------------------
157 1227 2498-14
2005 Angler of the Year Pro Points
After Near Charlotte, N.C. Ending 03-20-2005, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Marty Stone N.C. 1129
2 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 1119
3 Edwin Evers Okla. 1117
4 Terry Scroggins Fla. 1100
4 Skeet Reese Calif. 1100
6 Aaron Martens Ala. 1097
7 David Walker Tenn. 1047
8 Dave Wolak Pa. 1040
9 Rick Clunn Mo. 1038
10 George Cochran Ark. 1028
11 Jeff Kriet Okla. 1018
12 Greg Hackney La. 987
13 Mark Tucker Mo. 972
13 Brian Snowden Mo. 972
15 Ron Shuffield Ark. 961
16 Kevin VanDam Mich. 955
17 Jimmy Mize Ark. 943
18 Preston Clark Fla. 940
19 Scott Rook Ark. 931
20 Luke Clausen Wash. 923
21 Kevin Wirth Ky. 920
22 Guy Eaker N.C. 919
23 John Crews Va. 894
24 Ishama Monroe Calif. 880
25 Mark Tyler Ariz. 879
26 Mike Reynolds Calif. 862
27 Tim Horton Ala. 856
28 Takahiro Omori Texas 850
29 Tommy Biffle Okla. 847
30 Jay Yelas Texas 843
31 Larry Nixon Ark. 836
32 Frank Scalish Ohio 833
33 Bud Pruitt Texas 824
33 Bernie Schultz Fla. 824
35 Todd Faircloth Texas 819
36 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 817
37 Gerald Swindle Ala. 813
38 Andre Moore Ariz. 810
39 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 804
40 Mark Rizk Ala. 792
41 Kelly Jordon Texas 783
42 Jay Kendrick Tenn. 781
42 Rick Morris Va. 781
44 Mike Wurm Ark. 777
45 Scott Suggs Ark. 775
45 Stacey D King Mo. 775
47 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 774
48 O T Fears III Okla. 770
49 Lee Bailey Conn. 763
50 Paul Elias Miss. 756
51 Tommy Martin Texas 754
52 Jason Quinn S.C. 753
53 Zell Rowland Texas 749
54 Randy Howell Ala. 737
55 Gary Yamamoto Texas 736
56 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 727
57 David Wharton Texas 719
58 Stephen Browning Ark. 718
59 Russ Lane Ala. 713
60 David Dudley Va. 699
61 Darryl Burkhardt Ore. 692
62 Charlie Hartley Ohio 691
63 David Fritts N.C. 681
63 Terry Butcher Okla. 681
65 David Gliebe Calif. 677
66 Peter E Thliveros Fla. 669
67 Chris Baumgardner N.C. 666
68 Davy Hite S.C. 665
68 Jack A Gadlage Ky. 665
70 Curt Lytle Va. 663
71 Dustin Wilks N.C. 660
72 Kenyon Hill Okla. 658
73 Gary Klein Texas 655
74 Robert Hamilton Jr Miss. 654
75 Brent Chapman Kan. 651
76 Dean Rojas Texas 646
77 Robert Lee Calif. 644
78 Dion Hibdon Mo. 637
78 Matt Reed Texas 637
80 Kevin Short Ark. 635
80 Cliff Pace Miss. 635
82 Mike McClelland Ark. 632
83 Frank Ippoliti Md. 629
84 Mike Hicks Va. 626
84 Mark Rogers Fla. 626
86 Norio Tanabe Japan 616
87 Jarrett Edwards Colo. 615
87 Roger Boler La. 615
89 R J Bennett Calif. 611
89 Danny White Ga. 611
91 John Murray Ariz. 606
92 Pete Gluszek N.J. 605
93 Art Ferguson III Mich. 603
94 Gerald Gostenik Mich. 601
95 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 590
96 Jeff Magee Miss. 589
97 Denny Brauer Mo. 580
98 Todd Auten S.C. 576
99 Roland Martin Fla. 574
100 Randy Blaukat Mo. 568
101 Jim Bitter Fla. 560
101 Alton Jones Texas 560
103 Mark Rose Ark. 554
104 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Fla. 551
105 Jimmy Houston Okla. 547
106 Chad Brauer Mo. 545
107 Steve Sennikoff Texas 541
108 Woo Daves Va. 536
109 Mike Auten Ky. 532
110 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 526
111 Eric Nethery Ga. 522
112 Tommy Stiles Tenn. 520
113 Doug Garrett Ark. 518
114 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 511
115 Jesse Draime Miss. 509
115 Mark Davis Ark. 509
117 Byron Velvick Nev. 507
118 Chris Bielert Conn. 504
119 Joe Thomas Ohio 502
120 Ben Matsubu Texas 500
121 Tom Mann, Jr Ga. 499
122 Chip Hawkins Ark. 495
123 Tim Loper Miss. 494
124 Johnny Lesesne Ga. 476
125 Randy Yarnall Pa. 475
126 Elton Luce Jr Texas 471
127 Jack Wade Tenn. 469
128 Harold Allen Texas 458
129 Terry Baksay Conn. 452
130 Chris Daves Va. 445
131 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 435
132 Jason Reyes Texas 423
133 Ken Cook Okla. 409
134 Cody Bird Texas 401
135 David Mansue N.J. 389
136 Mike O'Shea Calif. 382
137 Homer Humphreys, Jr La. 378
138 Zachary Thompson Calif. 367
138 Marcel Veenstra Mich. 367
140 Charlie Weyer Calif. 366
140 Sean Hoernke Texas 366
142 Kyle Mabrey Ala. 356
143 Tim Carroll Okla. 351
144 Pete Ponds Miss. 347
145 Jimmy Mason Ala. 321
146 Brett Hite Ariz. 290
147 Steve Daniel Fla. 284
148 Thad Takes Iowa 268
149 Brooks Rogers Texas 256
150 Bradley Stringer Texas 234
151 Terry Adams La. 193
152 Mark Menendez Ky. 187
153 Randy Dearman Texas 184
154 Louis Iribarren N.Y. 174
155 Bink Desaro Idaho 173
156 Charlie Youngers Fla. 168
157 Grant Goldbeck Md. 152
158 David Cooke N.C. 58
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
2005 Tournament Year
After NEAR CHARLOTTE, NC ending 03-20-2005, Day 4
Place Angler Name City State Total Points
1 David Wolak Warrior Run Pa. 1040
2 Preston Clark Palatka Fla. 940
3 Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff Calif. 817
4 Andre Moore Scottsdale Ariz. 810
5 Russell Lane Prattville Ala. 713
6 Terry Butcher Talala Okla. 681
7 David Gliebe Stockton Calif. 677
8 Cliff Pace Petal Miss. 635
9 Jesse Draime Long Beach Miss. 509
10 Chris Bielert Danbury Conn. 504
11 Chip Hawkins White Hall Ark. 495
12 Fred Roumbanis Auburn Calif. 435
13 Zachary Thompson Orinda Calif. 367
14 Thad Takes Center Point Iowa 268
15 Bradley Stringer Huntington Texas 234
16 Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg Md. 152
2005 Horizon Award
2005 After NEAR CHARLOTTE, NC ending 03-20-2005, Day 4
---------------------------------------------------------
Place Name 2004 Finish 2005 Standings
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Frank Scalish 147 32
2 Jay Kendrick 143 43
3 Jeff Kriet 109 11
4 Gary Yamamoto 151 55
5 John Crews 107 23
6 Todd Faircloth 116 35
7 Rick Morris 122 43
7 Kotaro Kiriyama 120 41
9 Stephen Browning 131 58
10 Roger Boler 153 87
11 Norio Tanabe 148 86
12 Mike Reynolds 85 26
13 Mike Wurm 103 45
14 Michael Hicks 141 84
15 Frank Ippoliti 135 83
16 Mark Tyler 75 24
17 Jimmy Mize 67 17
17 Robert Hamilton Jr 124 74
19 Mark Rizk 89 40
20 Luke Clausen 67 20
21 Pete Gluszek 138 92
22 Ron Shuffield 58 14
23 Guy Eaker 63 22
23 Jeff Reynolds 80 39
23 Jarrett Edwards 128 87
26 George Cochran 48 9
27 Terry Scroggins 40 3
27 Morizo Shimizu 93 56
27 Scott Rook 55 18
30 Rick Clunn 45 9
30 Curt Lytle 106 70
32 Ishama Monroe 57 25
33 Larry Nixon 62 31
34 David Fritts 91 63
35 Tommy Stiles 139 112
36 Jay Yelas 56 30
37 Edwin Evers 31 6
38 Mark Tucker 36 12
39 Tommy Biffle 52 29
40 David Walker 27 8
40 Doug Garrett 132 113
40 Woo Daves 127 108
43 Steve Sennikoff 125 107
43 Brian Snowden 30 12
43 Bud Pruitt 51 33
46 Marty Stone 14 1
46 R J Bennett 102 89
48 Kevin Wirth 33 21
49 Randy Howell 60 49
49 Roland Martin 110 99
51 Johnny Lesesne 134 124
51 Kevin VanDam 26 16
53 Tom Mann, Jr 130 121
53 Byron Velvick 126 117
55 Darryl Burkhardt 70 62
56 O T Fears III 54 48
56 Charlie Hartley 66 60
58 Homer Humphreys, Jr 142 137
59 Kenyon Hill 76 72
60 Ken Cook 136 133
61 Skeet Reese 5 3
62 Aaron Martens 6 5
62 Michael Iaconelli 3 2
ALL MONEY REPORT
All Years
After NEAR CHARLOTTE, NC ending 03-20-2005
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---------------------------------------------------
Place Angler Name City State
Cash Merchandise Cash Total
Winnings Bonus Bonus Winnings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
1 Denny Brauer Camdenton Mo.
1,277,676.71 556,000.00 55,500.00 1,889,176.71
2 Rick Clunn Ava Mo.
1,052,820.53 512,000.00 62,724.00 1,627,544.53
3 Larry Nixon Bee Branch Ark.
1,087,295.58 450,000.00 42,363.00 1,579,658.58
4 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo Mich.
832,508.33 420,000.00 177,600.00 1,430,108.33
5 Jay Yelas Tyler Texas
812,507.00 357,000.00 137,100.00 1,306,607.00
6 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville Fla.
744,680.23 471,500.00 41,750.00 1,257,930.23
7 Gary Klein Weatherford Texas
874,543.97 298,000.00 66,800.00 1,239,343.97
8 Ron Shuffield Bismarck Ark.
730,771.00 260,000.00 52,000.00 1,042,771.00
9 Roland Martin Naples Fla.
764,528.16 220,000.00 53,539.00 1,038,067.16
10 George Cochran Hot Springs Ark.
758,309.78 232,000.00 38,100.00 1,028,409.78
11 Mark Davis Mount Ida Ark.
694,771.30 256,000.00 64,300.00 1,015,071.30
12 Davy Hite Prosperity S.C.
583,350.00 289,500.00 66,900.00 939,750.00
13 Zell Rowland Montgomery Texas
739,065.90 144,000.00 54,700.00 937,765.90
14 David Fritts Lexington N.C.
465,155.00 384,000.00 27,850.00 877,005.00
15 Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville Fla.
603,539.00 197,500.00 37,250.00 838,289.00
16 Jim Bitter Fruitland Park Fla.
554,568.60 225,000.00 44,800.00 824,368.60
17 Alton Jones Waco Texas
504,016.67 175,000.00 136,500.00 815,516.67
18 Takahiro Omori Emory Texas
579,275.00 185,000.00 43,500.00 807,775.00
19 Tommy Biffle Wagoner Okla.
491,175.80 264,000.00 51,503.00 806,678.80
20 David Wharton Sam Rayburn Texas
533,538.30 196,000.00 44,187.50 773,725.80
21 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede N.J.
551,845.00 130,000.00 50,400.00 732,245.00
22 Randy Blaukat Lamar Mo.
414,482.70 272,000.00 37,400.00 723,882.70
23 Tommy Martin Hemphill Texas
460,696.51 199,300.00 10,200.00 670,196.51
24 Stacey D King Reeds Spring Mo.
414,609.33 163,000.00 84,000.00 661,609.33
25 Ken Cook Lawton Okla.
514,438.20 108,000.00 23,954.00 646,392.20
26 Tim Horton Muscle Shoals Ala.
368,487.31 207,500.00 38,200.00 614,187.31
27 Woo Daves Spring Grove Va.
459,626.80 144,300.00 8,509.00 612,435.80
28 Guido Hibdon Gravois Mills Mo.
429,380.40 167,000.00 13,000.00 609,380.40
29 Kelly Jordon Mineola Texas
412,862.50 130,000.00 60,000.00 602,862.50
30 Paul Elias Laurel Miss.
454,155.73 95,000.00 34,134.00 583,289.73