PALATKA, Fla. – Targeting the backwaters of the St. Johns River system, and finding an 8-3 “mule” on the last day led Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, to the win Sunday in the Power-Pole Citrus Slam with 77 pounds, 1 ounce, shutting out three-day leader Alton Jones and hard-charging Terry Scroggins.
Trailing Jones by about 2 1/2 pounds before Sunday’s finale, Evers sealed his sixth Bassmaster win by overtaking Jones and besting him by more than 3 pounds. Jones ended in third place with 73-12, leaving second place to Scroggins, who had 74-3.
Evers had one word to describe how he felt about the Bassmaster Elite Series win, worth $100,000, and a 2012 Bassmaster Classic qualification. It was his second Elite title, the first taken on Lake Erie in 2007.
“Awesome, awesome, awesome,” he said. “I thought I’d lost this tournament numerous times every day. Getting the Classic berth is huge, an important step that takes a lot of pressure off.”
Sight-fishing the flats of a St. Johns lake he shared with many other Elite pros the first day, Evers started out in 20th place. He made a crucial decision to leave the community hole and find more private water. He climbed into fourth on the second day, improving once again on the third day when he took the runner-up spot behind Jones. His catches were fairly consistent – 16-8, 22-5 and 19-4 the first three days – but it was his haul of 19 pounds on Sunday that helped him to the win.
Not to mention an 8-13, his big fish of the day and the fish that helped him climb into the winner’s seat.
“It was a fish that I’d found the second day, really shallow,” Evers said. “I went there the third day, and Scroggins was there. I turned around and left. I went there second thing this morning, and the northeast wind held the water up, and I ended up catching the male. It was actually the second time I’d caught him – I lost it and he bit again. She bit five or 10 minutes later.
“She was a mule,” he said.
Evers said he hit many spots over the four days, including one area where he had to saw off overhanging willow branches to be able to put his lures in front of spawning bass.
Sunday afternoon’s 15- to 17-mph winds hurt some of the final 12, but helped Evers. His water was stained, hard to reach and in areas that had not been pounded by the field.
“I had areas that were protected,” he said. “I just had to get them to bite and get them in the boat. When the tide was low, the fish got freaky. I lost some big ones today, at least a 10-pounder and another at the end of the day – but it doesn’t matter now.”
He credited a new formula Yum bait, the F2. He used several styles, including Wooly Bug, Money Craw and a Craw Papi.
Runner-up Scroggins, who gave Evers a little advice as the tournament began, also got a tip from another Elite pro in the top 12. Knowing he could not win, Casey Ashley stepped back from going to a big bass he’d seen in a canal, and gave the location to Scroggins. But when he got there, the fish was gone; but he found another nearby. It weighed 7-12, and was a key to his finish.
“Without that, I wouldn’t even have come close,” Scroggins said.
Competing in his hometown, Scroggins said he was happy to do well, even if he ended as No. 2.
“I’ll take second place every day,” he said.
Jones said the wind on Sunday killed his Lake George sight bite. “You’re not going to catch the big ones unless you’re looking at them, so I was fishing for buck bass most of the day.”
With his back-to-back Top 12 finishes, Jones took the lead in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race from last week’s event winner, Shaw Grigsby. Scroggins moved into second, Kevin VanDam is third, and Evers is in fourth place.
Berkley Big Bass honors of the tournament went to Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., whose 10-3 lunker from the first day withstood all challengers – and several of those were in the high 9’s. Williamson won a $500 bonus.
2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Luck “E” Strike, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ramada
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications – Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times – comprehensive website Bassmaster.com, ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events presented by Yamaha and Skeeter Boats and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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Media Contact: Melissa J. Dixon at 407-566-2295 or melissa.j.dixon@bassmaster.com
FINAL STANDINGS- POWER-POLE CITRUS SLAM
2011 Citrus Slam – Palatka, FL 03/17-03/20 St. Johns River, Palatka Fla.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 20 77-01 305 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 19-04 Day 4: 5 19-00
2. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 20 74-03 295 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 13-15 Day 4: 5 20-04
3. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 20 73-12 305 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-09 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 11-04 Day 4: 5 13-02
4. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 20 68-13 285 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-10 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 20-02 Day 4: 5 14-12
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 20 65-01 280 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 8-13 Day 3: 5 26-00 Day 4: 5 16-12
6. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 20 61-08 276 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 12-00 Day 4: 5 7-11
7. Kelly Jordon Palestine, Texas 18 58-14 272 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 15-14 Day 4: 3 11-05
8. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 20 58-12 268 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 9-05 Day 3: 5 21-07 Day 4: 5 9-09
9. Keith Combs Huntington, Texas 20 57-13 264 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 12-12 Day 4: 5 11-00
10. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 20 57-12 260 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 11-06 Day 4: 5 13-10
11. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 20 52-14 257 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 12-02 Day 4: 5 5-12
12. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark. 17 47-04 254 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 7-14 Day 4: 2 3-00
———————————————————————–
Berkley Big Bass of Tournament
Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 10-03 $500.00
Power-Pole Captains Cash
Day
4 Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. $1,000.00
Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year Leader
Alton Jones Waco, Texas $1,000.00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 82 451 1118-13
2 80 450 960-09
3 46 240 585-14
4 10 55 145-13
———————————-
218 1196 2811-01
TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR POINTS
2011 Citrus Slam – Palatks, FL – Citrus Slam – Palatka, FL Pro Points After St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Ending 03-20-2011, Day 4
——————————————-
Place Name St Pts
——————————————-
1 Alton Jones Texas 573
2 Terry Scroggins Fla. 555
3 Kevin VanDam Mich. 542
4 Edwin Evers Okla. 536
5 Pat Golden N.C. 526
6 Steve Kennedy Ala. 507
7 J Todd Tucker Ga. 501
8 Casey Ashley S.C. 499
9 Todd Faircloth Texas 496
10 Cliff Crochet La. 487
11 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 486
12 Peter Thliveros Fla. 470
13 Jason Williamson S.C. 468
14 Kevin Wirth Ky. 462
15 Chris Lane Ala. 459
15 Dustin Wilks N.C. 459
17 Brent Chapman Kan. 456
17 Jeff Kriet Okla. 456
19 Ott Defoe Tenn. 454
20 Jared Lintner Calif. 449
21 James Niggemeyer Texas 439
22 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 438
23 Clark Reehm Texas 424
24 Rick Clunn Mo. 422
25 Keith Combs Texas 415
26 Bill Lowen Ind. 412
26 Aaron Martens Ala. 412
28 Kelly Jordon Texas 411
29 Stephen Browning Ark. 409
29 Jonathon VanDam Mich. 409
31 Gary Klein Texas 404
32 John Crews Va. 402
33 Greg Vinson Ala. 396
33 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 396
33 Grant Goldbeck Md. 396
36 Matt Greenblatt Fla. 393
37 Cliff Pace Miss. 390
38 Greg Hackney La. 388
39 Keith Poche Ala. 386
40 Billy McCaghren Ark. 379
41 Lee Sisson Fla. 378
42 Zell Rowland Texas 376
43 Mark Davis Ark. 374
44 Dean Rojas Ariz. 368
45 John Murray Ariz. 362
46 Timmy Horton Ala. 360
47 Gerald Swindle Ala. 358
48 Mike McClelland Ark. 356
48 Dean Alexander Texas 356
50 Andy Montgomery S.C. 352
51 Marty Robinson S.C. 348
52 Skeet Reese Calif. 342
53 David Walker Tenn. 336
54 Dave Wolak N.C. 328
54 Bobby Lane Fla. 328
56 Randy Howell Ala. 326
57 Russell Parrish Texas 324
57 Jami Fralick S.D. 324
59 Mark Menendez Ky. 320
60 Davy Hite S.C. 318
61 Takahiro Omori Texas 314
62 Paul Elias Miss. 308
63 Ben Parker Tenn. 306
64 Matt Herren Ala. 304
64 Jason Quinn S.C. 304
66 Brandon Palaniuk Idaho 302
67 Tommy Biffle Okla. 296
67 Britt Myers S.C. 296
69 Craig Schuff Texas 292
70 Charlie Hartley Ohio 290
70 Pete Ponds Miss. 290
70 Rick Morris Va. 290
73 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 286
74 Kevin Short Ark. 284
74 Travis Manson Wisc. 284
76 Matt Reed Texas 282
77 Brian Snowden Mo. 280
78 Ryan Said Mich. 278
79 Ish Monroe Calif. 276
80 Kenyon Hill Okla. 272
81 Russ Lane Ala. 266
81 Bernie Schultz Fla. 266
83 Scott Rook Ark. 260
84 Bradley Roy Ky. 258
85 Bradley Hallman Okla. 248
85 Nate Wellman Mich. 248
87 Jeff Connella La. 244
88 James Stricklin Texas 238
88 Scott Ashmore Okla. 238
90 Boyd Duckett Ala. 236
91 Morizo Shimizu Japan 216
92 Denny Brauer Mo. 210
93 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 206
94 Chad Griffin Texas 202
95 David Smith Okla. 186
96 Terry Butcher Okla. 184
97 Dennis Tietje La. 178
98 Brent Broderick Ohio 168
99 Derek Remitz Ala. 151