BENTON, Ky. (June 17, 2005) - Pro Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., caught five bass weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces to lead the final round of the EverStart Series Central Division event on Kentucky Lake presented by Yamaha. Friday and Saturday combined weights will decide who will take home the fully rigged Ranger 519 VX powered by a Yamaha or Evinrude outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Garmin electronics and Everstart Batteries plus $10,000 cash. Ranger also awards an additional $10,000 to the winner if he is a qualified Ranger owner.
Another bright sunny day made for great ledge fishing on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Six limits over 15 pounds came to the scale in the Pro Division on Friday, and most pros reported catching multiple limits.
"I probably hit 12 or 13 spots today," McGuire said. "I caught fish everywhere I stopped, but I only caught 13 or 14 keepers." McGuire is fishing large schools of fish, but he's moving a lot to keep up with them.
"They will be in 8 or 9 feet in the morning, and then I catch them later in 23 feet of water," he said. McGuire has been alternating between a 3/4-ounce jig, a 7 1/2-inch worm, and a deep-diving crankbait, but said he needs a big bite to secure the win on Saturday. "I haven't weighed in a fish 4 pounds or more all week," he said.
Rounding out the top-five pros are Larry Frasier of Owensboro (five bass, 17 pounds, 12 ounces); Terry Bolton of Paducah (five bass, 16 pounds, 4 ounces); Billy Schroeder of Paducah (five bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces); and William M. Davis of Russellville, Ala. (five bass, 15 pounds, 4 ounces).
Chuck Rounds of Benton caught five bass weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces to lead the Co-angler Division.
"Deep water and sticking with the jig have been my keys this week," Rounds said. A well-known local angler on the lake, Rounds has been relying on a jig to catch the better quality bass from the back of the boat.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Keith Newsom of Memphis, Tenn. (five bass, 13 pounds, 5 ounces); Gilbert Herald of Pittsburg, Texas (five bass, 12 pounds, 13 ounces); David Hargett of Sherwood, Ark. (five bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces); and Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark. (five bass, 12 pounds, 3 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.
For more information on the EverStart Series or any of FLW Outdoors' eight tournament trails, visit FLWOutdoors.com.
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