PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2005) - Pro Larry Allard of Ware, Mass., caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces to lead day three of the EverStart Series Northeast Division event on Lake Champlain near Plattsburgh. Pro anglers are competing for $10,000 plus a Ranger 519VX powered by a Yamaha or Evinrude outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Garmin electronics and EverStart Batteries. Ranger also awards an additional $10,000 to the winner if he is a qualified Ranger owner for a total of $60,000 in cash and prizes.
"I had a goal when I started on Wednesday," Allard said. "I wanted to beat Wednesday's catch on Thursday and then beat Thursday's catch on Friday and so on. I've lived on this lake my whole life, so I know a couple of good areas to go."
Allard has been throwing Enticer willow-leaf spinnerbaits in 10 to 12 feet of water, retrieving them at an extremely fast pace. "I'm just targeting the biggest smallmouths," Allard said. "I'm not catching many little ones. When a big smallmouth wants it, it will come and get it."
Rounding out the top five pros are Jason Knapp of Union Town, Pa. (five bass, 18 pounds, 13 ounces); Mitch Pierson of Newton, N.J. (five bass, 17 pounds, 4 ounces); Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va. (five bass, 16 pounds, 3 ounces) and Gerald Beck of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 15 pounds, 14 ounces).
Chad Hicks of Rockville, Va., caught five bass weighing 15 pounds 15 ounces to lead the Co-angler Division. "When we could find some calm water, I caught my fish on a Rico popper," Hicks said. "But it was pretty windy most of the day. When the wind blew, we burned chartreuse and white spinnerbaits just under the surface to catch them."
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rex Magargle of Turbotville, Pa. (five bass, 15 pounds, 12 ounces); Bobbie Barfield of Spring Grove, Va. (five bass, 14 pounds, 11 ounces); Jason Sherwood of Germantown, Md. (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces) and Jon Newman of Anderson, S.C. (five bass, 13 pounds, 5 ounces).
Plattsburgh Boat Basin located at 1 Dock Street in Plattsburgh hosts the daily takeoffs at 6:30 a.m. Saturday's weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 25 Consumer Square in Plattsburgh beginning at 4 p.m.
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.
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