LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (Jan. 28, 2005) – Pro Clayton Meyer of San Diego, Calif., caught a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces to take the lead going into the final day of competition at the EverStart Series Western Division event on Lake Havasu present by Yamaha. Ten pros are competing for a top award of nearly $50,000 in cash and prizes including a fully rigged Ranger 519 VX powered by a Yamaha or Evinrude outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Garmin electronics and EverStart Batteries.
While many anglers experienced better fishing conditions during the cloudy conditions of Wednesday and early Thursday, Meyer’s pattern was actually improving as the weather cleared. Skies were clear Friday with highs in the mid 50s. Weather conditions, however, are supposed deteriorate overnight with a chance of rain Saturday. Overall, fishing was tougher Friday as compared to the first round. For example, the 10 co-angler finalists only caught a total of eight bass weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces Friday.
“I’m doing the same thing I’ve been doing all week,” Meyer said. “I’m fishing bottom structure in about 15 feet of water with plastics. I caught more when the sun was out, but I still caught a good limit Wednesday when it was cloudy and rainy. So I may get fewer bites tomorrow, but I think they will be decent fish.”
Rounding out the top-five pros are David Kromm of Kennewick, Wash. (five bass, 13 pounds, 4 ounces); Paul Hodges of Glendale (four bass, 7 pounds, 15 ounces); Art Roland of Brentwood, Calif. (two bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces); and Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif. (three bass, 6 pounds, 2 ounces).
Tyler Vanderhorst of Washington, Utah, caught two bass weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces to lead the Co-angler Division.
“I was fishing a totally different technique today,” Vanderhorst said. “I’ve fished a different technique with each pro. Today we were throwing spinnerbaits in the river in water less than 5 feet deep. The water was really stained, with probably less than 1 foot of visibility. That’s the first time I fished stained water all week. The spinnerbait I’m using is big.”
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Craig Griffin of Lehi, Utah (two bass, 5 pounds); Michael Kirk of Redding, Calif. (one bass, 2 pounds, 8 ounces); Jim Wickham of Morristown (one bass, 2 pounds, 6 ounces); and Paul Bailey of Agoura Hills, Calif. (one bass, 2 pounds, 2 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.
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