20 Questions with Edwin Evers

Edwin Evers is generally regarded as the most versatile pro on tour. Here's how he handled our 20 Questions.

<p>Elite Series pro Edwin Evers is generally regarded as the most versatile pro on tour. Here's how he handled our 20 Questions.</p>
Elite Series pro Edwin Evers is generally regarded as the most versatile pro on tour. Here’s how he handled our 20 Questions.
<p><strong>1. Where were you born and raised?</strong></p>
<p>I was born in Louisiana, Mo., about an hour north of St. Louis. I lived there until my family moved to Texas when I was in the fifth or sixth grade. Then I went to high school in Illinois and college in Oklahoma. I've been here in Oklahoma ever since.</p>
1. Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Louisiana, Mo., about an hour north of St. Louis. I lived there until my family moved to Texas when I was in the fifth or sixth grade. Then I went to high school in Illinois and college in Oklahoma. I’ve been here in Oklahoma ever since.
<p><strong>2. How did you get started in bass fishing?</strong></p>
<p>When I was a kid, I was eaten up with fishing. My dad worked in the packaging industry and did a lot with Styrofoam. He didn't really fish, but a man named Gary Powell came to him with the idea of making small Styrofoam boats. I did some of my earliest fishing out of those boats, and Gary Powell was one of my first fishing teachers.</p>
2. How did you get started in bass fishing?
When I was a kid, I was eaten up with fishing. My dad worked in the packaging industry and did a lot with Styrofoam. He didn’t really fish, but a man named Gary Powell came to him with the idea of making small Styrofoam boats. I did some of my earliest fishing out of those boats, and Gary Powell was one of my first fishing teachers.
<p><strong>3. How old were you when you caught your first fish and what was it?</strong></p>
<p>I must have been about five years old when I caught a mud cat and a crappie out of a slough on the Mississippi River. I was fishing with my mom and caught both fish on a Snoopy pole.</p>
3. How old were you when you caught your first fish and what was it?
I must have been about five years old when I caught a mud cat and a crappie out of a slough on the Mississippi River. I was fishing with my mom and caught both fish on a Snoopy pole.
<p><strong>4. How old were you when you caught your first bass?</strong></p>
<p>When I was in the fifth grade and living in Eldorado Springs, Mo., I asked for a guided fishing trip on Stockton Lake. A guide named Pete took me out in his red bass boat, and I caught a bass on a buzzbait. That was a thrill!</p>
4. How old were you when you caught your first bass?
When I was in the fifth grade and living in Eldorado Springs, Mo., I asked for a guided fishing trip on Stockton Lake. A guide named Pete took me out in his red bass boat, and I caught a bass on a buzzbait. That was a thrill!
<p><strong>5. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes?</strong></p>
<p>It would have to be Rick Clunn and Mark Davis. Rick Clunn ... well, he's Rick Clunn! And Mark Davis seemed to be winning everything when I was younger — the Bassmaster Classic, Angler of the Year — and he's such a good person.</p>
5. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes?
It would have to be Rick Clunn and Mark Davis. Rick Clunn … well, he’s Rick Clunn! And Mark Davis seemed to be winning everything when I was younger — the Bassmaster Classic, Angler of the Year — and he’s such a good person.
<p><strong>6. What's the biggest bass you've ever caught?</strong></p>
<p>I've caught six or seven 10-pound largemouths, including at least three that weighed 10 pounds, 9 ounces — one on Lake Amistad, one on Falcon Lake and one in Florida.</p>
6. What’s the biggest bass you’ve ever caught?
I’ve caught six or seven 10-pound largemouths, including at least three that weighed 10 pounds, 9 ounces — one on Lake Amistad, one on Falcon Lake and one in Florida.
<p><strong>7. What do you love most about bass fishing?</strong></p>
<p>I love being outdoors. It's a struggle for me stay inside. I wish I had a giant photo album of all the amazing things I've seen in the outdoors.</p>
7. What do you love most about bass fishing?
I love being outdoors. It’s a struggle for me stay inside. I wish I had a giant photo album of all the amazing things I’ve seen in the outdoors.
<p><strong>8. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why?</strong></p>
<p>I still love floating the streams in southern Missouri in a canoe and using ultralight tackle. To me, that's about the most fun you can have while fishing. The scenery is amazing, and the fishing's just as good.</p>
8. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why?
I still love floating the streams in southern Missouri in a canoe and using ultralight tackle. To me, that’s about the most fun you can have while fishing. The scenery is amazing, and the fishing’s just as good.
<p><strong>9. Who has been the biggest influence in your fishing or fishing career?</strong></p>
<p>That would have to be my dad — Ed Evers. He didn't really fish or know much about it, but he found ways to take me fishing. I'd fish and he'd sleep or read the newspaper. He introduced me to people who knew about fishing and could teach me. When I was trying to make it as a bass pro and was struggling and broke, he'd find a job for me so I could keep going. He made all the difference in the world.</p>
9. Who has been the biggest influence in your fishing or fishing career?
That would have to be my dad — Ed Evers. He didn’t really fish or know much about it, but he found ways to take me fishing. I’d fish and he’d sleep or read the newspaper. He introduced me to people who knew about fishing and could teach me. When I was trying to make it as a bass pro and was struggling and broke, he’d find a job for me so I could keep going. He made all the difference in the world.
<p><strong>10. What are we doing right as a sport?</strong></p>
<p>We're conserving the resource pretty well, and that's obviously very important. There are also a lot of kids who are eaten up with fishing today, just like I was when I was young. New anglers are coming into the sport every day, and it's great to see that.</p>
10. What are we doing right as a sport?
We’re conserving the resource pretty well, and that’s obviously very important. There are also a lot of kids who are eaten up with fishing today, just like I was when I was young. New anglers are coming into the sport every day, and it’s great to see that.
<p><strong>11. What is the biggest challenge you've faced in your career?</strong></p>
<p>Getting started was extremely difficult. I don't think people realize how tough it is to break through in this sport. I lived in my truck until I graduated to a pop-up camper that leaked in all four corners. I spent months and months in that thing. For years I practically starved to death. Getting started requires a tremendous number of sacrifices. For me it's been worth it, though.</p>
11. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
Getting started was extremely difficult. I don’t think people realize how tough it is to break through in this sport. I lived in my truck until I graduated to a pop-up camper that leaked in all four corners. I spent months and months in that thing. For years I practically starved to death. Getting started requires a tremendous number of sacrifices. For me it’s been worth it, though.
<p><strong>12. If you could do one thing over in your career, what would it be?</strong></p>
<p>I'd like to have Day 2 of the 2005 Bassmaster Classic on Three Rivers over. I caught one bass that day and lost three or four good ones. In the final round, I had the biggest catch of the day on just four bass, and I missed winning the tournament by 1-12.</p>
12. If you could do one thing over in your career, what would it be?
I’d like to have Day 2 of the 2005 Bassmaster Classic on Three Rivers over. I caught one bass that day and lost three or four good ones. In the final round, I had the biggest catch of the day on just four bass, and I missed winning the tournament by 1-12.
<p><strong>13. What is the best advice you ever received in your career?</strong></p>
<p>I'm not sure about the best advice, but I'll never forget something that George Cochran said to me at the 2000 Bassmaster Classic. It was my first Classic, and I was sitting next to him at lunch one day before the tournament started. He told me that qualifying for my second Classic would be the toughest. He was right, too. I missed the Classic in 2001 and made it to my second in 2002.</p>
13. What is the best advice you ever received in your career?
I’m not sure about the best advice, but I’ll never forget something that George Cochran said to me at the 2000 Bassmaster Classic. It was my first Classic, and I was sitting next to him at lunch one day before the tournament started. He told me that qualifying for my second Classic would be the toughest. He was right, too. I missed the Classic in 2001 and made it to my second in 2002.
<p><strong>14. What is the biggest lesson you've learned in your career?</strong></p>
<p>There are no shortcuts. You've got to do things the right way. I've learned that I've got to figure things out for myself in practice if I want to succeed at the highest level. And I've learned that the three practice days we get for an Elite tournament are enough ... if I use them right. I've also learned that I have to turn a deaf ear to all the talk about who's catching them and where and on what. I have to fish the current conditions and not fish for the bass that other guys are catching or that were being caught a week ago or last year. Outside sources can help you to some good finishes, but most of my wins have come on waters I've never seen before and on fish I found by myself.</p>
14. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
There are no shortcuts. You’ve got to do things the right way. I’ve learned that I’ve got to figure things out for myself in practice if I want to succeed at the highest level. And I’ve learned that the three practice days we get for an Elite tournament are enough … if I use them right. I’ve also learned that I have to turn a deaf ear to all the talk about who’s catching them and where and on what. I have to fish the current conditions and not fish for the bass that other guys are catching or that were being caught a week ago or last year. Outside sources can help you to some good finishes, but most of my wins have come on waters I’ve never seen before and on fish I found by myself.
<p><strong>15. What is your greatest strength as a professional angler?</strong></p>
<p>It would have to be versatility. You'll see some guys who are a little one-dimensional have some success and maybe even win a tournament or two, but versatility keeps you in the hunt all year long and helps to hold off the slumps that can hurt you as a professional angler.</p>
15. What is your greatest strength as a professional angler?
It would have to be versatility. You’ll see some guys who are a little one-dimensional have some success and maybe even win a tournament or two, but versatility keeps you in the hunt all year long and helps to hold off the slumps that can hurt you as a professional angler.
<p><strong>16. What is your greatest weakness as a professional angler?</strong></p>
<p>For the past four or five years my hookup-to-landing ratio hasn't been where I'd like to see it. Sometimes I think I need to get twice as many bites as other guys just to catch as many fish. It's something I'm working on.</p>
16. What is your greatest weakness as a professional angler?
For the past four or five years my hookup-to-landing ratio hasn’t been where I’d like to see it. Sometimes I think I need to get twice as many bites as other guys just to catch as many fish. It’s something I’m working on.
<p><strong>17. What question do you get asked most by your fans, and how do you answer it?</strong></p>
<p>The question is "How do you get to be a pro angler?" and I always tell them they should join a club and fish as a non-boater or co-angler for a while — or come be a Marshal at an Elite event and watch what these guys do. Use your tournament money to create a learning experience, and don't compare yourself to other anglers. In the beginning, you're there to learn not to win money. As you see yourself progressing, move to the front of the boat and get more tournament experience.</p>
17. What question do you get asked most by your fans, and how do you answer it?
The question is “How do you get to be a pro angler?” and I always tell them they should join a club and fish as a non-boater or co-angler for a while — or come be a Marshal at an Elite event and watch what these guys do. Use your tournament money to create a learning experience, and don’t compare yourself to other anglers. In the beginning, you’re there to learn not to win money. As you see yourself progressing, move to the front of the boat and get more tournament experience.
<p><strong>18. What is the biggest mistake you see from casual or weekend anglers?</strong></p>
<p>They do the same things over and over even when the fish are doing something different. Also, they don't pay enough attention to their electronics.</p>
18. What is the biggest mistake you see from casual or weekend anglers?
They do the same things over and over even when the fish are doing something different. Also, they don’t pay enough attention to their electronics.
<p><strong>19. If you could only fish one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?</strong></p>
<p>It would probably be a jig. You can do a lot with a jig. It's an extremely versatile bait that you can crawl on the bottom or swim near the top and fish just about anywhere in between. For the pure joy of fishing, though, I love to fish topwater baits.</p>
19. If you could only fish one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
It would probably be a jig. You can do a lot with a jig. It’s an extremely versatile bait that you can crawl on the bottom or swim near the top and fish just about anywhere in between. For the pure joy of fishing, though, I love to fish topwater baits.
<p><strong>20. When it's all over, how do you want the bass fishing world to remember you?</strong></p>
<p>I'd like them to know that I did things the right way and that I played by the rules. I have a tremendous respect for the sport that I hope comes through in the way I approach it.</p>
20. When it’s all over, how do you want the bass fishing world to remember you?
I’d like them to know that I did things the right way and that I played by the rules. I have a tremendous respect for the sport that I hope comes through in the way I approach it.