Evers' eventful day - Bassmaster

Edwin Evers started Day 3 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite on the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing in fourth place and in a position to win.

He was focused on a large area of backwater off the main channel of the Mississippi River.

For the most part, he had the place to himself for the previous two days.

He had several bites in the area every day and expected that sunshine on Day 3 would help him get even more.

But he started sensing something wasn’t quite right when one of his best points didn’t produce a single bite.

It got worse when he got to about 160-acre lake in the boonies of the river system and had 11 other boats in the small area.

Most of them were pan fishermen, so it didn’t keep him from getting bit. This would be his first of the day, but it would be too short to keep.

Minutes later, though, and he would hook up with a fish the size he was used to catching.

This fish would provide a little excitement on Evers’ part.

It was obviously a good fish after a morning of things not going quite right.

The funky face is actually the end result of a little yell Evers let out at the sight of the fish coming into the boat.

It lasted longer than the yell and with good reason.

Evers was obviously happy. He was on his way.

The fish, though, would have other ideas. This one bit just minutes after the first keeper.

But on the initial hookset, the fish skated across the top of the water and into the side of the boat.

It was enough of a collision that the fish came unbuttoned. Notice the lure in the upper center of the photo, while the fish slips into the water.

The lost fish created a short tooth grinding response from Evers.

But he was soon back at work.

And not long after, he lost another fish on the hookset, forcing an obvious sigh.

Nearby a kayak angler would fish his way past, like many of the anglers in the pond, he wasn’t catching them either.

Evers, though, would be catching a few. The short fish came in easily.

As did the pike.

And even more short largemouth.

And when he would hook up with a decent one, it seemed like it would come off easily.

This one got to the trolling motor before spitting Evers’ lure.

He would, though, start putting thing together.

Catching his second keeper after losing two obvious keepers and missing a few more.

Evers watched this one all the way into the boat.

And he was back on his way, once again.

He would follow that up with another apparent keeper.

Again watching it all the way into the boat.

But after a quick measure…

The fish was too short to keep.

The short fish…

…and the growing crowd seemed to be wearing on Evers.

Some of those anglers were hooking up.

And they were losing them too. Although their attitude wasn’t as serious.

Evers, though, would continue to battle and scratch out his third keeper.

And he would add his fourth soon after.

This one would put up a battle.

And come in the boat without incident.

He would finish out his limit with another decent keeper.

That put on a show jumping and splashing.

The fish would give a little more than 11 pounds.

The lack of size and the lost fish had Evers scratching his head all day.

The only big fish he could get into the boat had too many teeth to count.

He would continue to work, punching the myriad of grass beds in the area.

Occasionally catching a keeper.

But none that would help him.

He finished the day with 11 pounds, 7 ounces and dropped to ninth place overall.