Jason Christie has been saving the story about how he caught the 9-pound, 10-ounce bass on Day 1. It remains the big bass of the tournament and has been the key to Christie’s success this event. It’s quite a story, which has its roots in Christie’s Native American heritage. The Park Hill, Okla., resident is sponsored by the Cherokee Nation.
“My family is Indian, and we believe in things happening for a reason,” Christie said Saturday. “There’s these little signs and stuff. The first morning of practice I put my boat in the water and I’m idling. I don’t have a rod on the deck. All of the sudden a 2 1/2-pounder jumps out of the water and lands in my lap. It absolutely scared the heck out of me. I didn’t know if it was a cottonmouth or a gator or what.
“I hollered at Edwin (Evers) and showed him. He said he thought that might have been a sign. I came back the second day when I had a few minutes left to fish. I caught a 3-pounder, then a 4 1/2. I’m like, ‘There’s some fish in here. And one jumped in my lap that hasn’t been hooked yet.
“So I decided to start (Day 1) there and catch me a limit. I go there and catch a 14-incher. Then I catch a 3-pounder.”
Christie’s third bass of the morning came next – the 9-10. He pointed to an object backstage, maybe 15 feet away, and said, “It was no further than that from where that 2 1/2 pounder jumped in my lap and where I caught that 9-10.
“It shouldn’t have been where it was, I promise you. I guarantee you can fish there every day and I don’t think you’ll catch a 6-pounder, much less a 9-10.”
Now you know….the REST of the story.