The death of Kyle Mabrey has the bass fishing brotherhood in mourning.
Mabrey, a pro angler who fished the last of his 33 B.A.S.S. events in 2005, died in a one-vehicle accident southwest of Birmingham on Sunday night. Presumed to be driving to a fishing trip, Mabrey’s rig left northbound I-495, went down an embankment to railroad tracks and then was hit by a train.
Mabrey’s traveling mate, Tennessee pro angler Brad Knight, started a GoFundMe account to help Mabrey’s family.
“Kyle Mabrey was a good friend to all of us. He made a huge impact not only in the fishing community but also as a respiratory therapist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital,” Knight told FLWfishing.com. “He tragically lost his life yesterday in an automobile accident. This page is to help his widow, Beth, and children, Evan and Emma.”
A check on the GoFundMe account showed the initial goal was nearly doubled in less than 24 hours. Elites like Russ Lane, Jordan Lee and Greg Vinson took time away from practice for the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee to donate. Mark Rose, winner of the past two FLW events, donated and shared Revelation 21:4.
Gerald Swindle asked fans to pray for Mabrey’s family as well as B.A.S.S. tournament official Max Leatherwood, who is battling cancer.
Dave Lefebre, who came to the Elites from the FLW last season, used to room with Mabrey. Lefebre said they had some great memories, that Mabrey was genuinely a good person, an outstanding father and spent his life helping others in need.
“I had one bite all morning,” Lefebre posted on his Facebook page. “I heard the news about Kyle, took an hour or so break, stood up and caught what I think was the biggest bass I’ve ever caught in my life on my first cast. Coincidence? I’m dedicating this event to my old buddy.”
For more on Mabrey, read his Pastor Jason’s tribute.
EVERS TALKS BPS SPRING CLASSIC ON FOX
The bright lights of the Big Apple apparently don’t impress reigning Classic champ Edwin Evers that much. He stayed overnight for an appearance on Fox and Friends where he talked about Bass Pro Shops’ Spring Classic.
“I am in New York City,” Evers said in his Facebook video Friday. “A lot more lights than we have back home in Talala, or at Okeechobee Lake, where I’ll be heading tomorrow.”
He told folks to tune in Saturday morning and “see me make a spectacle of myself.” On the show, Bass Pro had a dock-like set outside the Fox TV building, and from there Evers detailed all the BPS deals and activities during the event. Like many pro anglers, Evers was heading to the Bass Pro Shop in Orlando for a seminar Saturday evening before heading south for Okeechobee.
Evers did three segments, with the weekend hosts trying their hand at casting. They all seemed to have a good time with Evers, even though the weatherman informed them they had been pronouncing his last name wrong. Worse grief came Evers’ way from his family for how he spent his free time in the City That Never Sleeps.
“My wife and daughter can’t believe I spent the day in the hotel room,” he said Friday. “I was like, I don’t really have much to see here. There’s no water, no woods, there’s not much to do. I did watch some good Westerns.”
Wow, Edwin, you could have fished in Central Park.
SCROGGINS SAYS GO BIG OR GO HOME
The pros are going to have to go big this week on Okeechobee or be sent home, Terry Scroggins said. Alan McGuckin interviewed the Florida pro, first asking him how well the Elites will catch them.
“You’ve got a new moon, good weather, you’re going to see gigantic bags of bass this week,” Scroggins said.
The last time there, Ish Monroe won the 2012 Elite by weighing in 108 pounds, 5 ounces over four days, an average of 27-1 a day. McGuckin asked what it will take this time to make Championship Sunday.
“I’m going to try to have 25, and I think it will take 22-23 to make it,” Scroggins said. “They’re going to catch them big down here.”
Asked for a couple names for Fantasy Fishing, Big Show rattled off Randall Tharp, Greg Hackney and Monroe. Kinda cute that McGuckin summed it up by saying “Flippers,” but it seemed to serve more as Scroggins’ setup.
“I’m a flipper,” Scroggins replied back.
McGuckin quickly retorted. “This guy’s going to be on my Fantasy team, because dude, I think you can catch them.”
“I can catch them,” Scroggins said, revealing the 8-pound class fish in his hand.
(Note to self: Edit Fantasy team.)
ATTACK OF THE BUGS
Along with the big fish catches, one of the most interesting posts from Okeechobee practice comes from Aaron Martens. He videoed some sort of bug hatch, showing them covering his Power-Poles.
“Worst bugs ever! Can’t fish. Can’t even cover your eyes. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen them,” he said. “They’re just crawling everywhere.”
He warned anyone coming to Okeechobee that they better get ready. Remember Chris Zaldain wearing mosquito netting at an event? Think we’ll see anybody do that?
Aaron did have a Martenism, saying, “They’re going to eat you. At least they don’t bite.”
He panned the camera to show they were also swarming on his gloves and shirt sleeves. “There you go – Okeechobee with hot, humid weather, with a trillion bugs per acre. A couple trillion.”
HITE TO MAKE STUDIO DEBUT ON LIVE
Davy Hite served as roving reporter for the Cherokee Lake Elite, his first duty as Bassmaster TV analyst. For Lake Okeechobee, Hite makes his first appearance on the B.A.S.S. set at the JM Associates studio in Little Rock. Hits served as analyst at last year’s Classic among other work, including First Look segments.
Hite, who stands tied for eighth in all-time B.A.S.S. wins, is a two-time Toyota Angler of the Year (1997, 2002) and a Bassmaster Classic champion (1999). Fans have responded well to the affiable South Carolinian. Many have said the LIVE crew needed a former pro angler.
Let’s give him a warm greeting at 7 a.m. ET Friday for his first day on Bassmaster LIVE. (Tweet in any questions #basslive.) LIVE is again scheduled to run three hours each morning and from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET Friday-Sunday.