Much in fishing requires faith. By definition, that means “complete trust in someone or something.” (I typically see blind examples of this from fishing partners, until my boat runs out of gas.) Most anglers put trust in their experience, knowledge or equipment, which is typically important for a successful day on the water. However, a second definition of this word is “a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.” That said, there are scads of anglers who rely on their relationship with a higher power to guide them in the right direction, both personally and professionally.
Randy Howell is one such angler. When the Alabama pro and devout Christian won the Guntersville Classic in 2014, he made a curious decision on the last day of competition based on “being led by the Lord.” This resulted in one of the biggest come-from-behind victories the sport has ever seen.
Coach Bobby Knight of college basketball fame has a different outlook on divine intervention in sports. Coach Knight was the guest speaker at this year’s Bassmaster Classic Night of Champions banquet, honoring Aaron Martens’ dominant season en route to the 2015 Angler of the Year title.
“I watched the guy that hits a home run, and he comes across the plate and he points skyward, like thanking for the help from the Almighty to hit the home run,” Knight said. “And as he does that, I say to myself, ‘God [screwed over] the pitcher.’ And I don’t know how else you look at it.” Knight went on to say that athletes, including anglers, should celebrate the faith in their abilities, God-given if they so believe, which they have honed through hard work, dedication and focus.
Perhaps both concepts hold water. But, out of curiosity, I Googled Howell’s last-day weight (29-2) from the Guntersville Classic and the words “Bible verse.” The first one that popped up was Proverbs 29:2. It reads, “when the righteous thrive, the people rejoice.” That certainly seems a fitting statement for Howell’s championship year.
Interestingly enough, Edwin Evers, also a devoted Christian, believes that he would not have won this year’s Classic had it not been for his relationship with God. “There have been times in my career when I prayed for wisdom and guidance. Sometimes those prayers were answered loud and clear, sometimes not so much. That said, my prayer time at Grand Lake gave me a sense of peace and confidence I had never felt before,” Evers said.
It did seem strange that Evers, who knows the Elk River portion of Grand Lake and what swims in it better than anyone in the field, waited until the last day of competition to fish the area. I mean, why not spend the entire Classic there? “I just knew that I wasn’t supposed to go there until the last day. I believe God laid out a plan and I followed it, never allowing doubt to creep in,” Evers said. Ironically, Howell had targeted the area on Day 2, saw the fish, but couldn’t make them bite.
Evers caught 29-3 in less than two hours (besting Howell’s 2014 final day catch by exactly 1 ounce). Not only was that the biggest weight of the tournament from a very stingy Grand Lake, but it is also bigger than any other limit I could find from any event on the lake, ever (yes, I Googled it). There is no doubt that Evers’ talent, hard work and focus served him well. But, was there more significance? Was there any proof that his faith in a higher power made a difference? Google the weight, 29-3, and the words “Bible verse.” The first one that popped up for me was Psalm 29:3.
It reads, “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.”
Yeah, I got chills, too.