Day 4 with the champ

See photos from Edwin Evers' winning final day on the St. Lawrence River!

Edwin Evers started Day 4 in the lead with about a 1 1/2-pound cushion. Every day he would head downriver, the opposite direction he expected the majority of the field to fish.
Edwin Evers started Day 4 in the lead with about a 1 1/2-pound cushion. Every day he would head downriver, the opposite direction he expected the majority of the field to fish.
He spent every morning on flats off the main river channel chocked full of boulders and grass, where he would fan cast a small swim bait and look for smallmouth on or near beds.
He spent every morning on flats off the main river channel chocked full of boulders and grass, where he would fan cast a small swim bait and look for smallmouth on or near beds.
Like every other day, he got bit early following his routine.
Like every other day, he got bit early following his routine.
His first fish on Day 4 was small.
His first fish on Day 4 was small.
The 1 1/2-pound keeper, though, was a start to what would turn out to be a slow day.
The 1 1/2-pound keeper, though, was a start to what would turn out to be a slow day.
Evers would spend a big part of his morning fan casting around his flats.
Evers would spend a big part of his morning fan casting around his flats.
Unlike the previous days the wind and clouds kept him from seeing many smallmouth roaming on the flats or guarding fry so he was unable to target many fish at all.
Unlike the previous days the wind and clouds kept him from seeing many smallmouth roaming on the flats or guarding fry so he was unable to target many fish at all.
That left him working more with search baits than on previous days.
That left him working more with search baits than on previous days.
Occasionally he would get a bite, but in this case, the fish would miss the lure.
Occasionally he would get a bite, but in this case, the fish would miss the lure.
He would be off to another flat.
He would be off to another flat.
He would work the grass and rocks.
He would work the grass and rocks.
Then he'd move to the next, taking a moment to check BassTrakk as he idled out of shallow water.
Then he’d move to the next, taking a moment to check BassTrakk as he idled out of shallow water.
By mid morning he abandoned the flats and started working more traditional river structure.
By mid morning he abandoned the flats and started working more traditional river structure.
One of those places was the Long Sault Dam, where he focused on the wall with a drop shot.
One of those places was the Long Sault Dam, where he focused on the wall with a drop shot.
He would hook up with his second keeper there.
He would hook up with his second keeper there.
It was a decent size smallmouth that completed a couple of jumps...
It was a decent size smallmouth that completed a couple of jumps…
...Before getting the fish to the side of the boat.
…Before getting the fish to the side of the boat.
The fish would give him about 4 pounds total.
The fish would give him about 4 pounds total.
Evers would continue to work the dam wall but fail to add anything to his creel.
Evers would continue to work the dam wall but fail to add anything to his creel.
That would change when he would move to the “Parkway” on the Canadian side of the river.
That would change when he would move to the “Parkway” on the Canadian side of the river.
Almost immediately he would catch his third keeper.
Almost immediately he would catch his third keeper.
It was a hefty smallmouth that would weigh more than 3 pounds.
It was a hefty smallmouth that would weigh more than 3 pounds.
It would force Evers to the back of the boat.
It would force Evers to the back of the boat.
He moved to the driver’s seat to land the brute.
He moved to the driver’s seat to land the brute.
A quick pose for the cameras and it was in the livewell.
A quick pose for the cameras and it was in the livewell.
That fish seemed to put a new resolve into Evers’ demeanor.
That fish seemed to put a new resolve into Evers’ demeanor.
Before long he was hooked up with No. 4.
Before long he was hooked up with No. 4.
From the passenger’s seat, he would cradle the smallmouth.
From the passenger’s seat, he would cradle the smallmouth.
He brought it into the boat.
He brought it into the boat.
With a big smile and over 11 or 12 pounds in the well, Evers was on his way.
With a big smile and over 11 or 12 pounds in the well, Evers was on his way.
Moments later he would hook his limit fish.
Moments later he would hook his limit fish.
The hefty smallmouth gave him an opportunity to scratch his head.
The hefty smallmouth gave him an opportunity to scratch his head.
Evers moved to the back of the boat.
Evers moved to the back of the boat.
He took the time to position the cameraman, Rick Mason, for the best shot.
He took the time to position the cameraman, Rick Mason, for the best shot.
Another scratch of the head.
Another scratch of the head.
He gave the audience of Bassmaster LIVE a play-by-play of what the fish was doing.
He gave the audience of Bassmaster LIVE a play-by-play of what the fish was doing.
He then moved to the driver’s seat for the landing.
He then moved to the driver’s seat for the landing.
The big smallmouth came under a cradle.
The big smallmouth came under a cradle.
It put a big smile on Evers’ face.
It put a big smile on Evers’ face.
The smallie would give Evers more than16 pounds for the day.
The smallie would give Evers more than16 pounds for the day.
While he was obviously happy, he had no idea that he had in fact sewed up the Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite Series event at that moment.
While he was obviously happy, he had no idea that he had in fact sewed up the Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite Series event at that moment.
A thumbs up was appropriate.
A thumbs up was appropriate.
It turned heads from those nearby.
It turned heads from those nearby.
Evers would get back to work, thinking he needed more.
Evers would get back to work, thinking he needed more.
His only problem was he was in a popular area.
His only problem was he was in a popular area.
Boats traveled back and forth including Seth Fieder's.
Boats traveled back and forth including Seth Fieder’s.
He was followed by a ski boat.
He was followed by a ski boat.
Alton Jones idled by.
Alton Jones idled by.
Jones was followed by a couple on their way to fish.
Jones was followed by a couple on their way to fish.
Even a party barge pulling an inner tube came by.
Even a party barge pulling an inner tube came by.
More skiers passed by Evers.
More skiers passed by Evers.
More boats passed by.
More boats passed by.
Even a jet skier with a three riders passed by.
Even a jet skier with a three riders passed by.
A tube boat came racing by...
A tube boat came racing by…
...And then came back for another look.
…And then came back for another look.
Some of them even motored over Evers’ fishing line.
Some of them even motored over Evers’ fishing line.
A yacht would come by.
A yacht would come by.
Even Shaye Baker would make an appearance while following Alton Jones.
Even Shaye Baker would make an appearance while following Alton Jones.
As if that weren’t enough, a kayak would skim past.
As if that weren’t enough, a kayak would skim past.
Others came back for another look.
Others came back for another look.
Evers could only do one thing: take it in stride and keep casting.
Evers could only do one thing: take it in stride and keep casting.
He eventually moved to the main river area where boater traffic produced waves.
He eventually moved to the main river area where boater traffic produced waves.
The waves took Evers up and down.
The waves took Evers up and down.
Despite this, he would manage to hook up again.
Despite this, he would manage to hook up again.
This one would be a largemouth.
This one would be a largemouth.
The largemouth would provide a few jumps at the side of the boat...
The largemouth would provide a few jumps at the side of the boat…
...Before allowing him to cull and bring his weight to more than 17 pounds.
…Before allowing him to cull and bring his weight to more than 17 pounds.
Evers, assuming he didn’t have enough, would return to the dam.
Evers, assuming he didn’t have enough, would return to the dam.
He worked the area hard because it had produced big fish for him late in the day on Day 3.
He worked the area hard because it had produced big fish for him late in the day on Day 3.
The hard work wouldn’t pay off.
The hard work wouldn’t pay off.
He would stick to the dam until the last hour.
He would stick to the dam until the last hour.
Then he'd go on a series of runs and guns back to the flats where he had caught them before.
Then he’d go on a series of runs and guns back to the flats where he had caught them before.
By the time he had to go in, he put the trolling motor up for the last time, certain he didn’t have enough. The weigh-in would prove different and he would become the first angler to ever win back-to-back Elite Series events.
By the time he had to go in, he put the trolling motor up for the last time, certain he didn’t have enough. The weigh-in would prove different and he would become the first angler to ever win back-to-back Elite Series events.