Evers’ winning day

Follow along as Edwin Evers wins the Zippo BASSfest at Kentucky Lake presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps

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Edwin Evers started fast on Day 5 of the Zippo BASSfest at Kentucky Lake presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
Edwin Evers started fast on Day 5 of the Zippo BASSfest at Kentucky Lake presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
His first keeper of the day came in his first few casts.
His first keeper of the day came in his first few casts.
And while it wouldn't have wide shoulders.
And while it wouldn’t have wide shoulders.
And provide a lot of weight.
And provide a lot of weight.
It would get the day started,
It would get the day started,
Not only for him, but for the viewers as well.
Not only for him, but for the viewers as well.
He would quickly add a second keeper.
He would quickly add a second keeper.
One that would dance at the front of the boat.
One that would dance at the front of the boat.
Providing a show for the armada of spectator boats surrounding him.
Providing a show for the armada of spectator boats surrounding him.
And giving Evers himself a moment of excitement.
And giving Evers himself a moment of excitement.
That fish would carry him to the side of the boat.
That fish would carry him to the side of the boat.
And completely around the motor.
And completely around the motor.
Before Evers would get him to the passenger seat,
Before Evers would get him to the passenger seat,
And in a position to get his hands on the fish.
And in a position to get his hands on the fish.
Evers waits for the right moment,
Evers waits for the right moment,
Before making a grab at the bass,
Before making a grab at the bass,
And bringing up the head of big bass.
And bringing up the head of big bass.
The bass, though, was having nothing to do with that.
The bass, though, was having nothing to do with that.
Forcing Evers to make another stab,
Forcing Evers to make another stab,
And getting a second hand on the fish.
And getting a second hand on the fish.
He turns to the camera as the hefty keeper comes over the gunwales.
He turns to the camera as the hefty keeper comes over the gunwales.
And Evers works his way to putting the second keeper in the livewell.
And Evers works his way to putting the second keeper in the livewell.
And few casts later and the third keeper is hooked up.
And few casts later and the third keeper is hooked up.
Like the second, it wanted to dance at the front of the boat.
Like the second, it wanted to dance at the front of the boat.
And made an attempt at tail-walking.
And made an attempt at tail-walking.
Before Evers fought the fish around the boat,
Before Evers fought the fish around the boat,
And to the side.
And to the side.
Where he was able to pull in another hefty keeper.
Where he was able to pull in another hefty keeper.
This one was captured perfectly for the Bassmaster Television Show.
This one was captured perfectly for the Bassmaster Television Show.
And it gave Evers a great start.
And it gave Evers a great start.
A few minutes later and he was hooked up again.
A few minutes later and he was hooked up again.
This one was swung aboard and Evers had about 15 pounds for four fish.
This one was swung aboard and Evers had about 15 pounds for four fish.
The action was captured from cameras in the boat and drones from the outside.
The action was captured from cameras in the boat and drones from the outside.
None of it kept Evers from working over the ledges of the Tennessee River.
None of it kept Evers from working over the ledges of the Tennessee River.
By 7:45 a.m., Evers finished his limit.
By 7:45 a.m., Evers finished his limit.
This one would be one of the smallest of the day.
This one would be one of the smallest of the day.
Evers, though, would keep casting for a bigger bite.
Evers, though, would keep casting for a bigger bite.
At times he would move from one spot to the other.
At times he would move from one spot to the other.
Make a long cast,
Make a long cast,
And occasionally bring in a keeper that wouldn't help a great deal.
And occasionally bring in a keeper that wouldn’t help a great deal.
He would cast,
He would cast,
And catch one, but make no real big moves from his original 17 pounds.
And catch one, but make no real big moves from his original 17 pounds.
At mid-morning, he hooked up with a huge fish.
At mid-morning, he hooked up with a huge fish.
Unfortunately, it was a catfish that provided Evers with a shower.
Unfortunately, it was a catfish that provided Evers with a shower.
Actually more than one shower, before Evers could get his bait back.
Actually more than one shower, before Evers could get his bait back.
Then he would be back to working the ledges.
Then he would be back to working the ledges.
And every once in a while catch one.
And every once in a while catch one.
But none of them really moved the needle.
But none of them really moved the needle.
By 11 o'clock, though, the average size started to grow.
By 11 o’clock, though, the average size started to grow.
And the fish brought to the boat began to make a difference.
And the fish brought to the boat began to make a difference.
Even though they weren't make big differences, Evers was catching better fish regularly.
Even though they weren’t make big differences, Evers was catching better fish regularly.
He went through a flurry that provided 21 keeper bites in a little more than hour.
He went through a flurry that provided 21 keeper bites in a little more than hour.
He even caught them while other fishermen came in close.
He even caught them while other fishermen came in close.
Some of them close enough to know intimate details of every cast.
Some of them close enough to know intimate details of every cast.
And he cast constantly.
And he cast constantly.
Switching from a swimbait, a spoon or a hair jig, he worked over key places.
Switching from a swimbait, a spoon or a hair jig, he worked over key places.
Sometimes he would catch one.
Sometimes he would catch one.
Sometimes, he would just unhook one, like this catfish that bit his swimbait.
Sometimes, he would just unhook one, like this catfish that bit his swimbait.
But he spent a healthy amount of time fighting fish.
But he spent a healthy amount of time fighting fish.
He would swing them aboard,
He would swing them aboard,
Then run to the back where he would cull.
Then run to the back where he would cull.
The repeat the process in front of the boat.
The repeat the process in front of the boat.
And in back of the boat.
And in back of the boat.
Catch one and swing it in.
Catch one and swing it in.
Get his hands on it.
Get his hands on it.
Then decide whether or not it helped the cause.
Then decide whether or not it helped the cause.
As the day wore on the fish seemed to grow by ounces.
As the day wore on the fish seemed to grow by ounces.
Every swing in the boat seemed to grow.
Every swing in the boat seemed to grow.
And Evers would begin to study every fish.
And Evers would begin to study every fish.
Then he would be back at swinging them over the gunwales.
Then he would be back at swinging them over the gunwales.
Getting the fish close enough to grab.
Getting the fish close enough to grab.
And closer so he could study. It was process that stayed the same for a while.
And closer so he could study. It was process that stayed the same for a while.
Then they started growing more.
Then they started growing more.
And the side-by-side comparisons became harder.
And the side-by-side comparisons became harder.
Evers didn't care. The fish just kept biting.
Evers didn’t care. The fish just kept biting.
You could tell he had a fish that would really cull, when his knees would bend while he was fighting it.
You could tell he had a fish that would really cull, when his knees would bend while he was fighting it.
Then he would switch sides with the rod.
Then he would switch sides with the rod.
And he would work hard at keeping the fish down below the surface.
And he would work hard at keeping the fish down below the surface.
Of course that didn't always work.
Of course that didn’t always work.
Fish like to jump.
Fish like to jump.
Those kind of fish would force Evers to the deck.
Those kind of fish would force Evers to the deck.
And while the fish was making a splash,
And while the fish was making a splash,
Evers would dig deep.
Evers would dig deep.
And in this case bring up yet another hefty keeper.
And in this case bring up yet another hefty keeper.
That one took him to the back deck for a side-by-side comparison.
That one took him to the back deck for a side-by-side comparison.
And then he was back at it on the front deck.
And then he was back at it on the front deck.
Hooking up fish and fighting them close.
Hooking up fish and fighting them close.
Watching fish dance across the water.
Watching fish dance across the water.
And getting them close enough to compare before they ever got to the boat.
And getting them close enough to compare before they ever got to the boat.
At times it appeared as if fish were flying in the boat.
At times it appeared as if fish were flying in the boat.
This one was heavy enough to make someone's day, but not make the cut for Evers.
This one was heavy enough to make someone’s day, but not make the cut for Evers.
He was hoping to make the perfect cast for a really big fish.
He was hoping to make the perfect cast for a really big fish.
As more and more keepers came in the boat.
As more and more keepers came in the boat.
He just knew he would eventually hook up with a really big fish.
He just knew he would eventually hook up with a really big fish.
But most of them seemed to be straight out of a cookie cutter.
But most of them seemed to be straight out of a cookie cutter.
Big enough to make the heart pound a second.
Big enough to make the heart pound a second.
And big enough to study a moment, but not big enough for insurance.
And big enough to study a moment, but not big enough for insurance.
As the day wore on, Evers would make moves with the big motor down and little motor up to save time.
As the day wore on, Evers would make moves with the big motor down and little motor up to save time.
And those moves would pay off with bites from fish that wouldn't help his cause.
And those moves would pay off with bites from fish that wouldn’t help his cause.
And one bite that definitely helped his cause.
And one bite that definitely helped his cause.
This fish worked him from the front of the boat to the back of the boat.
This fish worked him from the front of the boat to the back of the boat.
And all the way to the passenger seat as boat wakes washed along the side.
And all the way to the passenger seat as boat wakes washed along the side.
Evers yelled out
Evers yelled out “It’s a mule” as he moved to get ah hand on the fish.
He made a big stab deep.
He made a big stab deep.
And comes up with a monster.
And comes up with a monster.
He jumps to front deck with a fish pump and a yell of excitement.
He jumps to front deck with a fish pump and a yell of excitement.
He showed it to the cameras and all the spectators before putting it in the livewell. The fish bit at 1:30 p.m.
He showed it to the cameras and all the spectators before putting it in the livewell. The fish bit at 1:30 p.m.
Evers would get back to work catching a few more fish. But at the point with 25 pounds in the boat, the tournament was well within his hands.
Evers would get back to work catching a few more fish. But at the point with 25 pounds in the boat, the tournament was well within his hands.