Young gun hits the target - Major League Fishing

Young gun hits the target

McGar cranks his way to victory
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At 17 years of age, co-angler winner Kenny McGar was the event's youngest competitor. Photo by David A. Brown. Angler: Kenneth McGar Jr.
March 12, 2011 • David A. Brown • Archives

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – He’d had the fewest birthdays of anyone in the EverStart Series Central Division event on Lake of the Ozarks, but 17-year-old Kenny McGar sacked up the most weight and claimed the co-angler prize.

Hailing from Crofton, Ky., McGar’s entry into the event marked his first time fishing Lake of the Ozarks. He got his introduction to jerkbaits on day one and boated 13 pounds, 13 ounces for fifth place. A day Shallow cranking produced the winning fish for co-angler champion Kenny McGar.later, he dialed in a shallow water crankbait bite, used a Spro Little John to sack up limit of 14-2 and took over the co-angler lead.

In the final round, he again threw the Little John, but managed just two fish for 3-4. Fortunately, his accumulated weight of 31-3 gave him what he needed to secure the victory.

“It feels great,” McGar said. “I can’t believe I won. I’m on top of the world right now.”

Consistency, he said, was essential for his success. “On the first day, I picked up the jerkbait and made it work. Then on day two, I picked up that crankbait and stuck with it (for two days). I did what I had to do, stuck with my baits and that’s what I got.”

Second place co-angler Rick Carden experimented with multiple colors of crankbaits.On day three, McGar fished with third place pro Roy Hawk and worked a variety of spots in two to 20 feet.

Rick Carden, of Cuba, Mo. took second place with 30-6. He fished jerkbaits on 10- 12-pound line. “I used about 10 different colors off and on, depending on the water clarity and where it was on the lake.”

Marty Bohlke, Jr., of Nixa, Mo. gained one spot to finish fourth at 26-9. Bohlke fished a green pumpkin Poor Boys custom jig with a green pumpkin Hold On hand poured craw trailer.

John Kite, of Festus, Mo., placed fourth with 26-4. He caught all but one of his tournament fish on aDay one leader Marty Bohlke Jr finished third in the co-angler division. Megabass jerkbait in the LG Bone color. In fifth place, Dave Epema blanked on day three and slipped three spots with a final score of 25-7.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-10 co-angler leaders at the EverStart Series Lake of the Ozarks event:

6th: Chris Gable, of Eddyville, Ky., 25-2

7th: Jim Banks, of Lamar, Mo., 24-13

8th: Ricky Watkins, of Springdale, Ark., 24-12

9th: Sunny Hawk, of Salt Lake City, Utah, 24-3

10th: Gary Smith, of Southwest City, Mo., 23-10