WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Alister Johnson of Cottondale, Fla., survived four days of stiff competition on the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes to win $25,000 cash and an Evinrude-powered Ranger Comanche fishing machine Saturday in the EverStart Series Invitational Challenge at Cypress Gardens.
Johnson caught five bass weighing 13 pounds, 3 ounces during the tournament’s final round to claim victory over four other finalists in the Pro Division. He caught his limit on Lake Lulu using a crankbait and Zoom trickworm with chartreuse trailer.
“I’m too excited and tired to think about what this means or the future,” said Johnson. “But I hope to fish the Wal-Mart FLW Tour next year.”
Taking second through fifth in the Pro Division were Jim Short of Ocean Pines, Md., with 6 pounds, 5 ounces worth $20,000; Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., with 4 pounds, 11 ounces worth $18,000; Chip Harrison of Bremen, Ind., with 4 pounds, 6 ounces worth $16,000; and Al Gagliarducci of Agawam, Mass., with 4 pounds, 1 ounce worth $14,000.
The tournament began Wednesday with the top 75 professional anglers and top 75 co-anglers from two divisions – Eastern and Central – taking off from Cypress Gardens to claim a piece of the event’s $300,000 purse. After two elimination rounds, however, only the top five pro anglers remained from the original field of 300 competitors.
The three-year-old, nine-event EverStart Series features four multi-day events per division. Over the course of the season, the series awards anglers up to $1.7 million in cash and prizes. It also provides a pathway to the prestigious Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the richest tournament series in history.
Winning anglers in the Pro and Co-Angler Divisions of each EverStart tournament, as well as the overall top 10 anglers, based on a system of points and pounds, receive priority entry in the 2001 FLW Tour.
The series’ title sponsor, EverStart Batteries, is the No. 1 retail selling automotive and marine battery brand in the world.