JASPER, Texas – The $2.8 million 2002 EverStart Series Central Division opened Wednesday on Sam Rayburn Reservoir with 330 bass anglers representing more than a dozen states. Despite chilling wind and drizzle, which added to the challenge, pro Tim Carroll, Owasso, Okla., took the lead with a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 11 ounces.
Carroll, a Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American qualifier, is competing in just his second EverStart Series tournament.
The $210,000 event features 165 pros who supply boats, control boat movements during competition, and fish for a top award of more than $50,000 in cash and prizes and 165 co-anglers who fish from the back deck of each boat for a top award of $6,000 cash. If the winning pro’s boat is equipped with a fixed-mount GARMIN Fishfinder or combination GPS/Sounder, he will receive a $1,000 bonus from GARMIN.
David Curtis, Trinity, Texas, finished opening day in second with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces. Carl Svebek III, Sam Rayburn, Texas (four bass, 20 pounds, 3 ounces); Larry Frasier, Sebree, Ky. (five bass, 15 pounds, 11 ounces); and Alfred Wilson, Millington, Tenn. (five bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces) rounded out the top-five pros.
Co-angler W.D. “Hoot” Gibson, Bryant, Ark., leads his division with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 10 ounces followed by Charles Carlile, Tulsa, Okla., (four bass, 13 pounds, 9 ounces) in second and Lonnie Fuller Jr., Hemphill, Texas (four bass, 13 pounds, 8 ounces) in third.
An 8-pound, 7-ounce largemouth landed Greg Ingram, Owasso, Okla., big bass honors and $750 in the Pro Division while a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth landed Sharon Stone, Cold Spring, Texas, big bass honors and $250 in the Co-angler Division.
Only 25 limits were caught opening day.
For a shot at victory, anglers in both divisions must secure one of 20 slots in Friday’s semifinal round with their two-day opening-round total. Anglers then start from zero and compete for one day to determine the top 10 pros and co-anglers who will fish in Saturday’s finale. Catch weights are cleared for the final day, and the winners are determined by that day’s catch.
Competition begins at 7 a.m. each morning at Twin Dikes Marina in Brookfield, Texas. Thursday’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina starting at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 800 West Gibson in Jasper starting at 4 p.m.
Now in its fifth season, the EverStart Series features three divisions-Eastern, Central and Northern-with four events each plus the $325,000 EverStart Series Championship presented by Conseco. The top 50 pros and co-anglers from each division will be invited to the Championship for a shot at top pro awards of more than $60,000 in cash and prizes and top co-angler awards of more than $40,000 in cash and prizes. The top 10 pros and co-anglers from each division also receive priority entry into the 2003 Wal-Mart FLW Tour where they could win up to $260,000 and $40,000 in cash respectively.
Sponsors of the 2002 EverStart Series are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, GARMIN, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Maxwell House, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw, Laker, Plano and Solar Bat.
FLW Outdoors is the world’s leading marketer of competitive fishing tournaments. The organization operates 170 tournaments through the EverStart Series, Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit and Ranger M1. FLW Outdoors will award anglers up to $22 million in 2002.