Randall reels in first place on second day of EverStart competition

Brian Randall of McCalla, Ala., was in first place overall in the Pro Division after recording a two-day total of 34 pounds, 5 ounces. Photo by Gary Mortenson. Angler: Brian Randall.

March 21, 2002 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Downey snags lead in Co-angler Division

EUFAULA, Ala. – With massive stringer weights dominating the first two days of action on Lake Eufaula, Brian Randall of McCalla, Ala., surged ahead of the pro field after turning in a monstrous two-day total of 34 pounds, 5-ounces. Randall, who put an exclamation point on his day-one performance of 18 pounds, 15 ounces by recording another stellar sack of fish weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces in today’s competition, said he couldn’t be happier with the way the tournament has progressed to date.

“This is great,” said Randall, fishing in only the second EverStart event of his career. “There are a lot of great fishermen here, so I’m just very fortunate to be on top right now So far, so good.”

However, Randall acknowledged that his prospects for advancing to the semifinals weren’t very good earlier this afternoon.

“I have one good area and it saved me today,” he said. “At about 12:45 p.m., I only had one fish in the boat. I was really struggling. But then I got to my area and I was able to catch a good limit – barely. I wound up catching five fish and that was it.”

Randall, who finished in eighth place during the first EverStart Eastern Division tournament of the year on Lake Okeechobee, said that part of the reason for his success was that he was one of only a handful of anglers who wasn’t sight-fishing on Lake Eufaula.

“I’m doing something different than anyone else. Unlike a lot of the guys, I’m not sight-fishing at all,” said Randall. “I’m fishing shallow and looking for the post-spawn bite. And I think that’s really helped me so far.”

Randall said is targeting “grass and wood” on Envision buzz baits in the early morning hours and then switching over to a Lake Fork tube bait later in the afternoon.

An avid fisherman on the Wal-Mart BFL tour, Randall said he likes his chances in tomorrow’s competition assuming the day is not completely overcast.

“I have one good area that I feel very confident with. And if the conditions are right, I should do well,” he said. “But if the clouds come out, my fish tend to scatter and they become a lot harder to catch. So, you never really know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

Daniel lands in second

Chris Daniel of Cullman, Ala., used a two-day catch of 33 pounds, 14 ounces to grab the runner-up position heading into tomorrow’s semifinal round of competition.

“This is what you come here to do,” said Daniel, one of eight pro anglers to post a stringer weight over 30 pounds, 11 ounces over the first two days of competition. “Any time you make the cut, you’ve got to feel good. Because if you don’t get to play tomorrow, you can’t win the tournament.”

However, while Daniel is pleased with his performance so far, he said he is worried that his cache of fish might not be there tomorrow.

“So far, I’ve been sight-fishing. But I think I might be running out of fish,” he said. “Today, the water was really muddy because of the rain last night. So it was really hard to find them. And if you’re sight fishing (with stained water) you had better know where the fish are.”

Daniel, who has been throwing a jig and tube bait all week, said he is hoping for sunny skies and no wind during tomorrow’s competition.

“But if the wind blows, I’ll switch to a spinner bait and hope for the best,” he said.

Pugh grabs third place

Bolstered by a 33-pound, 9-ounce catch, Greg Pugh of Cullman, Ala., ensured that Alabama residents would hold onto the top three qualifying positions in the pro field heading into the semifinals. Pugh was in second place after yesterday’s competition.

Rounding out the top five qualifiers for the semifinals were Rusty Smith (fourth) of Somerset, Ky., with a catch of 33 pounds, 1 ounce; and day-one leader Christopher Lane (fifth) of Lakeland, Fla., with a catch of 31 pounds, 14 ounces.

Mike McAdams of Pascagoula, Miss., win a check for $750 after winning the day’s big bass award in the Pro Division. McAdams, who landed a 6-pound, 12-ounce largemouth to grab the award, finished the tournament in 147th place.

Downey’s consistency gives him co-angler lead

EverStart rookie Red Downey of Fort Meyers, Fla., used a two-day catch of 25 pounds, 14 ounces to leapfrog from seventh place to the top qualifying position heading into tomorrow’s round of competition.

“I feel really good about my performance,” said Downey. “I had a limit by 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. this morning, so I knew I was going to make the cut. This is only my first year on the EverStart trail, but so far, I’m having a great time.”

Downey, who has been fishing the Wal-Mart BFL for the past 20 years, said he is using a combination of buzz baits and flukes near weed lines and flats.

“I’m hopeful about tomorrow,” he said.

Skip Mundy of Cusseta, Ga., finished the day in second place after turning in a two-day total weighing 21 pounds, 12 ounces.

“I’m really happy,” said Mundy, who has used spinner baits exclusively all week. “I had a couple of good pros who put me on fish and I feel like I’m fishing in my own backyard. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top five were Ronnie McDonough (third) of Vestavia Hills, Ala., with a catch of 20 pounds, 3 ounces; Brad May (fourth) of Regina, Ky., with a catch of 19 pounds, 13 ounces; and Scott Walker (fifth) of Albany, Ga., with a catch of 19 pounds, 8 ounces.

Jimmy Hale of Rocky Mount, Va., won $250 and the day’s big bass award in the Co-angler Division after landing a 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth. Hale finished the tournament in 42nd place.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 6 a.m. at Lake Point State Park, located at 104 Lake Point Drive in Eufaula, Ala.