Parker takes Co-angler Division title at West Point

Third time is a charm for Georgia co-angler

VALLEY, Ala. – Fishing his first year of the EverStart Series as a co-angler, Matthew Parker of Whitesburg, Ga., has watched victory elude him twice this season, finishing fourth at Santee Cooper and fifth at Eufaula.

After making his third top-10 cut in a row at West Point, he was determined not to let victory slip away again – and he succeeded.

Parker brought in a five-bass limit today weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces to rally from third place and win the Co-angler Division of the EverStart Series Southeast on West Point.

Parker’s win came on a Carolina rig sweetened with a watermelon-candy Zoom Trick worm.

Looking back, Parker pointed to the exact fish that won the tournament.

“My partner said, ‘We’re making a move,'” Parker recounted. “So I put my rods down, zipped up my jacket and sat down. But just then, one of his lure hooks got hung in his rod strap.”

Seeing that it was going to be a minute before his pro wrestled the lure free, Parker picked up his Carolina rig rod and, while still seated in the passenger seat, made a cast.

“Just as it hit the bottom, I felt the line tighten,” he said. “I set the hook, hollered for the net and stood up to fight it. That was my biggest fish, a 5-pounder.”

Michi Oba of Tokyo, Japan, finished second with a two-day total of 12 pounds, 3 ounces.

Oba caught three solid bass today for 9 pounds.

Oba reported catching two fish on a drop-shot Kinami cut-tail worm, but his biggest fish came on “Big Bud,” the novelty beer can lure made by Heddon.

“I swear that’s what I caught it on,” Oba confirmed. “Believe it or not, the beer can lure is very popular in Japan.”

To see Oba’s “Big Bud” lure, check out the photos section.

Tim Vanegmond of Gay, Ga., finished third with a two-day total of 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Tommy Gunn of Cusseta, Ala., finished fourth with a two-day total of 7 pounds, 6 ounces.

And Richard Mitchell of Appling, Ga., finished fifth with a two-day total of 5 pounds, 7 ounces.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the EverStart Series Southeast event on West Point Lake:

6th: James Barnick of Pembroke Pines, Fla., with a two-day total of 4-10

7th: Johnny Pittman of Somerville, Ala., with a two-day total of 3-2

8th: Ronald Mueller of Prosperity, S.C. with a two-day total of 2-6

9th: John Crosby of Macon, Ga., with a two-day total of 1-8

10: James Chapman of Cedartown, Ga.