EUFAULA, Ala. – One look at James Ramsey’s weights, and it’s clear his Day 2 was something special.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division event on Lake Eufaula was as tough as it gets for most of the pros. And doubly brutal for the co-anglers, as there were only 11 limits weighed in from the back of the boat.
One of those limits, though, was Ramsey’s 15 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2, which was heads and tails bigger than the next biggest co-angler bag of the event. And while it didn’t put him in first at the time, it set him up a day later to take home the title with 23-8 total.
“It’s so awesome to win, especially a tournament that was so tough,” said the Boaz, Alabama, co-angler. “But, it doesn’t happen without what happened on Day 2.”
So, what happened?
After fishing with Cody Nichols on Day 1 (and only catching two keepers), Ramsey was paired with Aaron Yavorsky, whose weight was disqualified on Day 1. With no shot at winning, the pro decided to see if he could give his co-angler a shot.
“He was a super nice guy,” Ramsey said. “He basically was my guide, sight-fishing for me. We found two offshore schools, and he was scoping from the front of the boat and telling me where to cast and what to do. I can’t thank him enough.”
With Yavorsky’s help, Ramsey sacked up the biggest co-angler bag of the event, tossing a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper in Guntersville shad. That had him in second, just 10 ounces back of Alan Berknicky.
Drawing Buddy Benson the final day, Ramsey went back to his ways of Day 1: fishing offshore, dragging either a green pumpkin football jig with a Rapala CrushCity Freeloader trailer or a Carolina rig with a Zoom Ol’ Monster (green pumpkin) just to the outside of brush piles. That accounted for only two fish, but when Bernicky failed to bring in a keeper, those two fish ended up sealing the win in an unexpected dream week for Ramsey.
“It’s really blown my mind,” Ramsey said. “I fished hard, but I didn’t expect any of this. I’m blessed.”
Top 10 co-anglers
1. James Ramsey – 23-8 (9) – $33,600
2. Alan Bernicky – 20-14 (7) – $4,551
3. Chris Harcrow – 18-7 (9) – $3,441
4. Johnny Suratt – 18-5 (12) – $3,011
5. Lenny Bays – 17-11 (9) – $2,581
6. James Menold – 17-8 (8) – $2,151
7. Tommy Sikes – 17-4 (11) – $1,720
8. James Cobbs – 17-1 (8) – $1,505
9. Dan Geurtsen – 17-0 (8) – $1,290
10. Trent Carey – 16-1 (7) – $1,075