DEKA WINS EVERSTART SERIES EVENT AT LAKE OKEECHOBEE
January 08, 2005
CLEWISTON, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2005) – Pro Daryl Deka
of Wellington, Fla. caught a final-round total of 10 bass weighing
32 pounds, 6 ounces to win the EverStart Series Southeast Division
Event at Lake Okeechobee. Deka won $10,000 plus a Ranger 519 VX powered
by a Yamaha or Evinrude outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Garmin
electronics and Everstart Batteries.
“I made the cut pitching a 10-inch worm to spawning fish in reeds,”
Deka said. “But I’d been saving an area on the east side
of Monkey Box for the final round. All the other anglers have been
fishing on the west side. I switched to a 4-inch Gambler crawdad today
and caught three 6-pounders out of that spot.”
Deka also used Garmin Electronics and won the Garmin Grand award worth
$1,000.
Rounding out the top-five pros are J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md. (10
bass, 30 pounds, 12 ounces); Edward Guice of Decatur, Ala. (10 bass,
27 pounds, 11 ounces); Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala. (10 bass, 24
pounds, 15 ounces); and Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla. (10 bass, 23
pounds, 15 ounces).
In addition, Kenney won the Ranger Cup award worth $1,500.
The top co-angler of the tournament, Edwin Kimbrough of Sebastian,
Fla., caught a final-round total of 10 bass weighing 22 pounds to
earn $5,000.
“I was fishing the Monkey Box, same as everyone else,” Kimbrough
said. “I’ve been flipping and pitching, and I caught two
good fish today on that pattern. One was an 8-pounder and the other
was a 3-pounder.” Kimbrough said he’s been fishing a similar
pattern for the duration of the tournament. He added that pressure
has been heavy in the best areas, and that there were four other boats
in his area today.
Kimbrough was fishing with pro Sandy Melvin of Boca Grande, Fla.,
who finished the event in sixth place.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Ed Dixon of Helen, Ga. (eight
bass, 16 pounds, 5 ounces); Aymon Wilcox of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
(seven bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces); Kenneth Owens of Wise, Va. (10
bass, 6 pounds, 9 ounces); and Alan Weiss of Greensburg, Pa. (six
bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces).
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two
rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the
top 10 pros and co-anglers – based on two-day accumulated weights
– advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and
pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day
accumulated weights.
The next EverStart Series Southeast Division event will be held March
2-5 on Santee Cooper in Manning, S.C. Boats will launch from John
C. Land III Landing on Lake Marion in Summerton, S.C. on Wednesday
morning. The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting
the event. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the
Wal-Mart on 481 W. Boyce St. in Manning.
For more information on the EverStart Series or any
of FLW Outdoors’ eight tournament trails, visit FLWOutdoors.com.
