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Evers Slams Door on Jones, Takes Bassmaster Elite Win
#1
PALATKA, Fla. - Targeting the backwaters of the St. Johns River system, and finding an 8-3 "mule" on the last day led Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, to the win Sunday in the Power-Pole Citrus Slam with 77 pounds, 1 ounce, shutting out three-day leader Alton Jones and hard-charging Terry Scroggins.

Trailing Jones by about 2 1/2 pounds before Sunday's finale, Evers sealed his sixth Bassmaster win by overtaking Jones and besting him by more than 3 pounds. Jones ended in third place with 73-12, leaving second place to Scroggins, who had 74-3.

Evers had one word to describe how he felt about the Bassmaster Elite Series win, worth $100,000, and a 2012 Bassmaster Classic qualification. It was his second Elite title, the first taken on Lake Erie in 2007.

"Awesome, awesome, awesome," he said. "I thought I'd lost this tournament numerous times every day. Getting the Classic berth is huge, an important step that takes a lot of pressure off."

Sight-fishing the flats of a St. Johns lake he shared with many other Elite pros the first day, Evers started out in 20th place. He made a crucial decision to leave the community hole and find more private water. He climbed into fourth on the second day, improving once again on the third day when he took the runner-up spot behind Jones. His catches were fairly consistent - 16-8, 22-5 and 19-4 the first three days - but it was his haul of 19 pounds on Sunday that helped him to the win.

Not to mention an 8-13, his big fish of the day and the fish that helped him climb into the winner's seat.

"It was a fish that I'd found the second day, really shallow," Evers said. "I went there the third day, and Scroggins was there. I turned around and left. I went there second thing this morning, and the northeast wind held the water up, and I ended up catching the male. It was actually the second time I'd caught him - I lost it and he bit again. She bit five or 10 minutes later.

"She was a mule," he said.

Evers said he hit many spots over the four days, including one area where he had to saw off overhanging willow branches to be able to put his lures in front of spawning bass.

Sunday afternoon's 15- to 17-mph winds hurt some of the final 12, but helped Evers. His water was stained, hard to reach and in areas that had not been pounded by the field.

"I had areas that were protected," he said. "I just had to get them to bite and get them in the boat. When the tide was low, the fish got freaky. I lost some big ones today, at least a 10-pounder and another at the end of the day - but it doesn't matter now."

He credited a new formula Yum bait, the F2. He used several styles, including Wooly Bug, Money Craw and a Craw Papi.

Runner-up Scroggins, who gave Evers a little advice as the tournament began, also got a tip from another Elite pro in the top 12. Knowing he could not win, Casey Ashley stepped back from going to a big bass he'd seen in a canal, and gave the location to Scroggins. But when he got there, the fish was gone; but he found another nearby. It weighed 7-12, and was a key to his finish.

"Without that, I wouldn't even have come close," Scroggins said.

Competing in his hometown, Scroggins said he was happy to do well, even if he ended as No. 2.

"I'll take second place every day," he said.

Jones said the wind on Sunday killed his Lake George sight bite. "You're not going to catch the big ones unless you're looking at them, so I was fishing for buck bass most of the day."

With his back-to-back Top 12 finishes, Jones took the lead in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race from last week's event winner, Shaw Grigsby. Scroggins moved into second, Kevin VanDam is third, and Evers is in fourth place.

Berkley Big Bass honors of the tournament went to Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., whose 10-3 lunker from the first day withstood all challengers - and several of those were in the high 9's. Williamson won a $500 bonus.

2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Luck "E" Strike, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ramada

About B.A.S.S.

For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com, ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events presented by Yamaha and Skeeter Boats and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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Media Contact: Melissa J. Dixon at 407-566-2295 or melissa.j.dixon@bassmaster.com

FINAL STANDINGS- POWER-POLE CITRUS SLAM

2011 Citrus Slam - Palatka, FL 03/17-03/20 St. Johns River, Palatka Fla.<br />
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 20 77-01 305 $101,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 19-04 Day 4: 5 19-00<br />
2. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 20 74-03 295 $25,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 13-15 Day 4: 5 20-04<br />
3. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 20 73-12 305 $21,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 26-09 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 11-04 Day 4: 5 13-02<br />
4. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 20 68-13 285 $15,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 23-10 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 20-02 Day 4: 5 14-12<br />
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 20 65-01 280 $14,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 8-13 Day 3: 5 26-00 Day 4: 5 16-12<br />
6. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 20 61-08 276 $13,500.00<br />
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 12-00 Day 4: 5 7-11<br />
7. Kelly Jordon Palestine, Texas 18 58-14 272 $13,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 15-14 Day 4: 3 11-05<br />
8. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 20 58-12 268 $12,500.00<br />
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 9-05 Day 3: 5 21-07 Day 4: 5 9-09<br />
9. Keith Combs Huntington, Texas 20 57-13 264 $12,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 12-12 Day 4: 5 11-00<br />
10. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 20 57-12 260 $11,500.00<br />
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 11-06 Day 4: 5 13-10<br />
11. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 20 52-14 257 $11,000.00<br />
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 12-02 Day 4: 5 5-12<br />
12. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark. 17 47-04 254 $10,500.00<br />
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 7-14 Day 4: 2 3-00<br />
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Berkley Big Bass of Tournament<br />
Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 10-03 $500.00

Power-Pole Captains Cash<br />
Day<br />
4 Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. $1,000.00

Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year Leader<br />
Alton Jones Waco, Texas $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Totals<br />
Day #Limits #Fish Weight<br />
1 82 451 1118-13<br />
2 80 450 960-09<br />
3 46 240 585-14<br />
4 10 55 145-13<br />
----------------------------------<br />
218 1196 2811-01

TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR POINTS

2011 Citrus Slam - Palatks, FL - Citrus Slam - Palatka, FL Pro Points After St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Ending 03-20-2011, Day 4<br />
-------------------------------------------<br />
Place Name St Pts<br />
-------------------------------------------<br />
1 Alton Jones Texas 573<br />
2 Terry Scroggins Fla. 555<br />
3 Kevin VanDam Mich. 542<br />
4 Edwin Evers Okla. 536<br />
5 Pat Golden N.C. 526<br />
6 Steve Kennedy Ala. 507<br />
7 J Todd Tucker Ga. 501<br />
8 Casey Ashley S.C. 499<br />
9 Todd Faircloth Texas 496<br />
10 Cliff Crochet La. 487<br />
11 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 486<br />
12 Peter Thliveros Fla. 470<br />
13 Jason Williamson S.C. 468<br />
14 Kevin Wirth Ky. 462<br />
15 Chris Lane Ala. 459<br />
15 Dustin Wilks N.C. 459<br />
17 Brent Chapman Kan. 456<br />
17 Jeff Kriet Okla. 456<br />
19 Ott Defoe Tenn. 454<br />
20 Jared Lintner Calif. 449<br />
21 James Niggemeyer Texas 439<br />
22 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 438<br />
23 Clark Reehm Texas 424<br />
24 Rick Clunn Mo. 422<br />
25 Keith Combs Texas 415<br />
26 Bill Lowen Ind. 412<br />
26 Aaron Martens Ala. 412<br />
28 Kelly Jordon Texas 411<br />
29 Stephen Browning Ark. 409<br />
29 Jonathon VanDam Mich. 409<br />
31 Gary Klein Texas 404<br />
32 John Crews Va. 402<br />
33 Greg Vinson Ala. 396<br />
33 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 396<br />
33 Grant Goldbeck Md. 396<br />
36 Matt Greenblatt Fla. 393<br />
37 Cliff Pace Miss. 390<br />
38 Greg Hackney La. 388<br />
39 Keith Poche Ala. 386<br />
40 Billy McCaghren Ark. 379<br />
41 Lee Sisson Fla. 378<br />
42 Zell Rowland Texas 376<br />
43 Mark Davis Ark. 374<br />
44 Dean Rojas Ariz. 368<br />
45 John Murray Ariz. 362<br />
46 Timmy Horton Ala. 360<br />
47 Gerald Swindle Ala. 358<br />
48 Mike McClelland Ark. 356<br />
48 Dean Alexander Texas 356<br />
50 Andy Montgomery S.C. 352<br />
51 Marty Robinson S.C. 348<br />
52 Skeet Reese Calif. 342<br />
53 David Walker Tenn. 336<br />
54 Dave Wolak N.C. 328<br />
54 Bobby Lane Fla. 328<br />
56 Randy Howell Ala. 326<br />
57 Russell Parrish Texas 324<br />
57 Jami Fralick S.D. 324<br />
59 Mark Menendez Ky. 320<br />
60 Davy Hite S.C. 318<br />
61 Takahiro Omori Texas 314<br />
62 Paul Elias Miss. 308<br />
63 Ben Parker Tenn. 306<br />
64 Matt Herren Ala. 304<br />
64 Jason Quinn S.C. 304<br />
66 Brandon Palaniuk Idaho 302<br />
67 Tommy Biffle Okla. 296<br />
67 Britt Myers S.C. 296<br />
69 Craig Schuff Texas 292<br />
70 Charlie Hartley Ohio 290<br />
70 Pete Ponds Miss. 290<br />
70 Rick Morris Va. 290<br />
73 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 286<br />
74 Kevin Short Ark. 284<br />
74 Travis Manson Wisc. 284<br />
76 Matt Reed Texas 282<br />
77 Brian Snowden Mo. 280<br />
78 Ryan Said Mich. 278<br />
79 Ish Monroe Calif. 276<br />
80 Kenyon Hill Okla. 272<br />
81 Russ Lane Ala. 266<br />
81 Bernie Schultz Fla. 266<br />
83 Scott Rook Ark. 260<br />
84 Bradley Roy Ky. 258<br />
85 Bradley Hallman Okla. 248<br />
85 Nate Wellman Mich. 248<br />
87 Jeff Connella La. 244<br />
88 James Stricklin Texas 238<br />
88 Scott Ashmore Okla. 238<br />
90 Boyd Duckett Ala. 236<br />
91 Morizo Shimizu Japan 216<br />
92 Denny Brauer Mo. 210<br />
93 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 206<br />
94 Chad Griffin Texas 202<br />
95 David Smith Okla. 186<br />
96 Terry Butcher Okla. 184<br />
97 Dennis Tietje La. 178<br />
98 Brent Broderick Ohio 168<br />
99 Derek Remitz Ala. 151

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