Posted  May 3rd, 2008  6:00 pm CST

Kenyon Hill Remains a Factor, Hite Makes a Day Three Move

Story by Brent Conway - Photos by Mark Jeffreys

Augusta, GA – The fifth stop of the 2008 Elite Series regular season, the Pride of Georgia at Clarks Hill Reservoir, started off hot and then was…well…sort of not. Anglers prior to the tournament’s start commented that the fishing at the famed Georgia fishery was a little off. That the fish were between cycles and the Blue Back herring were as well.

But that’s kind of to be expected as you can rarely get a straight answer out of tournament fishermen before the tournament starts, and while they didn’t exactly catch the fire out of them, there were some bass caught in Thursdays opening quarter.

Thursday it was Denny Brauer who caught them better than anyone else bringing 22 pounds to the scales to put a four-pound lead over second. Again though, the anglers reiterated what they’d said in practice – the fishing at Clarks wasn’t what it should be.

Friday saw things change as some in the field struggled – included the Day One leader who suggested that he wasn’t able to key on the quality he had the day before. But Saturday promised to have clouds and wind – something many in the field weren’t looking forward to as the bright skies were, at the least, aiding to better position the bass.

With Saturday being cut day, and the bite showing signs of rebounding, the field of 50 shuffled jockeying for a Top 12 end to the day. Many at, or near, the top of the leader board Thursday and Friday seemed stuck in reverse, but Edwin Evers hadn’t had but one gear since Friday.

Evers once again stood at the top of the heap with a three-day weight of 51-1 after bringing 17-3 to the scales in the third quarter. Kenyon Hill ended the day where he started it in the second-place chair with a total weight of 49-14 after bagging 18-1 Saturday.

In third place on Cut Day was Davy Hite, thanks in large part to his third day weight of 18-14, with 46-15 overall. Finding himself in fourth place Saturday was Peter Thliveros, with 44-4 in three days of fishing, who brought 16-13 to the scales on day three.

Tim Horton ended the third session in fifth place with a three-day combined weight of 42-11 after weighing 15-15 to start the weekend. Rounding out the Super Six was local favorite Casey Ashley with a combined weight of 42-4 after weighing 13-5 Saturday.

Evers Seeking New Water
Edwin Evers has led The Pride for two consecutive days, and would certainly like to end things that way; however, due to a slower-than-hoped bite he had to scramble to new water to maintain control of the event. “It was quite a bit slower today that what it has been all week,” he said. 

“I actually wound up fishing some new water and ended up catching a few decent ones doing that.”

The clouds than came on as the day progressed was a welcomed site, but the outcome certainly wasn’t. “I thought that with the clouds, they’d really go to biting,” Evers said. “It never happens the way that you hope though.”

Evers has focused on flat points with deep water adjacent to it all week. Whether the point is composed of chunk rock or pea gravel isn’t significant, but the presence of wind is. “I’m running all over the place just trying to keep a pattern going,” he said. “I’m looking for any little key features on these points and then making as long a cast as I can.”

Evers’ big fish Saturday, a five-pound beauty, came 50 yards from where Friday’s big bite fell. “That little area has been pretty good to me all week,” he said. “I’ve started there all three days now, and don’t really see any reason to change. It’s what happens after that big bite that makes all the difference though.”

With lots of company nearby –a horde of spectators and pleasure boaters alike – Evers area is taking a beating. “It’s no big deal when they follow me,” he said, “but what happens is that a lot of times they will get up on top of the spot I just left as they try and keep up” 

“That scatters the bait and all the bass go with them,” Evers adds. “I really enjoy having spectators, but I just wish that they would try and remain aware of what they’re sitting on.”

Leading the 12-man field out on Sunday, Evers is feeling pretty strong despite a relatively slow day. “How can you not feel great,” the Oklahoma pro questioned. “I’m leading going into the final day and feel really confident about what I’m doing. 

“All that I can do now and go out one more time and try and do my best, and just let the chips fall where they may.”

Hill is Hopeful
Kenyon Hill has been incredibly consistent all week. Part of the consistency he’s striving for is flexibility. Case in point: he’s started each day with a different bait and didn’t alter that Saturday by picking up the swimbait first thing. “It was a really fun day,” he said. 

Trying not to jinx his momentum, Hill’s “Knock on wood” suggestion is his hope at staving off any potential gremlins. “I haven’t had the first problem yet – be it spectators or other tournament boats,” he said. “All that I can hope is that I can close the gap enough tomorrow to close this one out. 

“Hopefully, I’ll get to fish where I want to again tomorrow. If I do, I feel like I can catch another 18 pounds.”

It’s All About Friday for Hite
While Davy Hite doesn’t consider Clarks Hill his home lake, over 25 years of history on the Georgia reservoir might suggest that he should consider dual-residency. That aside, if the win doesn’t happen, he knows that it comes down to one day. “The big story is really yesterday,” he said. 

“I really put myself behind the eight-ball because of that.”

Hite has said from the start that he’s bypassing quantity for quality and only shooting for eight bites a day. As evidenced by Friday’s swirl, the game plan is ripe for disaster. “It’s really tough on you mentally to fish this way,” he said. “I feel like I have to do this to win, and that’s the only reason I’m here.”

Hite is switching between mop jig and top water for all his bites this week. “I’m fishing somewhat like I did two years ago when I won, but I’ve actually changed a few things too,” he said. “I preach so much that you have to go for the win, so I’m focused solely on fishing baits that generate big bites.” 

“Two years ago, if it slowed down I found myself with a little worm,” Davy added. “I’m not doing that this year because I have no business putting down the jig to try and get a bite. I just know that when I get a bite, it’s going to be a good one.”

As for Sunday final round, Hite admits that his “go for the win” style could be his ultimate undoing…then again, it might now be. “You never really know,” he said. “Two years ago when I won I was getting 20 bites a day on the mop jig. Now, if I’m lucking, I’m getting three. It’s just going to be another grind and I’ll catch what I catch.”

Pete Slows Down to Catch Up
Peter Thliveros, like Hite, can look back on his tournament and pinpoint a single day as his potential undoing. Fortunately, it was the first day and it’s been all sunshine and roses since then. “I’ve been really fortunate,” he said. 

“He and I practiced together, and we’re basically in the same area – just across the lake from one another,” he said. “I’m picking up a swimbait a little bit more maybe than what I’d like, but I’m learning a little more each day too which helps.”

It’s certainly no secret as to what Pete’s primary pattern is; however, he points to the fact that he’s fishing super slow in order to catch up. “I’m fishing the way you might expect,” Peter explained, “but I’ve slowed down to a crawl in order to soak my rig across these points for as long as possible. 

“I’ve gotten stronger each day, and I’ve learned more about my areas each day, so I really like my chances right now.”

“I don’t know. Like I said, the warmer nights are helping the herring get bunched up. It’s just a matter of being around them when the bass are.”

Ashley’s Not on Top…and That’s Okay
Casey Ashley is the hometown hero at Clark’s Hill this week. Last year, he started off with a bang, but flamed out as the tournament wore on. This year, he said, he’s reversed the order. “I started off on top last year, and you see how that wound up,” he jokingly said. 

“I decided to change my strategy this year and come from behind.”

All joking aside, while Ashley appears to be gaining momentum, the cloud cover projected to blanket the area Sunday has him concerned. “I really need the sun,” Ashley explained. “It keeps them a little more concentrated, and all I’m fishing are schooling fish with a top water.

“The area that I’m in is just too big to try and pinpoint them when it’s cloudy.”

Fishing a Spook, a Gunfish, and a Pencil Popper, Ashley won’t stray from his topwater technique despite what the weatherman might say. “I’m having a good tournament so far,” he said. “I’ve been fishing to win all week long and I won’t change a thing on the final day.”

DAY 3 STANDINGS

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