Hometown Pro Anglers Fare Well On Grand Lake

The big story this weekend at the Bassmaster Classic is the hometown anglers making it to the Super 6 of the competition.

Park Hill’s Jason Christie led the pack on Friday and Saturday, then Talala’s Edwin Evers overtook him to win by 10 pounds on the final day.

Related Story: Oklahomans Set Standard: Evers Dominates Classic On Final Day; Christie Finishes Second

Christie knows Grand Lake well.

“It's special, you know,” Christie said. “I grew up fishing this lake a lot. The lake's got a special place in my heart it always will. It's cool when the day’s over, I've got an hour drive home and most of these guys--20 hours, 15 hours."

When you're in first place, you get a large following out in the water, so Christie had an entourage following him throughout the weekend.

It was also a busy weekend on Grand Lake. For Saturday, GRDA says more than 720 boats were on the lake.

“To see that big of a crowd interested in bass fishing, it's awesome," spectator Logan Van Loo said.

Christie started his day off reeling in several fish in Brighton Bay.

“It's pretty expected of him,” Van Loo said. “He's pretty good out here. He's won a bunch of money out here, so it's pretty awesome to see him winning it."

Christie knows the Bassmaster Classic's return to the lake means a lot for the community.

“This event is just great for the area,” hw said. “It just helps everybody -- from the guy that poured the asphalt on the ramp there to the gas stations to the hotels in Tulsa."

Evers also loved the hometown crowds cheering him on to the final round.

"I can't thank everybody, so many church members who have never been to a tournament before … and just family and friends,” he said. “I can't thank them all enough for the support. I couldn't do it without them. They're just great, great people.”

The veteran Evers has been chasing that championship win through 13 Classics.

“This where you want to be in the Top 6 going into the final day,” Evers said before the weigh-in. “Bassmaster Classic here on Grand Lake, you couldn't ask for anything more.”


2016 Bassmaster Classic Final Leaderboard