Edwin Evers Wins the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Alabama River Tournament

By Deb Johnson
Bass Press Release

“Man, you’ve got me,” Brent Chapman said to Edwin Evers.

Evers was already in Sunday’s final-round hot seat of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite. Chapman, the leader for the two previous days, was the last of the 12 finalists to weigh in. He climbed the stage steps already knowing it was over for him.

No one in the crowd under Montgomery’s historic Union Station Train Shed heard Chapman’s remark on stage. But that’s how Evers later told the story.

Evers wins and takes lead in AOY race.
(Photo: BASS)

“I didn’t realize until he said ‘you’ve got me’ that I had a chance,” Evers said after he’d hoisted the eighth trophy of his Bassmaster career and claimed his second regular-season Elite Series win. “I’m so happy. I can’t believe it.”

Evers of Talala, Okla., got the best of Chapman by 1 pound, 12 ounces. Evers took home $100,000 and a win-you’re-in berth for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.

He took over the Charge by weighing four limits of spotted bass for a total of 75-13. The Charge was the first time, Evers said, that he’d won on spotted bass alone. He also hit a career high by weighing 22 pounds, 6 ounces of spotted bass on Saturday, the largest sack of that species he’s ever caught.

2013 Bassmaster Elite Alabama River Day 3: Chapman Still Leading but River Levels Drop

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

Brent Chapman is on a tear.

Saturday, the reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year led the four-day Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite for the second consecutive day.

Brent Chapman is leading as leader board has mixed.
River levels dropped making Sunday's fishing
unpredictable. (Photos: BASS)

Chapman also came close to tearing up his bass rig. During a stomach-churning run upriver against Coosa River rapids to reach the big spotted bass in Jordan Dam tailwaters, his boat struck a rock.

“Where I’m fishing, my Triton-Mercury isn’t supposed to go,” said Chapman on the Bassmaster Elite Series stage as he weighed in 18 pounds, 3 ounces, enough for the Day 3 lead by 1 pound, 3 ounces over Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla.

“I didn’t rip anything off, but I’ll have it checked out,” said Chapman, who brought 59 pounds, 4 ounces to the scales over three days, much of it from his sweet Coosa set-up.

It might dry up on him on Sunday in the event’s final round. The water level of the entire Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river system is dropping. That means the boat-eating rocks might be too close to the surface to make a run to the dam come Sunday morning.

“I’m going to go as far as I feel I can safely go, and that’s where I’m going to start fishing,” the leader said. “There’s still good, fishable water up there in many places. And there’s still some great fishing down here (near Montgomery). If I have to go fishing, I’ll go fishing.”

In bass-speak, “go fishing” is the equivalent of starting over.

It looks like Niagara Falls but it isn't. Many won't fish on
Sunday if water levels by the dam continue to drop.

Chapman had company on the Jordan Dam tailwaters. On the way up Saturday morning, he and Jared Miller of Norman, Okla., met near the first set of rapids. After a consultation, Chapman said he’d lead the way. They both got through, and then Miller took the point. Chapman pulled up to his spot, and Miller crept closer to the dam. (Waiting on land, Bassmaster cameramen shot Miller’s wild ride as he tried to navigate the churning water below the dam. See it here.)

2013 Bassmaster Elite Alabama River Day 2: Chapman Tames White Water and Spots to Take Lead

By Deb Johnson

BASS Press Release

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alton Jones and Brent Chapman stood side-by-side. They were the first two Bassmaster Elite Series pros in line to weigh in Friday, the second day of the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.

The white water below the dam has be producing the best
bass of the tournament.   (Photos: BASS)

Jones sized up Chapman’s weigh-in bag. “I'll go first,” Jones told Chapman. “I want to lead for at least one minute.”

Jones had it right. His 20 pounds, 4 ounces earned him a fleeting look at the hot seat. Chapman’s 23-5 handily beat him. Chapman’s two-day total was 41-1 to Jones’ 36-10 — a 4-7 difference.

Jones had nothing to feel bad about. Together the two squashed the hopes of the other 98 Elite pros who followed them to the scales. No one knocked them out of first and second.

The reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Chapman, of Lake Quivira, Kan., weighed five spotted bass to move up from sixth place on Day One. In his bag was the day’s largest bass, a 5-11.

Chapman rode Coosa River rapids in his bass rig to reach his fish.

Chapman easily took the lead with his big bag. 

“It was a fun day. Things could not have gone better for me,” Chapman said. “But it was a little nerve-wracking getting there (to his fishing spot).”

“Knowing what’s under the water is kind of scary,” he said. “If the water drops at all …” He shook his head. “There’s literally times you feel the boat go up and then feel it go down because you drop so much.”

The ride was worth it to get to a sweet spot he has going below the dam.

“I’ve got ‘a cast,’ a really neat little spot where they’re sitting up in one little eddy,” he said. “I caught a good one to start the day, and within a hour had a 20-pound bag.”