Like many big fish hunters we’ve met over the years, Everett is keenly aware when ever and wherever a larger-then-life sized bass is caught. He keeps tally on everyone’s biggest bass each year in addition to his own, wanting to know where he stands with his peers. It also allows him to keep his perspective and a sharper focus on his goal.
In order for Everett to realize his dream, many important factors have to continue to fall in his graces on the lake. One key element is the stocking of trout to the lake.
“The trout is the key to the whole equation,” claims Everett.
“In 2007 or so, they stopped planting the trout from California, mostly six to eight inch trout or so, and started planting these two foot long trout from Nebraska. That hurt things a bit,” says Everett. It wasn’t until 2010 that the plants in the lake were again the smaller trout that bass and LMV’s notoriously large catfish, can more easily consume. “Without the trout, I don’t have a chance,” laments Everett.
And there is a large amount of evidence to show such as fact. However, that may not be the only obstacle in Everett’s quest for the biggest prize in bass fishing. He’s also got genetics possibly working against him as well.
“Yeah, the gene pool might be getting a bit washed out over the years. The lake was stocked with the Florida bass a long while ago and those strong growth genes could be lessening with each spawn.”
Some say that the window of opportunity may have already closed when the trout plants changed a few years ago. The effect of the lesser diet may have been devastating in a lake where the big fish need to keep eating to get bigger. And in an environment where the big bass genes may well be on the wane.
“I know that my goal, what I’m trying to get accomplished is a … pretty big task,” realizes Everett. “What I want to do is promote fishing. I want to promote bass fishing and sight fishing.”
Everett is an unabashed self-promoter in a sport where that’s absolutely what it takes to get any attention. Such is especially so if you’re not interested in hunting down the tournament trail money. While pressing to garner any press attention he can get, Everett figures he’s really trying to get attention to what he’s doing so that others will hopefully do so as well. He is deeply sincere about wanting to get
ISSUE 2 June 2011
everyone on to a better bite and wants everyone to fish the lake and catch the tens and twelves, “That’s a thrill, to catch a ten pounder!”
“There’s nothing like the look on someone’s face who’s never seen a ten or twelve pound bass before, let alone caught one!” marveled Everett.
When it comes right down to it, Everett is vastly different then the Don Quixote comparison. The fictional character being stuck on one mode, consistently and passionately, until death, with no diversions. Everett himself is very much a family man. Through his fishing he’s learned that everything has its proper time and place. Fishing each season’s spawn is his special time and then the rest of the year goes to his wife, children and, even catching up with work.
“After the spawn, I put it away. I put so much into it for those ninety or so days,” says Everett. “ When I’m done with it, I just walk away. Go fish for stripers or salmon, when we can but mostly I hunt and do other activities with the family.”
“I love big deer, big fish, big waves…” states Everett firmly, “I just happen to live here and there’s big fish.”
Inc.
1221 Petaluma Blvd North
Petaluma, Ca. 94952
707-762-8084
Servicing All
Brant Behler, with over 20 years
experience, is one of Northern
California’s top outboard technicians. Brant is fully trained
and certified for Mercury, Evinrude and Yamaha outboards.
Brant specializes on keeping tournament anglers fishing with
same day turn around...
Brand Motors
Brant Behler
Owner
Click Here to Email
www.marineunlimited.netnet
45