By; Frank Evans, Senior Writer, Fishers Of Men

MIKE DEVERE AND JARRED HEMBREE CATCH $35,000.00 SMALLMOUTH ON DAY 3 TO ANCHOR THE FISHERS OF MEN LAKE CUMBERLAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

With the field of 136 teams now cut to the top 27 in the third and final day of competition, Kentucky South Central anglers, Mike Devere and Jarred Hembree clenched the victory at the 2007/2008 Fishers Of Men Cumberland Lake National Championship. By weighing in a single 4.69 lbs smallmouth and finishing the tournament with a 3-day total of 37.32 lbs, Mike and Jarred were awarded the top prize: a beautiful 2008 Triton TR-200/200hp Mercury Optimax combination. The competent anglers also received championship plaques, several hundred dollars in Bonus Bucks, the $250.00 2nd Big Fish award, and an invitation to next season’s championship in order to defend their titles. The winning pair worked 12 to 15 foot depths around points and bluffs (with gravel and rock at their bases) utilizing shakeyhead worms and brown half-ounce jigs.

Earning $10,000.00 for a second place finish was Jerry Silman and Chris Burnham. The Louisiana North-Central team hauled in a limit weighing 15.12 lbs, giving them 35.06 lbs for the 3 days. Jerry and Chris reported throwing spinnerbaits in a brushy cove where the water was clearing from the heavy runoff and they noted that the fish “sure move around a lot” and that they were suspended in 6 feet of water today.

Third place finishers, Wayne Frierson and Ronnie Mueller (SC Lowcountry) earned $7,000.00 for a limit weighing 7.16 lbs that was added to the previous 2-day catch of 25.27, giving them a 3-day total of 32.43 lbs. Wayne and Ronnie also used spinnerbaits to bring in a limit within 30 minutes of arriving at their fishing spot. They spent the rest of the day trying to find the ever-moving larger bass.

Using a secondary pattern of slow rolling spinnerbaits in the brush at the back ends of a cove, Alabama South’s, James Blanton and Michael James weighed 5 fish, going 14.58 lbs thus giving them a tournament total of 31.34. This was good enough to earn them a 4th place finish and $5000.00.

Rounding out the top five teams was another Kentucky South Central Division duo. Densmore Goodson and Dacker Combs advanced from 7th to finish 5th with a tournament weight of 28.52lbs. Dacker and Densmore’s 2 bass, falling for half ounze jigs, spinner baits, and weighing 6.17lbs came out of water 6 feet deep in a clearing creek with a strong current (today) that they had been working with spinnerbaits during the tournament.

John and Rebecca Shelburne brought in the $500.00 1st Big Fish, going 5.38lbs. John and his wife placed 8th overall with 24.22lbs.

We want to thank Mayor Chuck Fourman, Burnside City Tourism Board, Director Dona Howard, Judy Hatterman, Patty Guinn, Scott Roaden, and Monica Fourman. Also, Pro Bass Shop on Hwy.90, the Smith Family, everyone who shuttled our anglers back and forth at Burnside State Park and anyone who I may have missed.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible: Triton Boats, Mercury, Shakespeare, All Star Graphite Rods, Plueger, XTools, Strike King Lure Co., SOSPENDERS, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Solar Bat, Spike-It Bait Co, Keelshield, HOOAH Energy Bars, MotorGuide, Lowrance, All-Terrain Tackle, Stanley Jigs, Dual Pro Charger, Spot Remover by Buckeye Lures, Kistler Custom Fishing Rods, Deka Marine Master Batteries, Jacobs Glass, Poor Boy's Baits Lurecraft, T&H Marine, Rejuvenate, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusor.

Day 2 Results

Day 3 Results