Dandridge, TN – Going into the final day, Jeremy Starks sat six pounds behind the leader Britt Myers, but found a way to over take him and win the 2012 Elite Series Douglas Lake Challenge.  With only an hour left in the day Starks left his area in search of new water and hit pay dirt.  Catching 22 pounds, 5 ounces, giving him a two pound victory and his second Elite Series win, along with a 2013 Bassmaster Classic berth.

Fishing a point that he found in final hour of the final day that he’s never seen before was they key to his win. “At the very end of the point there was a depression.” Starks said and those fish were just sitting down in it late in the day. Fishing a Stirke King 6XD (Silent Version) in 40-45 foot of water he caught his two biggest bass of the day. “I caught those two five pounders in the last ten minutes.” Starks said he caught all his fish on a Strike King 6 XD. He chose the blue-chartreuse color for morning light, then switched to a blueback-herring finish when the sun rose higher.

Photo From BASS (Seigo Saito)

Starks also noted another key to his victory was fishing deeper than anyone else. He used 300 yards of line on every cast, and said it would take 10 minutes to reel it in each time. “I have reeled in 25 miles of crankbaits.” Starks said jokingly after the win.

He never fished deep at all during his practice.  Starks fished swallow, and maybe only made 4-5 cast in deep water the whole practice period. The game plan was to look for active schools during the tournament, and it payed off in a big way on Sunday. He also thanked fellow pro’s Jason Quinn and Greg Hackney for helping him out during the week.

For the second tournament in a row Britt Myers finished in second place. Myers struggled today weighing in his smallest limit of the tournament at 14 pounds, 7 ounces bringing his four day total to 79 pounds, and 1 ounce.

Aaron Martens stayed in third with 74 pounds, 5 ounces. Fishing his signature frog, Dean Rojas came in fourth at 73 pounds, 13 ounces.  New Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year leader Randy Howell finished fifth.  His four day total was 72 pounds, 12 ounces. Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament was caught by Bryon Velvick at 6 pounds, 10 ounces.

2012 Elite Series Douglas Lake Challenge Top 12