EDWIN EVERS WINS 2016 GEICO BASSMASTER CLASSIC, CREDITS HIS WILEY X® EYEWEAR FOR AN AMAZING DAY-THREE FINISH

EDWIN EVERS WINS 2016 GEICO BASSMASTER CLASSIC, CREDITS HIS WILEY X^® EYEWEAR FOR AN AMAZING DAY-THREE FINISH

Oklahoma Native and Hometown Favorite Takes Bass Fishing’s Ultimate Prize on Lake O’ the Cherokees 

Wiley X^® Eyewear-sponsored bass angler Edwin Evers has earned many labels during his long and distinguished career competing in the rough-and-tumble world of professional bass fishing.  Fierce competitor.  Consummate professional. Even the best angler in the world never to win it all.  Well, following Sunday’s amazing day-three comeback in front of many of his hometown fans at Lake O’ the Cherokees outside Tulsa, Oklahoma, the fishing world can hang another label on Evers — Bassmaster Classic Champion.

Evers, a perennial fan favorite and top Bassmaster Elite Series performer, finally earned bass fishing’s ultimate prize on his 13^th trip to the “big dance.” The win didn’t come easy, and in the end, that made it all the more rewarding.  Going into the final day, Evers found himself sitting in third place, trailing leader Jason Christie by nearly six pounds. After two straight days of clear, stable conditions, the weather was set to turn cloudy and windy Sunday, making a comeback of this magnitude even more of a challenge. Evers, however, had a plan.

While the leaders opted to stay with what had worked for them on days one and two, Evers made a bold call to run way up the Elk River. When he arrived, he found a great deal of fish had pushed up that way, likely sheltering from the 20-knot-plus gusts.  And, as it turned out, his favorite pair of polarized WX Gravity sunglasses played a key role in Evers spotting and catching an epic final limit weighing 29 lbs. 3 oz. (that’s nearly a six-pound average) and a three-day Classic total of 60 lbs., 7 oz.  The key, according to Evers, was spotting logs that were holding bass well ahead of the boat.  “As always, my Wiley X sunglasses were a huge part of my win,” said Evers.  “The distance I was seeing the logs from was crucial to getting the fish to bite. The fish were very spooky, so keeping my distance was really important,” Evers added.

 Evers’ final-day limit was one of the best in Classic history, and when all was said and done, he went from being six pounds down to beating Christie by more than 10 pounds.  An Oklahoma native, Evers especially enjoyed the opportunity to finally earn a Classic Championship in front of so many of his family members and hometown fans who have rooted him on over his long career. 

“Edwin has been an important member of our sponsored pro angler team for many years, and we’ve always had complete confidence in him as a fisherman and ambassador for our brand,” said Wiley X Co-Owner Myles Freeman, Jr.  “We always knew this day would come, and we’re proud to see Edwin get this much-deserved recognition.  We’re equally proud that Edwin has worn our glasses for so long, and continues to rely on them every time he takes to the water,” added Freeman.

Evers and other top professional anglers count on Wiley X sunglasses for their ability to “read the water” in a wide range of conditions.  In addition to providing clear, distraction-free vision that enhances any angling technique,

Wiley X shades deliver unparalleled protection against the variety of dangers these athletes encounter on the water.  Every adult Wiley X sunglass meets ANSI Z87.1 High Velocity and High Mass Impact Safety Standards for OSHA-rated vision protection.  Wiley X is the only premium sunglass brand with this level of protection in every adult style it makes, a key reason why the company is a leading provider of vision protection products to the U.S. military, law enforcement and other tactical wearers. 

To learn more about the Wiley X team of sponsored professional anglers for 2016, or the company’s full line of advanced eyewear products providing Absolute Premium Protection — visit www.wileyx.com.  Or contact Wiley X at 7800 Patterson Pass Road, Livermore, CA 94550 · Telephone: (800) 776-7842. 

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