Quick Bites: FLW Tour, Lake Norman, Day 4

Walmart FLW Tour

National Guard Open

Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C.,

Final round, Sunday

When it’s meant to be … Losing a single key fish in the final round of an FLW Tour event can cost a pro a big win. Losing two key fish in the final round of an FLW Tour event spells certain disaster. Incredibly, Berkley pro Stetson Blaylock lost and then re-caught his biggest kicker fish on days three and four en route to winning the National Guard Open on Lake Norman. On day three, he broke his biggest sight-fish off only to retie, pitch right back to the 4-pounder and catch her again. Today, his biggest bass came off halfway to the boat. Blaylock, however, went back to work on the fish and, after many casts, got her to bite again. The second time, he got the 5-pounder in the boat. “With this caliber of pros out here, you never say you got a tournament won,” Blaylock said. “But when I got that big one in the boat, I knew someone was really going to have to catch them to beat me.”

Young guns … With his win, Stetson Blaylock became the youngest pro to ever win an FLW Tour event at 21 years of age. The two previous youngest winners were Febreze pro Michael Bennett, when he won the Lewis Smith Lake FLW in 2008 at 23 years of age, and Chevy pro Luke Clausen, when he won the Forrest Wood Cup in 2004 at the age of 25.

Hoernke gets a surprise … During the final weigh-in of the National Guard Open, Yamaha pro Sean Hoernke got a big surprise. As Hoernke weighed in, Charlie Evans told Hoernke that FLW Outdoors now had a new long-distance communication feed that allowed pros to talk to their loved ones as they weighed in. Evans then asked, “Are you there Mr. Hoernke?” And sure enough, Hoernke’s father responded over the sound system and said he was on the phone in California and watching his son at the weigh-in via FLW Live. Sean spoke with his dad over the “new live communication feed” for a minute. That alone was enough to shock Hoernke. “I’ve never seen you guys do this,” the former National Guard Open champion said with great surprise. “This is pretty neat.” But then the unexpected happened: Hoernke’s father walked up onto the stage and surprised his son in person. FLW Outdoors had flown Mr. Hoernke to Charlotte to see his son weigh in, and he was right behind the stage talking into a microphone the whole time. When father and son embraced onstage, tears flowed from Hoernke’s eyes. “This is a special treat,” said a visibly shaken Hoernke. “My dad lives in California and I live in Texas, and we don’t get to see each other much – so this is pretty special.” The reunion got a few audience members teared up as well.

Dude, where’s my boat? … Hoernke’s got another surprise after weigh-in today when he learned that his boat had been stolen from a private residence on the lake. All week, Hoernke had been staying with friends at the private residence and was leaving his boat tied up to the dock at night. During the finals in FLW Tour competition, the top 10 fish from sponsor-wrapped Rangers, and so Hoernke left his personal boat in the private boat slip Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday morning, Hoernke’s hosts noticed that his boat was missing from their dock. Oddly enough, they found the craft drifting along the bank some 800 yards away, unharmed and with everything still in place. “We’re guessing that some kids in the neighborhood took it for a joy ride last night and then just beached it and walked home after their foray,” Hoernke said. “I’m just glad there was nothing missing.”

AOY watch…At the halfway point in the 2009 FLW Tour season, the official Angler of the Year numbers are in. National Guard pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., now leads the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year race with 571 points. Behind him is Scott Canterbury with 556 points. Another National Guard pro, Ramie Colson Jr., is in third with 546 points. Chevy pro Luke Clausen grabbed the fourth-place spot with 546 points. And the National Guard Open champion, Stetson Blaylock, is now in fifth with 544 points.

Quick numbers

21: Age of Stetson Blaylock, now the youngest pro to ever win an FLW Tour event.

1: Weight, in pounds, by which Blaylock beat runner-up Andy Morgan.

40,000: Amount, in dollars, of Blaylock’s biggest tournament payday (for winning the Walmart Open as a co-angler) before winning the National Guard Open.

200,000: Amount, in dollars, of Blaylock’s payday for winning the National Guard Open.

15: Number of points by which Brent Ehrler is leading Scott Canterbury in the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year race.

Sound bites

“I hope this year is as good from the front of the boat.” – Blaylock, after being introduced onstage as the 2008 FLW Tour Co-angler of the Year.

“He can be – sometimes.” Blaylock’s fiance, Lindsey, after FLW Outdoors host Jason Harper asked her if Stetson was ever the romantic type.

“I know how Clark Wendlandt feels now.” – Seventh-place pro Jacob Powroznik, on driving the Kellogg’s boat during the final round.

“It just kind of waved its tail at me on the way by.” – M&M’s pro Greg Pugh, on being snubbed by a big bass while sight-fishing.

“That’s about what you make in a week, isn’t it Charlie?” Pugh’s response to Evans, informing him that he could earn $55,000 if he finished second. Pugh ended up fourth, which paid $35,000.

“There’s no better substitute for time on the water.” Second-place pro Andy Morgan, responding to an e-mail question on FLW Live.