Sydney Hardin won’t soon forget the Costa FLW Series Western Division event on Clear Lake presented by Evinrude; but not for competitive reason. Sydney did not fish the event — she turned 5 today, the same day her father, Jeff, won the co-angler title with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 6 ounces.

Hardin got off to a good start by sacking up 12-4 on day one to take ninth place. A day later, he’d improve to second after adding 18-2 — his biggest bag and second biggest of the co-angler division, behind the 18-9 that second-place co-angler Jack Farage weighed on day one. Today, Hardin sacked just 10 pounds, but it was enough to win by close to 2 pounds.

Hardin committed the majority of the tournament to fishing a drop-shot. He used a 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm in the Margarita Mutilator color.

“Fishing from the back of the boat, I’ve learned that if my pro is throwing something different than the drop-shot, I need to be throwing that,” he says.

In addition to the drop-shot, Hardin also caught one of his keepers on a 1/2-ounce football jig with a Strike King Rodent trailer.

Hardin says his win did not come without heartache. The first hour of the final round saw him hook a big fish that had other plans for his day. The potential kicker came unbuttoned, but it ultimately didn’t matter. Hardin claimed his first FLW victory and a new Ranger Z175 with a 90 hp Evinrude.

By the way: Happy birthday, Sydney, from your friends at FLW.