Ehrler takes Lake Havasu crown

California native perseveres through personal tragedy, triumphs at Walmart FLW Series National Guard Western Division event

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – On the third day of practice this week, Walmart FLW Series competitor Brent Ehrler received a tragic message that some of his best friends had died in a plane crash. Devastated, Ehrler wasn’t even sure if he could make it back out on the water. After all, how can you possibly concentrate on fishing – let alone successfully compete in a tournament – during such a heartrending occasion?

In the end, Ehrler decided to give it his best shot and dedicate the results – whatever they might be – to his good friends who had passed away so tragically. While saddened with the loss and fighting some of the most intense emotions of his life, Ehrler hit the open waters of Lake Havasu with one goal – to win the National Guard Western Division tournament for his friends.

And amazingly enough, that’s just what he did. Using a four-day catch of 57 pounds, 11 ounces, the Team National Guard pro took home the tournament title by a nerve-wracking, 2-ounce margin over rival Zack Thompson of Orinda, Calif.

“I can’t believe it,” said Ehrler, who choked up repeatedly throughout the onstage celebration. “I really want to dedicate this to all of my friends who passed away. I never thought I could win. To honor them like this means so much to me.”

Ehrler added yet another victory to his already storied career, which also includes 17 top-10 finishes at FLW Outdoors events, including a championship title at the 2004 Stren Series Championship on Lake Cumberland and a dramatic $500,000 win at the 2006 FLW Tour Championship on Logan Martin Lake. If that weren’t enough, Ehrler’s win put him over the $1 million mark in FLW Outdoors career earnings.

“You know, I couldn’t have done this without my friends and family,” said Ehrler. “It’s been a really tough week for me. It was really hard to focus. But to make the cut and have my family here is really amazing. My family is such a huge part of my life. You need friends and family to back you up because you never know when they might be gone.”

Ehrler learns valuable lesson from the past

While many anglers concentrated on a just a few prime fishing locations this week, Ehrler said that he learned a few years ago that staying too focused on too few areas can easily derail a tournament – especially on Lake Havasu.

“A couple of years ago I fished a Stren Series tournament here (in 2004) and finished in second place,” he said. “But I learned a few things from that experience. I really learned that you have to find new water every day. And that was the key for me this week. I’d catch a limit early and then spend the rest of the day running around looking for new fish to catch. The next day I’d catch those fish and do the same thing all over again.”

Ehrler employed that strategy all week – moving around, covering as much water as possible, and then sight-fishing when the opportunity presented itself.

“I was sight-fishing all week, but a lot of my fish weren’t on the beds,” said Ehrler, who targeted bass with a combination of 3-inch Berkley Chigger Craws and Texas-rigged worms. “I also kept changing up my baits all week. When the bass started to get used to one bait, I’d switch and go with something else. I kept moving around every day, but I was mostly looking shallow. When I’d see some tules that were in a little bit deeper water, I’d drop a worm down. I also caught a few fish flipping reeds with a Texas-rigged worm. I basically fished all over this lake this week.”

In the end, Ehrler looked like a champion who just needed some time to catch his breath and contemplate the enormity of the events that had just transpired.

“Winning this was huge for me,” said Ehrler, who netted a total payday in excess of $114,000. “It was really hard to focus. But in the end, this meant more than anything.”

Thompson dealt heartbreaking defeat

With seven FLW Outdoors top-10 finishes to his credit, Zack Thompson of Orinda, Calif., came into the Lake Havasu event looking for his first win. And after fishing nearly flawlessly throughout the week, he thought this might finally be his time. But alas, it was not to be. Falling a painful 2 ounces short of victory, Thompson ultimately had to settle for second place.

However, despite the heartbreak, Thompson took his best-ever finish in the FLW Series circuit in stride.

“This week I’ve been really blessed,” said Thompson, who walked away with over $44,000 in winnings. “I had a perfect week until today. Today was the first day I lost a fish. And that’s why you have to fish perfectly, because if you don’t, you’re not going to beat these guys.”

Thompson said that he targeted docks with “miscellaneous” plastic baits and drop-shotted a hand-poured Berkley purple worm when seeking out bedding fish.

“I was sight-fishing whenever I could,” said Thompson. “In the end, it just didn’t work out. But it’s been a great tournament and a great week.”

Meyer nets third place

On the strength of a 56-pound, 9-ounce catch, Cody Meyer of Redding, Calif., took third place overall.

“I had a good time today, and I fished really hard,” said Meyer, who won more than $35,000 for his efforts. “But today I pretty much struggled out there all day. I caught my big fish early and basically ran around the rest of the day. Overall I had a great time. I just love this place. I can’t wait to come back.”

Folkestad falls to fourth

Although Mike Folkestad of Orange, Calif., departed the marina this morning squarely in first place, his 11-pound stringer on the final day of competition wasn’t enough to net a tournament title. In the end, Folkestad’s four-day catch of 56 pounds, 7 ounces was only good enough for fourth place.

However, Folkestad didn’t walk away empty handed either, as he took home nearly $27,000 in prize money for his efforts.

Kerr rockets up leaderboard

After barely qualifying for the finals in 10th place, Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif., made a huge run in today’s competition – recording the largest stringer of the finals at 16 pounds, 12 ounces. However, in the end, it was only good enough for fifth place overall.

“This whole week I lost a lot of fish,” said Kerr, who turned in a total catch of 55 pounds, 14 ounces. “I fished the river the first three days, but I decided to change things up and fish the main lake today. I caught my first fish at 9 a.m., but it was tough because I had to figure it out as the day went on, as it was the first time I’d fished the lake all week.”

Kerr’s valiant effort ultimately netted him nearly $18,000 in total winnings.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top 10 pro finalists at the FLW Series Lake Havasu event:

6th: Tim Wilsterman of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 55-4

7th: Cameron Smith of Dana Point, Calif., 53-13

8th: Jayson Kisselburg of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 51-10

9th: Tim Klinger of Boulder City, Nev., 50-11

10th: Robert Lee of Angels Camp, Calif., 50-10

Looking ahead

FLW Series National Guard Western Division action resumes June 24-17 on the Columbia River in Umatilla, Ore.