Thanks to Everyone Regarding the FLW Detroit

[Steve Clapper]

I would like to take a minute to thank all of you that shared a special moment in my families life at the FLW Tour event last week at the Detroit River.   Whether you traveled to the weigh-in, called, e-mailed, stopped by the house, or just shook hands along the way, words cannot describe the friendship we felt!!!  Again, THANK YOU!

God Bless, Steve Clapper

[Eric]

It was very well deserved.   It couldn't have happened to anyone better, Steve.  Congratulations.

[Bryan26]

Steve,

No matter how you look at the results, your performance was nothing but spectacular.  I brought my wife to the weigh in on day 4 - you should have seen her sitting on the edge of her seat waiting for you to weigh your fish.

See you at the Wonderland Marine 10K.

Bryan Coates

[djkimmel]

Pretty rare actually for an angler these days to lead wire to wire in a dominating fashion. I still am just amazed at how easy Steve made it look at times - it was far from easy though as anyone who was out there on some of those days knows! It was nice seeing all the other Erie pros like you Bryan. Thanks for posting on here. See you, Steve and the others at the Wonderland Open August 12.

There'll be more from Steve on the FLW Tour win as I get farther along processing pictures and video, and then get back with him about his interviews. He's one busy angler right now.

[MadWags]

Congrats Steve. It was an awesome weigh-in on the final day. I was fortunate enough to be there to witness your win.

[Genie]

I lived the day vicariously though Mr. Kimmel - I am so jealous of Mr. Clapper and how absolutely professional he is as a man, an angler, and an ambassador to all of us in the fishing world.

[SethV]

Steve,

Great job!  It is a great lesson to all of us that there is just no replacement for putting your time in prefishing and executing flawlessly.  You work hard at it and earned the win!  I only hope that I can someday learn the Western Basin half as well as you know it.

Seth

[motocross269]

Great job...See you at the BFL.  We Co-anglers are going to be fighting over the opportunity to draw you as a boater and learn from the master...I may have to slip Anthony a 20 spot. LOL

[djkimmel]

That's Steve's wife Linda with him - he told her if he won, she might get to retire permanent... it was very heartwarming to see them together through all of the final day in particular.

[dashaver63]

Hey Bryan, a big congratulations goes out to you also! 28th place and 1 or 2 bigger bites from the cut. Awesome job!

[Bryan26]

My big fish were not biting.  My biggest was 3.75lbs for both days.  When faced with such a big tournament, tons of pressure, and all that money on the line being able to go with plan B and bring in a limit each day feels better as each day goes by.  These are 200 of the best fishermen in the world - you can see how the weights got bunched up from 11th place to 60th place (36lbs to 30lbs).  A person needed a 3lb average just to make the top 60.  As a comparison, Steve had a 4.5lb average on the last two days and his closest competitor had a 3.9 average, statistically speaking he is the curve buster.  These numbers should be a guide for anyone interested in fishing this event next year.  The weights may even go up a little if the weather is better next time around.

Bryan   

[dashaver63]

Bryan, I know you'll get them next time. You have an Everstart win so you know how to get the job done. It's too bad the Gold Series folded, I'll have to look you up at the Detroit River BFL's if your there.