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Member
Posts: 794
Location: Elgin, Illinois | Got home last night too tired to post my thoughts... But, this morning I wanted to get three very important things said. First, my thanks and praise for the FLW staff and program. It is truly a great run circuit. Next, I have to brag just a bit that our little walleye club way down in Dekalb, Illinois, The Northern Illinois Walleye Club, had 10 members and associate members fishing the event...
Finally, I want to offer some well deserved recognition for my boater, Kevin Carstensen from Merrill, Wisconsin. Initially, I have to thank him for a truly wonderful day in the boat. Random incidents throughout the day convinced he he was a great guy and I am very fortunate to have drawn him as my partner for the day. After all, he had to puit up with me in the boat, that had to count for something in the final tally! However, what happened around 2:30pm proved he was what my father always referred to as a "Gentleman Sportsman", an honor he did not bestow on many people.
As we were moving about casting an arera near the Nekoosa dam, we passed one of his friends, another tournament competitor. His friend told us he was unable to get his main motor to start and that he had five fish to weigh. Now, we only had four in the livewell and were fishing an area that was producing fish consistently for us and others. So, our prospects of boating our fifth fish were good. And, we were in the second flight, so we had another 20-25 minutes to fish. His friend, Adam Rassmussen, was however in the first flight. So, if we took his co-angler on board and returned him and his fish to the weigh-in we would have to leave early. Kevin suggested and I concurred that we should stop fishing and get Adam's and his co-angler's fish in on time.
Kevin put his friend's need ahead of his own and we successfully got back in time for the 3:00 deadline for the first flight. We'll never know if we could have gotten a fifth fish in that lost time. But, I got somethng much better, a new friend that I can be proud to say I know. Kevin is the kind of fisherman and person we all should be. As an aside, I understand that this is not the first time he has done something like this in a tournament. Kevin, you are a "a class act" and a Gentleman Sportsman.
Kevin thanks again for a really great day.
And, by the way, while it was not the worst conditions on Petenwell I have been through, Kevin is also a superb, careful boat driver. 90% of that "ride" is the "part" behind the steering wheel. I had a good "part" driving yesterday. Thanks for that, too.
Edited by hgmeyer 4/22/2007 9:38 AM
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Member
Posts: 1991
| Cool, it is nice to know that true sportsman do exhist out there  |
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Member
Posts: 794
Location: Elgin, Illinois | I wanted to add the following:
Among Kevin's sponsors are Pamp's Outboard, Evinrude/Johnson, Ranger Boats, KC Performance, Garmin, Reef Runner Lures & Berkley. I know they would like to know that they are backing a great guy. And, he works at Carstensen/Feldbruegge Insurance Agency in Merrill, WI. They should already know they have a good guy working there.
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| I too have fished with him in a past event, and I second everything that was said about him. Great sportsman, teacher, and all-around person to be associated with. He is a superb asset for showing what the FLW League has to offer. He is truely a class act from what I have experienced, and hope many others get the chance as well. |
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| Gary,
Thank you! I really had a great time and I believe that we could have pulled that fifth fish. They were really turning back on at the end. I would like to thank you Gary for being so understanding with the position I was in. My friends and fellow anglers are very important to me. It did cost me a few positions, but I feel it was worth giving that up. Sometime I may be in the same postion and I would hope another angler would help me out. I know Adam will!
Guest, thank you also for the nice comment. If you fish the next tourny come and say hi to me.
Thanks again!
Kevin |
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Member
Posts: 794
Location: Elgin, Illinois | Kevin,
You are very welcome. Good luck, and I'll see you at Winneconne for teh second tournament. I will remember to keep my phone holster so you wan't have to be my "phone keeper"...
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