Never have a husband and wife made FLW history by making a Top 10 together. The place was the The Chevy Open held at Detroit River, Michigan, held July 10th-13th.
There were 200 anglers competing and for both of us to make the Top 10 was a dream come true. This is something that we have dreamed of, to make a Top 10, but when we both did it together, wow! Words don't come close to describing how it felt to look up on the weigh in board at the convention center and see De La Garza and then see De La Garza again was out of this world!
After day #1 Hector was in 78th place with 13 lb. 8 ounces. My weight was 17 pounds 14 ounces which was 9th place.
Day #2 Hector was the comeback kid. He brought in 19 pounds 8 ounces. One of his fish weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces which earned him Snickers Big Bass which meant he had the largest fish caught out of the entire tournament and paid nicely. I jumped up to 6th place with 14 pounds 10 ounces. I lost a 4 pound fish that I thought was going to cost me the top 10. Luckily it didn't.
So, day #3 was exciting. Our first experience making a top 10. Cameras, microphones on and 190 less boats to contend with. The weather didn't cooperate. We ran in to electrical storms. I had never heard my fishing rod,"hum," as it did. When I cast out my line I couldn't understand why my line was arc'ed to the sky. Then I figured it out, lightening was near and we had to GO! Our camera boat drivers were scared and so was I. I was fortunate to fish with Michael Bennett. He is an awesome angler. I felt grateful to bring in the 4 fish weighing 10 pounds 4 ounces to earn me 6th place.
FLW had Hector and I weigh in our fish in a Shootout format. They had Hector weigh in his fish first. Hector and I had our own side bet where the angler that finished on top didn't have to do laundry or cook for week. I am happy to say that I got a break!
Hector brought in 1 fish that weighed 2 pounds 9 ounces to earn 9th place.
We both used Berkley Gulp 3 inch minnow in smelt color. This was the key to our success. The bait fish looked exactly like it.
If you plan on going smallmouth fishing we highly recommend getting some of the Berkley Gulp products.
We both fished Lake St. Clair on the final day. This is an incredible fishery. Hector fished Lake Erie on day #1. Also, an incredible fishery. These fisheries are probably the best smallmouth fishing in the country.
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