This is an excerpt from sister, Robin, 's email.
Last Wednesday, Stephen competed in the final Stren Series event of the season, on the Red River out of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and after three days of competition, made the cut to fish on Saturday. He was in the running for Angler of the Year and needed to make up 21 points on the leader going into this tournament. The other angler finished in 22nd place leaving the door open for Stephen. He would have to come in 2nd or better to claim the title.
On Saturday, the Bass N Bucks Championship began on Sam Rayburn. Stephen and Danny had been competing as partners in this team series all year and had qualified to compete in this final tournament. We all knew that if Stephen made the cut on the Red River, Danny would have to fish the first day on Sam Rayburn by himself and represent for the both of them.
Saturday arrived and everyone went to Natchitoches for the Stren weigh-in which began at 4 PM. About 2:30 PM, Danny called and informed me that “he caught ‘em” and did not elaborate anymore except to say that he would call back after he had weighed his fish in. When he called back minutes later, he had a total of over 34 pounds including one over ten pounds. He swore me to secrecy as he wanted to tell Stephen himself that he had put them in good position for the next day when Stephen would join him on Sam Rayburn.By the time Stephen and the other finalists made it to Walmart for their weigh-in, no less than 14 people had called and left messages for him on his cell phone, and two other Stren anglers had already received calls from back home and reported the news, much to Stephen’s disbelief! In the Walmart parking lot, other spectators had also received calls and heard of “the kid who weighed in 34 pounds by himself” and all the talk turned to that. Needless to say, none of us were very focused on the Stren weigh-in any longer!
After another hour of tournament weigh-in watching, Stephen placed 5th in the Stren, losing Angler of the Year by four points, but collecting a nice check and excitedly heading home to talk strategy with his now famous partner.
One sleepless night later, and a gazillion phone messages urging Stephen to just get in the boat, sit down, shut up, and fish (AKA – leave Danny alone), they headed out to Sam Rayburn to complete the Bass N Bucks tournament. Their plan was to catch fifteen pounds to keep their lead. They caught eighteen. The next closest competitor was twelve pounds behind.
Finally, at the end of the day, Danny was out of the shadows of his fishing mentor and called to the stage to talk about how his day had gone on Saturday. Stephen watched from the back (with tears in eyes!) as Danny told the crowd of anglers, many of whom he has idolized for years, how he did it.
They won the tournament and claimed a brand new Ranger Boat for their efforts, beautiful (red/white), and no, we are NOT keeping it!, plus a big bass award, and bonus money for the Ranger Cup contingency award. Two people have already offered to buy the boat and the split will make a cozy nest egg for Danny, and a little cushion for the rest of us.Today, Danny had to head back to Beaumont for college class, and literally could not stop smiling while gathering his stuff; neither could Stephen.
Does anyone recall what his graduation party announcement said??? “Determination, persistence, tenacity, and success”. He had told me earlier this week that he had just truly realized how much he wanted to fish well. I didn’t doubt him then, and no one doubts him now.
WOW! What a weekend!
To read the “official” version of the Bass N Bucks tournament, click on this link to fishingworld, and you can see the day one catch. Danny is helped to hold fish in the photo by David Concienne, tournament director, and his son, John David. Below are shots that I took from the Stren on Saturday and from Bass N Bucks on Sunday.
