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Fletcher, Rawhide win back-to-back crowns |
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Port Huron Times-Herald
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The crew aboard Rawhidekeeps rounding up fishing championships. Skipper Jason Fletcher added another title to an impressive list with a
victory Sunday in the 23rd annual Blue Water Classic Spring Salmon
Tournament.
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"This doesn't get old at all," said Jason Fletcher, who captured the Classic for a second consecutive year and third time in six years. "With the lake conditions, it was more work than I would like but it's fun being here right now."We were fortunate enough to catch some big ones today."
With the victory, the Rawhidecrew collected a $10,000 check Sunday evening at Desmond Marina for the two-day event, which attracted 51 boats.
Joining Fletcher aboard Rawhide, a 38-foot Tiara, was his father, Gary, and his wife, Andrea, along with Joel Anderson of Port Huron and Dan Fenner of Marysville.
The crew, fishing off Harbor Beach in the northern portion of the Classic boundaries, recorded a two-day total of 167.95 pounds.
Ka-Leetook second with 148.50 pounds followed by Bandit in third (143.40) and Marty Bringard's Flippin' Silver(141.40) fourth.
The event is sponsored by the Blue Water Sportsfishing Association.
"There is always great competition in this tournament," Fenner said. "You have some very good guys, who definitely know that they are doing.
"The fishing is getting better and better in Lake Huron. It's definitely starting to come back."
Debby Livingston, the Classic chairperson, was impressed with Fletcher's performance.
"I think the last time somebody had back-to-back wins was in the 1980s," Livingston said. "It's next to impossible.
"We weighed in 3,586 pounds of fish. That's a good total.
"The best thing was the fish looked good and healthy. That's a good sign. There was a stretch years ago when the fish were sick looking."
Fletcher took second place two weeks ago is the first Can to Can Tournament in Harbor Beach.
The crew skipped the Salmon Stakes in April because of a graduation in the Fletcher family.
"It seems like different crews have their different tournaments they win," said Anderson, the owner of Anderson's Pro Bait in Port Huron. "Paul Zimmer has won the Salmon Stakes. This tournament is Jason's.
"It's exciting anytime you can win a tournament this size."
Rawhidewas in fourth place after Saturday with a total of 74 pounds. They made up the difference Sunday with a big catch.
"After Saturday, you just want to stay in it and give yourself a chance on Sunday," Jason Fletcher said. "We started out a little slow today.
"It was a long rough ride in 6- to 8-foot waves. When I checked the temperatures this morning it was 38. It was awfully cold out on the lake."
The crew skipped the Salmon Stakes in April because of a graduation in the Fletcher family.
"It seems like different crews have their different tournaments they win," said Anderson, the owner of Anderson's Pro Bait in Port Huron. "Paul Zimmer has won the Salmon Stakes. This tournament is Jason's.
"It's exciting anytime you can win a tournament this size."
Rawhidewas in fourth place after Saturday with a total of 74 pounds. They made up the difference Sunday with a big catch.
"After Saturday, you just want to stay in it and give yourself a chance on Sunday," Jason Fletcher said. "We started out a little slow today.
"It was a long rough ride in 6- to 8-foot waves. When I checked the temperatures this morning it was 38. It was awfully cold out on the lake."
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