It all started when I came across Berkleybigfish.com while searching for a way to contact Berkley about a discontinued bait. (Which I never did by the way, cause I got side tracked with this website.) Good thing I did… ;)

I joined BBF in March of 2009 and in April of 2009 I was surprised with the Elite Angler Award! Berkley sent me a beautiful Revo baitcaster reel that I love. At that point I figured I was blessed to have won and was enjoying every minute of it. Each month I was excited for each of the new winners.

I soon realized that getting on this website and commenting on others pictures and responding to others comments on mine….now had turned into friendships! I would love to start naming names but I fear that I may forget someone and the last thing I would ever want to do is offend any of you. If you think you might be my friend, you are! ;) There are so many of you that I would love to fish with one day.

So after all the months went by, I realized, this is it…. WOW, I'm a FINALIST….that meant I actually had a chance to fish with Hank Parker. Yes, I too have watched him for years. Hank actually is the reason that I paused in my search to contact Berkley about those discontinued baits. I always thought it would be great to fish with him. I just knew we would get along great if we fished together. We share the same faith, he loves to joke around, fishing is his passion and he loves to hunt.

I was in a group of Finalists that consisted of great anglers and super great people. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out who it would be that Hank chose. I had a lot of people praying for me that I would win. So when Hank Parker called me February 2nd, I knew God had his hand in it. ;) I was so happy that my friends Riverrat57 and Ganno595 were recognized as well, they so deserved it. ;)

There have been so many exciting moments to this whole thing. The waiting to see who would win, the actual phone call from Hank, telling friends and family, being in a newspaper and magazine for it, waiting for the details of the trip, finding out the details, planning for the trip and then actually living it!! Wow, what a fantastic roller coaster I've been on.

Now for the trip:

My husband (Mike) and I loaded up the truck and headed to Traverse City, MI on the morning of June 2nd. We arrived around 1 pm at the hotel. The Holiday Inn West Bay. Beautiful hotel right on the beach, within walking distance of town. I really couldn't tell you much about the amenities of the hotel because I was a very busy girl and I loved every minute of it. ;)

We were to have Dinner with Hank that evening at 7pm. When we came out of the elevator, there he was sitting on the bench on his cell. I just looked at Hank and said, "hey…I know you!" ;) That was that, we introduced ourselves and walked towards the restaurant in our hotel (Bluewater Bistro)….all the way I just couldn't resist asking him about his fishing adventures that day. I just kept asking question after question. LoL

Dinner went great, we were all pretty tired but we had great conversation. My husband and Hank hit it off really well and talked most of the dinner and that was so great to see. Plus I had a plate full of yummy Lake Perch in front of me. ;) After dinner Hank handed me all of the GOODIES from Berkley/Pure Fishing. WOW! 2 Abu Garcia Vendetta rods, one Abu Garcia Revo STX Baitcaster reel and one Abu Garcia Soron SX Spinning reel, plus a box full of wonderful goodies….lots and lots of goodies!!!

After Hank left, Mike and I decided to walk along the beach and watch the amazing sunset that painted the sky. We took some pictures and just had a wonderful end to a wonderful day. ;)

Day 2, 6/3/10 was with a local guide named David Rose. Dave picked me up at the hotel at 6:30 am. We fished Lake Skegemog, Elk Lake and Torch Lake with the two rivers in between. We launched at Lake Skegemog and worked all the way up to Torch. Torch is probably the most beautiful lake I've ever seen thus far. You would think you were in the Bahamas with the turquoise water and the clarity….gorgeous. Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" song was about this lake. He still does concerts out there on the sand bar. Dave and I struggled a bit to get the fish to bite, we did manage a few nice smallies and I caught 2 rock bass. Dave Rose wears many hats, he's a writer, photographer, seminar speaker and fishing guide. I kept telling him that he should add tour guide to the mix…he really is very knowledgeable about the area and I found all of it very interesting. ;)

That evening Mike and I went to the Apache Trout Grill for dinner at David Rose's suggestion. Great suggestion, very yummy food. Thanks Dave! ;)

Day 3, 6/4/10….This is the day I've been waiting for! Hank and the whole crew were at our hotel at 5:30 am. I met Jason (Hank's Camera Guy) We like this guy a whole lot! I then met Chris Noffsinger who was Hank's guide for the week, we like him too ;). Mike was in the boat with Dave Rose and Jason switched back and forth between Chris' boat and our boat. Great group of people all around!

So off we went to fish for smallmouth bass on Traverse City Bay. The forecast called for 72 degrees with lots of rain coming in around noon. We weren't too concerned, we were supposed to have rain all week and hadn't seen any yet.

We get to our position and start fishing…..and, well….I guess you'll have to watch the episode to find out all the great details from our day on the water! ;) I have to give you all a reason to stay tuned! ;) I will give you this much….64.

You can see in the pictures that we had an absolutely fantastic time together on the water!! Gulp! was definitely an important player for the day, that stuff is amazing…

I said going in that I was just going to soak it all up and I sure did.  Nothing went wrong....everything was just perfect.  From an outsider's viewpoint, they might not have thought so but while living it....it was absolutely perfect and in retrospect it was.  Did we get rained on for quite some time?....yep.  Did the winds pick up?....yep.  None of it mattered though, not then and not now.  That's fishing!  If the fish are biting and you enjoy your company....nothing matters but the anglers and the fish. ;) 

Oh, and as for the flip flops I'm wearing, which seems to be a big topic of conversation.…. Normally during the summer….I fish barefoot on the boat. (Just what I do, can't stand shoes in the summer) I figured flip flops was dressing it up a bit!! LOL It wasn't cold out it was just raining a whole lot. Hank's shoes and socks were pretty wet by the end of the day and I had wet feet and squishy flip flops. ;)

After having this opportunity and hanging out with these wonderful people, I can't help but envy their jobs! On the way back to the hotel after fishing and filming that day I was talking to Hank about this one lake that I'd love to fish one day and he turns to me and says….Hmmm, I think I'll stop there on the way home and fish it!! OH, THE LIFE! ;)

Mike and I really feel like we made some great friends on this adventure. I have great RESPECT for Hank Parker for what he stands for and for his years of experience and hard work in this industry that has given all of us anglers today the technology that we utilize and allows us to fish with greater ease than they had. I am proud to call him and his crew friends. We joked and goofed and fished our hearts out. Every moment on that piece of water was just fantastic and I know these are memories that I will have forever.

I am so thankful to all that were involved:

HANK PARKER - Just "Bery" Fantastic!!
Jason (the KOOLest camera guy!)

Berkleybigfish.com – and all of my great friends here on the site! ;)
Pure Fishing / Berkley, Abu Garcia….Provided me with lots and lots of great goodies and my trip. ;)

Mastercaster – very important person who keeps everyone informed.
Marissa & Marty – From what I can tell organized my whole trip and were always just a phone call away.

Chris Noffsinger – Local guide (Great guy and absolutely loves his job and does it well)

Dave Rose - Local guide (Great guy/guide, fantastic photographer)

My husband always has been so incredibly supportive (for 15 yrs) through all of my fishing craziness and enduring my long hours of fishing. I love you!!…. you're the bestest in the whole wide world!! ;)

My parents for being so supportive and for taking me fishing the first time, I love you guys. ;)

My mentors and fishing buddies who have helped me so much along the way:
John Stoika - Grandpa who took me fishing the first time, with my mom and dad ;)
Clifford Smith
Terry England – "Set the hook!" J
Dave King
Mark Syslo

I thank my Lord and Savior for this opportunity and adventure….God is Good! ;)

Okay, I'm done! ;) I will leave you all with this….

Berkleybigfish.com is a great site, there is none like it. This is our fishing family… have fun, stay positive and support one another. Maybe it will be you fishing with Hank Parker next! ;)