Abu Garcia Fish of a Lifetime: Received May 22
Kelso's First Tourney Fish

Photo: Dustin Kelso

I was 25 years old at the time (May 2004). My wife and I came back early from vacation so I could fish my third tournament with my new fishing club. I wanted to fish this tournament especially, since it was at Patoka Lake near French Lick, Ind. I fish as a co-angler in my club and still do to this day.

We were fishing stumps, and I was using a white spinnerbait and a black 5000-C Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reel. I banged the spinnerbait against a log, and bam! I caught a 3.4-pound largemouth.

I went "Ike" before Ike was Ike, as I was finally going to weigh a bass in a tournament. I didn't catch another bass the rest of the day, but I didn't care about winning because I knew that fish would build confidence.

I'd had that reel since I was 13. It worked like a gem. Unfortunately, most of my fishing equipment was stolen. However, the guys and gal from my club pitched in and helped me establish my equipment and I won our 2005 angler of the year for our club (White River Bass Masters in Indianapolis, Ind). Most of my reels are Abu Garcias – I have a C4 and three Torno reels.

Dustin Kelso
Indianapolis, IN