Friendly face in the crowd

Hometown fishermen are used to seeing friends and family in the weigh-in crowd, but for an angler competing nearly 1,700 miles from home, spotting a familiar face is a big deal. 

An even bigger deal — when that friend sees the angler win all the marbles. 

Such was the case for Keith Tuma of Brainerd, Minn., who made the Top 10 at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open at Harris Chain of Lakes and Chad Ingvalson, who watched his pal post the event’s biggest bag — a limit of 26 pounds, 2 ounces — and top the field with a three-day total of 58-13. 

That alone, would’ve been a cool story, but Ingvalson defined friendship with his tale of travel dedication. 

“I booked the ticket about 8:30 Friday night and then I got up at 3 (Saturday) morning and drove down to Minneapolis and flew into Orlando,” Ingvalson said. 

Tuma and Ingvalson have fished a lot together back in Minnesota. Safe to say they’ll have plenty of good memories to relive the next time they hit the water.