Frank Campbell doesn’t trust me to help load his boat. The longtime Niagara River guide has good reason to be cautious. The last time I tried to help someone load a boat in the intense current of that river, their hull ended up with a scratch (it might have been a gouge, but I worry not about semantics). So I stood idly by on the edge of the Lewiston, N.Y., boat ramp while Frank secured his Lund to the trailer. That’s when I noticed a B.A.S.S. sticker on an old — but pristine — Triton. North Carolina plates. I was intrigued.
“Beautiful boat,” I said. “And I love the sticker.”
“Thanks,” the man said. “You wouldn’t believe the story of this boat if I told you.”
I bit. And he was right.
The man was Mike Routh, 60, retired and a life member of B.A.S.S. He was fishing with his father, Larry — also a life member. They were from North Carolina and had fished together since Mike was strong enough to hold a rod. That tradition paused briefly in 2003 when Mike sold his bass boat.
“We went about a year without a boat, and we both missed our time fishing together,” Mike said. “I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get another one about the same time the Bassmaster Classic was being held in Charlotte, just 80 miles from our hometown of Archdale.”
As life members, both Mike and Larry had noticed the raffle entry form tucked inside Bassmaster Magazine. The boat would be given away at the 2004 Classic at Lake Wylie. Both filled it out. Larry put his inside his Bible.
“That year, we decided to go all in on the Classic,” Mike said. “Get the whole experience. Catch up. Spend time together. I was 37 and my dad was 62. We were so excited.”
They arrived in Charlotte on Wednesday night. Life members received early access to the Outdoors Expo, so they walked the floor together. Entries were dropped directly into the boat that would be awarded. Mike placed his form inside. Larry pulled his from the Bible and followed suit.
“His will be done,” Mike said.
That night, a benefit auction was held for cystic fibrosis. Mike had two items on his bucket list: a day on the lake with Denny Brauer and Gerald Swindle’s 2004 Angler of the Year boat.
“My hero is Denny Brauer,” Mike said. “I love to flip a jig. And who wouldn’t want Swindle’s AOY Triton?”
Yep, they won both.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Mike said. “Nobody was really bidding on that boat. I told Dad we’d never get a boat of that caliber for that price.”
But the story wasn’t finished.
Sunday came. They planned to stay for weigh-in and then head home after the raffle to beat the crowd. The Rouths moved up to the concourse for a quick exit when the new Triton — now stuffed with entry forms — was pulled into the arena.
“And the winner is … Betty Dawson!” announced B.A.S.S. emcee Fish Fishburne.
Silence. No screams. No rush to the stage. You had to be present to win.
“Last call for Betty,” Fishburne said. “Sorry, Betty. Let’s draw again. And the winner is …”
He paused for what felt like forever.
“Larry Routh!”
“We were in disbelief,” Mike said. “Dad and I looked at each other, then started running down the stairs screaming. We ran so fast my wife got lost behind us. We jumped in the boat and took a lap around the arena with everyone cheering. It felt like a miracle.”
They left home without a boat and returned with two. Swindle’s rig was eventually sold. The raffle boat remains.
“This boat is a reminder of our faith, our love for fishing and the most unforgettable Classic we’ll ever experience.”
