The Real Story Of Bryan Kerchal's Whistle

S&K Guide Service has now opened a special section dedicated to the memory of Bryan Kerchal, in hopes of helping to increase donations to the "Bryan Kerchal Memorial Fund".

(PRWEB) February 3, 2005 -- Bryan Kerchal was at the top of his game when he lost his life in a plane crash soon after winning the Bassmaster Classic. This is just part of the story of the "Bryan Kerchal Whistle" which has now become famous in the fishing industry.

Now, S&K Guide Service, has opened a special "Bryan Kerchal Memorial Fund Photo Gallery" in his memory, and will be adding more content and stories as they are all collected over the next few months. Hopefully this will generate more donations to all the worthwhile programs the Bryan Kerchal fund supports.

S&K Guide Service is proud to help in any way possible, so please stop by the gallery, and register in the messageboards for even more information about this great angler and the fund.

After Bryan Kerchal won the Wrangler/BASS National Federation Championship in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on April 23,1994, he headed home to Newtown, CT and continued to fish the Connecticut Federation tournaments. On May 21st, Roy Rickis of Windsor, CT was paired with Bryan for a tournament on the Connecticut River. Roy had carried a 4-½ inch whistle, shaped like a fish, for several years as a good luck piece. When Bryan started pulling in big keeper fish, Roy started blowing the whistle. Bryan laughed when he saw what Roy was doing. He really got a big kick out of it. Roy ended up blowing the whistle all day. Bryan won the tournament and Roy suggested that Bryan carry the fish whistle to the Bass Masters Classic, which was to take place in Greensboro, NC, July 28th-30th.

At the Classic, Bryan tooted the whistle twice every time he landed a bass. His observers appeared to have enjoyed the whistle as much as Bryan had. At one point after catching a fish, Bryan said "This one's for you Roy". The little fish whistle became his trademark during his inspirational victory at the 1994 BassMasters Classic. Almost two weeks later, Bryan sat down and autographed the whistle to give back to Roy. Roy suggested that Bryan keep it until after he defended his title.

Less than five months later, on December 13, 1994, Bryan died in the crash of American Eagle Flight 3379 in Morrisville, NC. In March of 1995, the airline returned his personal possessions in an airline bag. It was difficult to go through the items, which included a telephone book, clothes, a camera and packages of fishing lures. The whistle was not found.

The rest of this story is published on the S&K Guide Service website, please stop by and read the rest, and talk to Jared Pease, S&K Pro Staff member, and personal friend of Bryan Kerchal and his family to find out more about what you can do. S&K Guide Service is located at www.skguideservice.com

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