I wanted to take a second to publicly acknowledge what an awesome competitor and person Justin is, as I know he is a member on here. This weekend at the Bass Central Open on the Arkansas River, my pro I was fishing with smoked one of the many floating trees on the way to weigh ins Friday and disabled his outboard. He caught a ride with our fish to weigh in, which got us both disqualified due to a new rule, and I stayed with the boat and our gear. There's no way you could leave a boat unmanned in that current unless you didn't care if it was destroyed. About an hour later, after I had drifted about two miles downstream, I saw a familiar Santone wrapped boat coming against all of the incoming traffic to give the boat a tow in. But it wasn't Justin at the wheel. Justin had qualified to fish the final day and took a chance on someone else using his boat to tow a fellow competitor in because he knew we were dead in the water. Owning a boat myself, I know you never really want to use your boat to tow another boat in, especially when you need it the next day to fish for an invitation to the Classic. Qualifying to fish the final day with that river fishing like it did this week is impressive, but Justin's class and selfless behavior to help a competitor in need made a much bigger impact on me. Thanks man. You are a class act.

Calvin Balch

Very nice act indeed. My pro blew his motor day one 20 minutes into the day. I hopped in the boat with a guy I believe from Tarleton and he brought me in to weigh our fish. Good deeds go a long way.

Did you blow up south of the lock and have a 230 weigh in time?

We blew up in the Muskogee pool and had a 2:00 PM weigh in time. We got to our first spot, so we fished it the entire day.

I have fished with Justin a couple of times and have learned a little about him and his family. He is indeed a fine young man and a darn good fisherman as well. It was nice to see him finish 6th out of 196 pros for sure. Certainly, a class act!

Justin is as good as it gets. Great guy and great fisherman.

Pm sent

Justin is a top notch young man, and great fisherman and gentleman.

Justin is definitely one of the good guys!

I saw y'all getting towed back in, along with another boat right in front of y'all. Pretty stand up of Justin!

About the DQ, they made it very clear in the meeting and in black and white that the co angler could ride in with the fish, while the boater stayed with the boat. Sorry you had to learn this the hard way.

Thank yall for the kind words! I was just doing what I hope someone would do for me if I needed some help. Most of us know how it feels to be in that situation.

Good job Justin I dont carry what Jumping Joe said about you.

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