> Brett King: “Knew if I could go up there and get 5 bites, it would beat anything I had going anywhere else. [Day 1] I literally caught 5…[day 2] I caught 7.

> “I just about got lead astray by the trolling bite. But when I saw the weather forecast, I decided I was going casting. I just always feel more comfortable with a rod in my hand. I’ve pitched so many jigs and blade baits on the river. It’s my Zen — it’s what I love to do. If at all possible, this is how I want to fish in a tournament. You’re not trolling a basin. You’re working a specific target. That’s just where I’m comfortable.

> “With the right conditions, I was willing to take the gamble and make the run. I put over 400 miles on my new boat during the 2 tournament days. It’s a daunting thing to think about those runs. Everything has to go perfect, and this time it did.”

Can’t fake that kind of confidence and commitment. Check Kinger’s #GameFace in this Aaron Eickhorst shot:

> Kinger: “Most of the time my boat would sit in 20-24’…the top of the pile would be in the mid-teens where they were relating to a specific type of rock. These clear-water fish were skittish, so we’d make long casts…let it hit bottom and rip it back up. When you’re limited on time, you’ve got to fish clean.

> “If I got a bite, it was almost a guarantee that it was a walleye over 3 lbs. Occasionally it was a lake trout and [the 2nd day] I caught 2 smallmouths for the first time. Knowing it was a walleye made it really fun. Plus, Saginaw Bay has such a clean bottom — it’s an awesome place to cast.”

> Kinger: “We were supposed to start the year in my backyard on the Mississippi. I didn’t get to fish my backyard, so I fished angry at Winnebago and figured some stuff out. Came out of there with confidence.

> “I hadn’t been to Saginaw since the PWT came here 15 years ago. To come in and put it together, it’s awesome. It’s definitely right there at the top. At the same time, it’s bittersweet. I wanted to win, but it was painful to knock my good friend [Joe Okada] off the podium. As happy as I wanted to be, I still felt bad.

> “That dude is going to win…and he’s going to win a lot. I’ve got my sights set now on winning Angler of the Year, but I’ve got a great young stick right behind me.”

Think we all agree on that one!

Okada’s program

> Joe Okada: “I only fished 1 spot today…once you’re there, you can’t waste time hopping around. At least I can’t do it that way — I have to fish more thoroughly.

> “The rockpile was almost 100 yards long, but only one small section of it held fish. It was 15′ on top of the pile, but adjacent to deep water. The fish could come and go. They’d stop, hunker down and snack on some gobies.

> “Finishing 2nd isn’t what I was expecting. I was expecting to take a beating and just hopefully scrounge up some points. I was seriously debating running 60 miles in the other direction.

> “I’m fine with 2nd..I really am. Brett was the minister at my wedding a couple months ago. For what I put him through and how nervous he was, this is the least I could do to return the favor.”

> Tom: “The fish were eating gobies and the water is so gin clear up there…. I didn’t want a real bright bait…black purple wasn’t quite as flashy.

> “I was trying to throw on the rock transitions and have my co-angler work the edge. I’d make a long cast — let it hit bottom — and rip it up. I was just basically ripping it.

> “I fished 5 or 6 different rock piles in 12-21′. When it was gin clear, I’d start on the deeper piles.

> “I feel fortunate to take 3rd, but the disappointing part is that you only get in position to win so many times. I fished a great tournament…just needed a couple more big bites. Sometimes when you win, the guys on top slip up. Today the big dogs didn’t slip. Joe and Brett are great fishermen.”

> Kyle: “I caught it Lindy-rigging with a jumbo leech in 11′. This was my first ever zander…hear of one being caught every couple of years. Most excited I’ve ever been catching a fish — had the shakes haha!

> “They stocked 1,050 fingerlings in 1987 and that’s the only public water that has ever been stocked in North America. When I talked to the Game & Fish they said there’s a very small population still in there but they’re reproducing successfully!”