Joe Balog, Professional FLW Fisherman Counts on Complete Battery Source

After Joe Balog's recent 9th place showing in the FLW Tour Open on the Detroit River, he sent us this nice summary of how the tournament went for him.  Here's his recap, in his own words:

FLW Tour Open Detroit River

Joe Balog

9^th place

70-07#

Joe Balog FLW Detroit Recap:

I just finished an FLW Tour event on the Detroit River, and I’ve got mixed emotions. I’d liked to have finished a little better than 9^th overall, mainly due to the fact that I was really in contention to win for the first three days. But, the final day, I went for the glory, and slipped a bit. But with a first place prize of $125,000, it was worth the gamble.

Two days following the event, I’m still sore and tired. The final day, Lake Erie got very rough, as it seems to for all final days of big events. Waves were 3-5 feet out of the southeast, the worst possible direction for events headquartered on the lower Detroit River.

I decided to gamble and make a very big run the final day, one that took me over 2 hours. I didn’t start fishing until about 9AM, and, by that time, had already burned 25 gallons of gas. You can imagine the anxiety going through my body by then.

As I continue to fish competitively all across the Great Lakes, I’m constantly asked by others just how guys like me are able to go out and fish in such terrible conditions. But, it’s part of the game up here.

A couple of factors make it possible to fish the way I do. One: I use a very powerful, long-shaft Minn Kota Fortrex trolling motor. Two: I rely on Complete Battery Source in Michigan to provide me with the power behind that motor.

I’ve said in articles that the guys at CBS know more about batteries than anyone alive, and I stand behind that. These guys can bore you with battery talk. But they make sure that I have the maximum amount of power for the maximum amount of time while on the trolling motor. For that purpose, I use three 31-series traditional deep cycle batteries to power my trolling motor. And I charge them immediately after every use with a 60 amp Minn Kota charger. In addition, CBS has me run a huge, 1125 MCS cranking battery for my big Mercury, and I never have to worry about draining it down with electronics or livewells.

If you want to rig your boat like mine, to perform in these extreme conditions without worry, go see the guys at Complete Battery Source. And be prepared to learn a lot about batteries.

Complete Battery Source Answers the call at Focus Hope

Complete Battery Source has recently donated enough batteries to energize Detroit's Focus Hope's afterschool photography program.  The call came in to the Detroit Branch of Complete Battery Source, that the program was shifting gears to black and white film photography when it was discovered that all of the film camera batteries were dead and their was no money in the budget for replacement. Complete Battery was able to get the batteries into the hands of Focus Hope so their program could continue on schedule.

Focus Hope's Excel Photography Program is a 9-month after-school program that offers a safe haven in the critical after-school hours for 28 Detroit teens and provides them with instruction in the technical and aesthetic aspects of 35mm digital photography and an introduction to the foundations of black and white film photography. In addition to the after-school component, the teens participate in occasional weekend field trips to introduce them to local cultural institutions, regional events, and different tri-county communities outside of their daily lives. Excel’s format incorporates a project-based curriculum with leadership skill-building tools to help develop the youth into well-rounded, confident, and productive adults.  Students receive individualized instruction via mentor-led teams which accommodates each student’s strengths and weaknesses, and fosters positive relationships between young people and caring adults.

Excel culminates with a reception and a photography exhibit featuring students’ work coupled with their artist statements at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) the evening of Wednesday May 23.  All donors who generously contribute to the Excel Photography Program will be included in the exhibit’s Donor Panel; this exhibit and accompanying panel will be on display at MOCAD through their summer season and viewed by many hundreds of visitors.  

To learn more about the Focus: HOPE Excel Photography Program please click here: http://www.focushope.edu/page.aspx?content_id=143&content_type=level3 .