Courtesy of FLW

June 25, 2018

FLW Tour pro Derrick Blake’s boat and suburban were stolen from outside his hotel early Monday morning around 1:40 a.m., per the hotel security cameras at the Days Inn and Suites in Roseville, Mich. Blake’s truck is a black 2005 Z71 Chevy Suburban, and the boat is a charcoal and grey 2015 Ranger Z520 with Mercury 250 Pro XS, black Power-Poles and Humminbird electronics. If you have any information that might help locate the truck and boat, you can call the Roseville Police at 586.447.4483.

Because Blake was traveling to St. Clair with his family for the final FLW Tour event of the season, all of his tackle was stolen, as well as a number of personal items, including car seats, toys and clothes.

Blake says that according to the hotel cameras, a car drove into the parking lot early in the morning and two men got out, broke into Blake’s truck and then got back in the car. After about 10 minutes two men got back out of the car and into Blake’s truck, started it and drove off with it and the boat, with a third man following in the car.

Blake will be able to borrow a boat from FLW to use for the tournament and practice starting Tuesday, but he’s got other logistical obstacles to overcome besides just getting on the water.

“I’ve got to find a vehicle to get there and back,” says Blake. “I may try and rent a car. I’m sure I can find someone to dump me in every day at the launch.”

Though he lost some irreplaceable tackle, Blake is likely to be OK for the tournament. Some local anglers and Tour pros have stepped up to loan him tackle, and Ark Rods is overnighting him rods and reels.

“If I can get all this done in the next few hours I can get a decent day of practice in tomorrow,” says Blake. “Then it’ll be better than nothing I guess.”