The expansion of the Striper Cup Catch and Release division in 2011 was a huge success and we received more C&R forms then ever, as well as a number of photos from conservation-minded anglers looking to win the C&R Grand Prize — a Braggin’ Rights Portrait by Mike Savlen of Savlen Studios.
The judging was left up to our readers, and when the dust cleared after the Striper Cup ended and the voting period concluded, Eric Lander and the photo below emerged as the winner.
Though big fish and big smiles are always great shots, to create a work of art from a cell phone picture promised to be challenging for Savlen, but when the finished product can in, Lander, and all of us here at OTW, were floored. Here it is:
Congrats to Eric and our sincere thanks to Mike Savlen for creating that awesome Braggin’ Rights Portrait.
To see the step-by-step on how Mike made the portrait, check out his blog, HERE.
And to see some of Mike’s other artworks (one of which graced the November Cover of On The Water New England), check out his website.
