Bryan Kerchalīs life ended in the crash of American Eagle Flight 3379, not five months into his reign as BASS Masters Classic Champion, but his memory lives on...partly because of the "good luck charm" that became his trademark during his inspirational victory in the '94 Classic. The original whistle was given him by Roy Rickis, his partner during the Connecticut State Federation Championship tournament. Rickis blew it each time he caught a fish in competition, and Bryan vowed to blow it for each fish he caught in the Regionals, and if he should make it to the Classic, for each fish he caught there, as well.

At the Classic, Bryan was caught in the act on camera, and as "the whistle story" spread, it quickly became a focal point among the rank and file bass anglers who rooted for him and vicariously shared his victory. Following the Classic win, Kerchal autographed the whistle to return it to Rickis, but by that time the legend had started to form, and Rickis refused to accept it. Bryan had just started to investigate the possibility of marketing the whistle, when he lost his life.

On the tragic and fateful, December 14 flight, Bryan left his lucky whistle in his backpack, tucked under the next seat on the plane, while he sat farther forward, talking with a new aquaintance. The original whistle — which was at Bryan's assigned seat — was recovered undamaged from the wreckage, and Bryan's family eventually decided to market replicas of the whistle for the express purpose of raising money for the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Fund, which was set up to honor Bryan's name and his dream, by promoting youth fishing projects. Each whistle comes packaged in a protective blister pack and includes a bit of Bryan's story on the reverse of the enclosed Bryan Kerchal Collectible Card. There are 10 different cards. Whistles, or a boxed set of all 10 original issue cards is available from Ray Kerchal.