Jack Wingate, who made Lake Seminole a popular destination for bass fishing, passed away Thursday afternoon, according to Ivey Funeral Home. He was 82 years old.

Jack Wingate passed away Thursday afternoon at his home in the Faceville community.  Jack was a legend in the sport of bass fishing, and was a player in the start up of B.A.S.S.  Jack assisted and help promote the early days  of B.A.S.S.  When interviewing Ray Scott on Pro Angler Radio Mr. Scott told us that “Jack’ was like an angel in the way that he helped him back then. Jack was a great story teller and loved to help the folks in his community in their time of need.  He will be missed.

Bass clubs and individual that would like to show their condolences are ask by the family to donate to the American cancer society in his name.

Well, don’t say I didn’t tell you so!  Weeks ago I predicted that 25-year old Tennessee native, Ott DeFoe would have a memorable Father’s Day—his gift (among others) would be the title of Rookie of the Year.

It turns out that his R.O.Y. award was a good present for Father’s Day, but the best gift of all was having his family there to cheer him on.  His wife, Jennie, had delivered twins, Elizabeth and Parker, only a few weeks before the start of the Dixie Duel and not having been home since June 6^th, I could only imagine how Ott must have been itching to get off the stage and get his arms around his wife and children. 

As the trophy was presented, I felt a little too much pride; after all, HE did all the work, I just recognized a good man when I met him.  His fishing ability and impressive stats speak for themselves. 

As Ott was talking with Dave Mercer on stage, I glanced over and saw his 4-year old daughter, Abbie, looking up at the stage and couldn’t help but feel a heartstring tugging. 

Weeks ago I had spoken with Jennie on the phone, and Drew and I have gotten to know Ott over the last few tournaments, so I knew all about Abbie.  When I saw this beautiful little girl looking up at her daddy, I remembered what Jennie had told me when I asked about their daughter, “She’s definitely Daddy’s girl.” 

I watched the way Abbie stood in front of that large crowd, her back to it, not noticing the scurry of activity around her.  The way she stood staring up at the man on stage, seeing, not a famous man from TV, not an award winning fisherman, not the future of bass fishing, but just seeing Daddy.

DeFoe not only finished first in the amazing rookie class, he finished fourth in overall points which earned him a trip to Toyota All-star week.  He said at the beginning of the season his goals included: making a Top 12, winning Rookie of the Year, qualifying for the Classic, earning a spot in the postseason, and winning an Elite tournament.

 I don’t like to brag (ok sometimes I do), but I was there for all the goals he achieved (Ott take note, it just may be that I am your lucky charm): 

Top 12: check—Pride of Georgia at West Point and Dixie Duel at Wheeler.

Winning Rookie of the Year: check—awarded at the Dixie Duel.

Qualifying for the Classic: check—confirmed at Dixie Duel (Ott double qualified).

Earning a spot in the postseason: check— announced at the Dixie Duel.

 “Winning (an event) is the only one of my goals I didn’t make this season,” he said. “But I think winning in your rookie year is asking quite a bit.”

 I will remind Ott that the post-season is still included in the season, as far as I’m concerned, so let’s complete that check-list, ok?

 See ya at the dock!

 *Hear more about Ott from what I learned through his wife, Jennie, in an upcoming installment of “Through Her Eyes”.

     Pro angler David Walker was all smiles seeing his name on top of the leaderboard after day two weigh in at the 2011 Bassmaster Dixie Duel.  While technically an Elite rookie, the soft-spoken Tennessee native has quite an impressive stat sheet dating back to 1990 and is no stranger to the B.A.S.S. stage.

          “I’ve never had a major tournament win,” he said.  “Not an Elite tournament or an FLW Tour tournament.” 

     I wasn’t the only one who thought he’d had at least one (FLW) win.  

     “Everybody does.  I ‘ve come close too many times,” he told us.  His only tournament win was a BFL in 1998.      

     He’s participated in 75 B.A.S.S. tournaments, with 13 top ten finishes, including two second places. 

     He says there is “a little “ pressure to get a win, but his whole goal (this year) was to “just make the Classic”, and a win on Wheeler can guarantee that he reaches that goal, and get the win monkey off his back. 

     He’s no stranger to the Bassmaster Classic either.  Though his last appearance was in 2006, he has been a contender six times and has finished in third—twice.

     He shared his water with Skeet Reese most of the day, and after seeing Reese’s 19-5 bag made some wonder if the spot could hold up for two more days. 

     “It’s doing better than I thought it would.  I’ve got to give it some credit.  There’s obviously a lot of good fish there, and it’s held up so far.”

      When asked if he was doing anything special out there, he didn’t hesitate or over-think his answer. 

     “No. It’s just my turn.”

     Will Walker walk away with a win—finally?  Only time and another day (or two) of fishing will tell. 

     See ya at the dock!

The second day of the Dixie Duel is underway, and boy what a difference a day makes.  Yesterday the water was about a foot lower, sun shining bright, and little to no wind.  This morning, the water’s up, the wind is 10-15 mph, and mostly cloudy skies.  I as write this, TWC’s radar shows that here in Decatur, Alabama, we (including the pros on the water) are about to get some storms.  All of these factors should make for a better fishing day. On the dock, I talked to several of the pros to get their opinion of the lake and weather changes going into day two.

    The water has risen about a foot or so from the start of day one, which means the water has been flowing.  Will the dams stay open? We will see.  More water in the lake will already help the fish, especially considering the lack of recent rainfall in the area.  This should help trigger the fish into biting and position them closer to cover.

     The clouds and wind are a welcome sight to most.  Not only for their physical benefits but usually low light conditions make better fishing.  The topwater bite should be prolonged for the guys who are using that technique or any other shallow patterns.  Some of the guys told me they care that the wind blows more than anything else. 

     I also had a few that did not like the sight of the clouds and said this will hurt them.  I think these guys believe that their own fishing pattern will not keep up with the patterns where clouds and wind do benefit more.   

    Mayflies in the air?  At take-off there were thousands of mayflies around the banks.  I know from years of success that when the mayflies hatch the top water bite turns on.  Either the bass are eating the flies or chasing the bait fish that have moved up to eat the flies.  I don’t know if this will come into play today, but I have always caught more fish if the bugs are falling from the trees.

      Rain is definitely coming; I hear the thunder already.  Oh, what a difference a day makes.

     See ya at the dock.

     Day one is under way in the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series Dixie Duel, and the word around the dock is “It’ll be tough”.  Lake Wheeler is certainly fishing different than it has in the past years for these pros.  The grass that was plentiful in the lake is now mostly gone.   When Wheeler’s grass population exploded several years back, the bass fishing also soared.  Now, the grass is hard to find, and a lot of the productive techniques have also vanished.

     With that being said, I feel confident that these pros will find a way to catch them.  These are the best anglers in the country, and Wheeler still has impressive bass roaming its waters.  A lot of the guys were pretty quiet before launch, but I was able to get a little info on what they expect will win this event.  Most of the rods I saw were rigged with crank baits, all depths and colors.  Other baits included mop jigs, Carolina rigs, top waters, and even some jigging spoons.  A large number of these pros think this tournament will most likely be won off shore on a shell bed, but a few think that the shallow bite could turn on if some grass is found.

     Day one has just started, and already there are a couple of things to think about:  the Rookie of the Year race is really down to just two guys, Ott DeFoe and Keith Combs.  Angler of the Year is mostly down to the top 5; that number could drop depending on how today goes.  Most of the B.A.S.S. Pros I talked to said it would take 17-19 pounds a day to win.  In the past 3 weeks, it has taken 20-25 pounds to win in some of the tournaments on Wheeler.  The current flow is good today, something that hasn’t happened during practice, so this should help boost weights, for the day at least. 

Should been an interesting event. ProAnglerRadio.com will be covering it all weekend.

See ya at the dock.

      I am not ashamed to say I am a Christian nor am I ashamed to quote the Bible, so if either might offend you, do not read on.

 “…Come, I will make you fishers of men…” ~ Matthew 4: 18-22

         The first disciples chosen by Jesus were fishermen. Think about that.  

         I grew up knowing that fact, but as an adult, especially now, I find myself wondering “why?”  Why would the most important human being who ever walked this earth, one whose very mission for mankind was already in motion, have so easily chosen these men to follow Him, to bear witness to the events that must, and would, unfold?  Perhaps it is because of the person, the who, that He could see attached to the hands at the end of each fishing net.  These men were obviously instinctively good judges of character. Would they have so easily followed Barabbas? These fishermen would forever be a part of history. 

     To this day, I can say that every fisherman I have met is so down to earth….so grounded…so regular.  They seem to also be blessed with a lion’s share of patience, which makes sense.  After all, how else could someone spend so much time doing something that centers on “what could be at the end of that line”? Remember, it’s called fishing, not catching.   

     Patience is something I am constantly reminding myself to have, even after raising teenagers, but I am learning.  In Part One http://proanglercommunity.com/uncategorized/through-her-eyes/, I (lovingly) exposed the habits associated with my husband’s first (and forever) true love–fishing.

     This is not going to be a Sunday school lesson, though I’ve taught countless in my lifetime. For me, this was a soul lesson, a heart lesson, a lesson I learned about the hearts and souls of some very unique men—fishermen—and the women who love them. 

     Being married to a fisherman, I wanted to talk with (maybe even commiserate with) other women who deeply loved and supported men who were also fishermen.  What better place to meet the best pro anglers than at a pro event, so off I trekked to the Bassmaster Elite Pride of Georgia in LaGrange  on Mother’s Day. 

     I was immediately and embarrassingly gaga over the pros—in my mind I was childishly jumping for joy.  

     “They’re famous–I see them on TV!” I uttered time and again to myself (literally).    

     And then I met the ladies.  I was awed and then overwhelmed, and then…I was inspired.  I was a little nervous the first day, not wanting to invade the pros’ work mindset or the privacy of their families, and I was a little afraid of being carted off by B.A.S.S. officials. 

     Aaron Martens is one of my favorite Elite pros, and I’ve followed him as closely as I could through B.A.S.S. event coverage, so naturally the first woman I “stalked” was Lesley Martens, Aaron’s wife.  I noticed she was always with their two children, going to Aaron from time to time to offer encouragement, sneak a kiss, or when one of the kids wanted to “see Daddy”. Lesley seemed to me to be one of the quieter wives.  

     I noticed that she stayed away from the big crowds and the media behind stage, preferring to leave the well-deserved spotlight to her husband of 13 years.  I found her very easy to talk to, and she made me comfortable enough to loosen up a bit.  She’s very personable and receptive; I could see the love and pride flow through her as she talked about her hubby. I did finally reveal that Aaron was my first favorite, and asked her to let him know that I was the crazy lady that kept staring at him. 

     My time and conversation with her went beyond the interview itself, and we started dogging our husbands.  We compared the excuses that they give for staying out a little longer—fishing of course.  I was learning this fishing disease was more common that I thought.       

     I asked her if Aaron fished when she met him.  “He has always fished, ″ she said.

     “Did he get you into fishing?” I asked next. 

     “Yes, I didn’t like fishing before I met him.  My own experience with fishing was – we’d catch a fish, and it would sit in a bucket and gasp for air until it died. That was the last time I fished; I was probably about 7. And then I met him and he was like ‘I let ‘em go!’  I said, ‘They’re ok after that?’ and he said ‘Yeah!’”  

     “In all the time you’ve been with him, what is the one thing he has taught you about fishing?” I asked.

     “Oh, gosh.  Everything!  I didn’t know anything about fishing before I met him.”

     I asked if Aaron gives her the “30 minute lie”—I mean, promise.  She wanted me to clarify.

     I sold out my husband yet again, and said, “If I’m with Drew, no matter when I tell him I’m ready to leave, he always says, ‘Just 30 more minutes’. I’ve gotten to where I tell him the time I want to be home so that he’ll have time to calculate all his ‘30 more minutes’ in advance.”    

     She held her hands up and told me, “This is what he says when I call him. Now this will be when he’s ‘fun fishing’.  I’ll say, are you coming in early today? He’ll say, ‘Yes, yes I’ll come in early’. And then about 4:30, I’ll call and say, are you leaving the lake yet, and he’ll say ‘We just started catching ‘em.’”

     We were having fun mocking our guys, which was just what I needed, so I added, “Mine says, ‘We’re leaving the lake now.’”

      She gave me a knowing look and said, “No. That means that he’s just about to put the boat on the trailer.” 

      “How about the ‘MC’ call (see Part One)?” I inquired.  After explaining it to her, without a second thought, she waved it off and answered, “No, he doesn’t worry about it.”     

     I asked if Aaron has any superstitions.

     “No.  He doesn’t believe in luck. He’s got his routine, but it is not luck-based.   He is not superstitious at all.” 

     I, as a loyal fan, told her it was because he knew what he was doing. (I will also call it confidence.)

     When I asked, “Do you come to every tournament?” I saw a sad, almost regretful look cross her face for a moment, and then she answered.

     “Yes. This is my last year though, because the kids will be in school.”   

     Being a relatively new fan, and a woman, I love spectating more than participating and would love to see more women involved.  

     I threw out a series of questions, “What would you tell women to try to drive them to this sport?  What makes you come support this other than your husband? What makes you want to come out here?” 

     She gave me an answer I wish could be broadcast everywhere, not just to women, but to EVERYONE.  With no hesitation, she summed up what I was just beginning to learn.

     Her exact words: “The camaraderie.  Fishermen are nice people.  I don’t think there’s another sport that has such good men competing in it.”  

     At the end of the day, I was hot, tired, sore, hungry, thirsty…but my adrenaline was holding up just fine.  I had wandered over to visit a few of the dogs that were still hanging around after the Super Retriever Series earlier, when Drew rushed over to me.  First, I was shocked–he rarely moves that quickly—and then I followed.  I, as usual, was people (and dog) watching when Drew dropped my hand, moved to the side and lifted the camera to his face.  Meanwhile, I walked straight into the back of Aaron Martens, well almost.  I stopped just short of being able to sniff him if I had so desired. 

     The jersey’s name—MARTENS–was staring me dead in the eye.  Then he turned around with a big smile, and I was face to face with him.       

     I felt like Forrest Gump.  All I could say was “Hey.”  I was not only lacking clever banter but found I couldn’t move a muscle.  

     I had been a dedicated (new) fan of this pro since my first experience with pro fishing, watching the 2004 Bassmaster Classic with Drew on television.  Here he was right in front of me, and all I could do was stare up at him, speechless.  

     He was taller than I thought, but I’m only 5’2”, so everyone’s tall to me.  He looked exactly like he does on TV, right down to the sunglasses.  Thank goodness my husband, who must have been torn between documenting my surprise and laughing at my statue impression, asked Aaron if he would stand beside me for a picture.  (I think Drew just really wanted to capture one of the rare moments in my life when I was speechless.)   

     This was my first surprise.  

     At the following morning’s launch, I saw a beautiful woman wearing a blue, white, and black “team” jersey.  She was walking down the ramp toward a boat that was just about to enter the water.  I was walking toward the dock, so I noticed her as I walked.  She headed to the man in the boat and “kissed” him luck. 

     Each Elite pro’s boat is easily identifiable, but it was still fairly dark, so it was hard for me to get a look at the side of the boat, and I wasn’t able to see who the angler was.  When the boat was fully in the water, the woman turned to wave at him. With the help of a dimly lit street lamp near the ramp, I was able to read the name on her jersey—HOWELL.  That made me smile. I had read all about Randy on his website and had followed him for the seven years I have been involved in this sport.  I knew their story was a love story, and that faith, family, and fishing helped write that story.  http://randyhowell.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=83

     When weigh in time got closer, Drew and I headed toward the tanks and the dock that some of the anglers had used the previous days, some even choosing to beach their boats right near it.  I’m a people watcher (Drew calls that nosey), but I love people, so I’m always looking around.  Walking toward the beach area, I saw the pretty HOWELL again, this time in front of me walking down the beach to an approaching boat.

     The boat was occupied by another HOWELL, Randy, who had arrived for weigh in.  I was close enough to see that both were staring directly at each other, and both were smiling.  I know people must have been staring at me because I just completely stopped walking. I openly teared up and backed away, not wanting to intrude on their privacy. I was happy just being a witness to their story.

     Later that same day, Drew walked over to me. 

     “Come here for a second,” he said casually, but my gut told me he was up to something. 

     Moments later I was in front of the entire Howell family—Team Howell–Randy, Robin, and their two sons, all in matching team jerseys.

     That was my third surprise.  I usually hate surprises but will admit these I welcomed. 

     I couldn’t help but ask to talk to her, especially since Drew was already talking shop with Randy and the boys.  I started with my usual question to which she answered with a beaming smile, “We will have been married 19 years at the end of Murray next week.” 

     I instantly blurted out, “Dang, you definitely don’t look old enough to have been married that long.”   

     “We got married really young,” she said, blushing at the compliment.     

     I continued.  “Did he always fish?”

     “Yes. Always. He was a guide when I married him and started fishing Bassmaster a year after we got married.”

     I asked if she and the boys fish with him.       

     “I love to fish.   I don’t usually have a babysitter so it’s usually with the boys.  Yeah, we love it.”

     “When you’re out there does he pull the ‘just 30 more minutes’ with you?”  

     She didn’t need an explanation. “It depends on who’s ahead, because it’s always competitive. If he’s behind, it’s 30 more minutes.” 

     I added, “And I bet he changes the rules to suit him, too, huh?  I think that goes along with the big one that got away and all those other unwritten ones.”   

     She could dish no dirt, or expose any secrets or bad habits; she’s never even stepped on a hook anywhere in the house. 

     Amazed, I said, “Wow, do you know how lucky you are?” I had to then admit to this beautiful, gracious woman in front of me that Randy was one of my favorites. I jokingly asked if I could borrow him, but only long enough to train my husband. 

     “He’s ridiculous particular,” she laughed.  Randy, I learned, is definitely an exception. 

     We talked about how these pros were all such gentlemen and how they interact with the fans, especially with the kids.  We agreed that this group of men, these surrounding us and mingling with fans and media, were perfect ambassadors for the sport of bass fishing.

     “Has being a father changed how he fishes, or has it enhanced it?” I asked her.

     “Oh, it has definitely enhanced it.”

     I asked if he ever tried to use his love of fishing to influence their boys to fish.  

     Instantly, she shook her head, “Oh, no, no.”  She explained that neither she nor Randy, despite their love of fishing, has ever had to ‘heavily persuade’ either of their boys to fish.

     “Our boys are ‘outside whatever’.  He takes them to where he knows the fish are biting, because they’re not going to enjoy it when they’re young if the fish aren’t biting.”

     I had to know if I was the only crazy person, so I asked if she ever got sick of the fish smell everywhere.    

     She lowered her head and giggled, “Once again, he’s so particular, so I never smell it. He’s such a clean freak.”   

     I knew her response, but said it anyway.  “You are a lucky woman.”

     “I know I am.”  And I believe she does.                                      

     As we parted with handshakes and well wishes, I recalled what I had seen earlier.  The firsthand view I had of Randy coming to shore for weigh in, and Robin walking in the sand to greet him.  Both were all smiles, and I knew that it really didn’t matter to either of them how many bass or how many pounds were in that live well, he really only needed one keeper, and she was there on shore waiting for him.                                                                                                             

     Now, I like to think that I am part of their story.

     *Footnote:  What was my second surprise?  You may have thought I left that out or you missed it.  No, I just saved it for last.

     Drew and I kid about my B.A.S.S. crush.  A few years back, a shy, country singing (and very cute) rookie quietly came on the bass fishing scene, and then took it by storm.  The first time I saw him smile, I was drawn to him, but once I heard him sing, especially his fishing song, I was a fan.  I was already adding him to my favorite list.

     I had already taken my picture with that pro’s truck earlier in the day, pretending I was sneaking in it. (For the record, I did NOT touch it!)  I would have settled for that.  

    When it was time for us to head back to the hotel, most of the pros and their families had been gone for a while. While we were walking down the gravel drive toward the parking lot, I was reliving some of the day’s events in my head, marveling that I had just met Aaron Martens.  I was in my own happy place when I felt an elbow in my ribs.  

     The string of curses directed toward my husband was bitten off when I noticed he was dramatically nodding his head sideways, his eyes wide with emphasis.

     There walking beside me was none other than my crush, Casey Ashley.  This time, I had more than just ‘hey’ to say.  I introduced myself and asked to take a picture with him.  He smiled shyly and cordially agreed.  He never quit smiling, even when I asked him something that not many of these anglers will do after a long sunny day on the water.      

     “Can you take your sunglasses off for me?”                   

     He did.

     It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.  I, too, am a lucky woman, I thought, as I strolled hand in hand beside the lake with my fisherman/husband.         

**Check back for Part Three, featuring Julia Kennedy, the Pride of Georgia champ’s wife, who showed me the not so unexpected sides of Steve.   

Also, in upcoming installments: Jennie DeFoe (Ott), Jennifer Hall (Boyd Duckett), Julie Roumbanis (Fred), Emily (Watts) Tucker (J.Todd), and Laurie Wellman (Nate).

      I met B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Ott DeFoe, at my first live B.A.S.S. event.  It was at West Point Lake on Mother’s Day.  I was standing backstage after the final day weigh-in, talking to one of the wives.  I’m usually aware of things happening around me, so while looking around for my next “victim” to interview, I was blinded by a beautiful smile sported by one of the pros who was signing an autograph for a starry-eyed young fan.  I love kids and love even more when professional athletes willingly interact with the kids. 

     When the pro turned around, I read his name on the back of his jersey—“DEFOE”.  I remembered from the notes I had made on the Elite pro rookies that, though on Bassmaster he was listed (at that time) as “Arthur”, he went by “Ott”, but I knew very little else.   I instantly remembered he was leading the Rookie of the Year points race. I had also read that, as a boy, Ott dreamed of one day fishing the Bassmaster Classic. 

     I realized and appreciated that this fact in itself was a good story, but I was more interested in the person behind the “future” title holder and what it would mean to him.  I usually do that before I choose who I “root for” along the way.  From my first impression, I was immediately on his side.

     He was standing within arm’s length, and as I turned with the hope of asking him for “just a minute of his time”, he turned my way and flashed that smile on me.  I knew instantly that this was a good man.  I felt the warmth in his handshake when I introduced myself and felt comfortable enough to address him by his first name, verifying that he preferred Ott over Arthur. 

     He shook his head and shyly laughed when I told him to “fuss at” (a southern term) B.A.S.S. because there was not enough information listed on him.

     “There’s not a lot to talk about,” he modestly told me, but I knew better.

     “Well, you’re leading Rookie of the Year, so you’ve been giving them something to report,” I said.

     He smiled again, maybe expecting me to continue with the R.O.Y. questioning, but I didn’t, even though I knew the “guys” would prefer I did.  I went the way I wanted to go, and that was to ask about the man, Ott DeFoe, not the fisherman. 

     The first question I asked was if he was married.  That’s when I noticed his eyes change.  He went from being prepared to talk about his job and his love of fishing to talking about his wife and daughter.  I noted that as he told me about Jennie, his wife, his smile not only lit his eyes, but it seemed to give him a peaceful composure, and I could feel that all he told me came from his heart and was not a prepped answer he was used to giving.  I also learned about Abbie, his daughter, and the expected arrival of twins within weeks. 

     I told him I was doing a “tell-all” article from the wives of the pros and half-jokingly asked if he would forward my number to Jennie if she was interested.  A few days later the other half of the Defoe team called me.  When I hung up, I knew that each was the other’s “better-half”.  And – she gave me some additional insight into her husband.*  We even talked about the similarities of our lives and the men we love.  I knew I had found a kindred spirit. 

     Knowing how busy they were, I kept up with the DeFoes through technology, so when I saw that Jennie was on strict bed rest and Ott was fishing the Open, I was on instant friend/writer/mommie/fan alert and kept up with both (or all “5”) as May became June.  From her bed, Jennie, the ever-supportive wife, kept Ott’s “pro page” updated regularly.    

     Then, June turned out to be a pretty busy month already for the DeFoes, and it’s only the first week.    

     Last Wednesday, the first day of June, Ott was practicing for his next event, the Southern Open on Douglas Lake.  Living in Knoxville, many considered it to be his hometown lake, his “stomping ground”.  Call it whatever, he was just happy he was able to be at home every night with his family and sleep in his own bed, especially since Jennie was expecting the twins any day.

     Bright and early on the 2nd, Defoe launched his Nitro for his first day of the Open, finishing the day in 6^th place.

     June 3^rd was much the same as the day before, except as Ott improved to 4^th, his beautiful, blue-eyed daughter, Abbie, came on stage with her daddy and stole the spotlight as she sang, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.

     Saturday, June 4, was probably the busiest day the Defoe family had endured, thus far anyway.  Ott launched and weighed in as usual, finishing the tournament in 7^th place, while Jennie followed his progress on Bassmaster.com—-from her hospital delivery room. 

     Her doctors had estimated the twins’ arrival sometime around 10:00 p.m., so true to her character, supporting role, and her un-derailed insistence, Ott did his “other” job and fished.  I, as a fan, was cheering even harder, knowing what he must be going through.  Selfishly as a writer (and hopeless romantic), I’ll admit, I was pulling for the hometown victory and the hero rushing off to the hospital, presenting the trophy at the “birthing bedside”, as the newest DeFoes entered the world.  Or maybe it was a combination of all.        

     The story details can be filled in later but here is the best I can do without bugging the new mom or dad:

     At 9:25 p.m. on June 4th, Parker DeFoe, hit the scales (and not the B.A.S.S. kind) at 5-10, followed by his little sister, Elizabeth, at 9:31 p.m., weighing in at 5-7.  Knowing that Ott must be proud of those weights, I have to tip my hat to Jennie—nice job, Mrs. DeFoe, and still smiling! 

     Big sister, Abbie, had made a prediction long before the twins’ early arrival.  The due date for her brother and sister was June 14, but she predicted that Parker and Elizabeth would debut on her birthday, June 5.  (Talent, good looks, can make fairly accurate predictions—and she fishes!  This little girl is destined for greatness.)

     So, on the morning of Abbie’s fourth birthday (and Daddy’s one day off), she finally got to meet the two siblings she would become “big sister” to.  I saw the pictures, and let me say, that is one beautiful and very happy family.  Yes, Ott was there—I saw those pictures, too, and will let you all know (much to Ott’s chagrin) that hospital booties now come in the form of “BOOT”ies, up to the knee booties.  (Ott you can blame Jennie for giving me permission to use this!)    

     In one of the twins’ debut pictures, they wear matching onesies—one pink, one blue—with one of Daddy’s sponsors’ logo proudly displayed.  Yep, they sure look good, “wrapped” like Daddy’s boat, as Bass Pro Shops babies.  

     Where does he go from here?  I’ll bet you anything that he is (reluctantly) on his way to Little Rock or already practicing on the Arkansas River for the Elite Series Diamond Drive tournament that begins on Thursday, June 9.  Following that, he will go on to compete at the final Elite Series tournament, June 16-19 at Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama.

     Like Abbie, I, too, can predict with favorable outcomes from time to time.  So here goes:  on Father’s Day, June 19, Ott DeFoe will be awarded his Rookie of the Year trophy and receive an official berth in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.  After meeting this extraordinary man on Mother’s Day, I thought how fitting that on Father’s Day, while I again watch live from backstage, a good father and a good man will be awarded his childhood dream.  That is what I will be proud to witness.       

     Dream a dream…live that dream…dream another.

     Three “births” in one year is quite impressive for one man.  Rookie to Classic Champ in one year?  My opinion is,dreams are realities just waiting to happen.  I have no predictions for Ott at the Classic, but I can secretly wish. 

     I do, however, predict this will not be the last you will hear of Ott DeFoe.

     Congratulations to all of you DeFoes—and all of the DeFoe fans! 

     See ya at the dock!

*See more with Jennie DeFoe in Part Two: Through Her Eyes (coming soon).

     You may be a parent trying to get your child interested in fishing because you love it, or maybe they’ve asked several times to go with you. 

     You may have a parent, grandparent or family member you want to spend more time with.

     Or you may be a husband or boyfriend who takes a lot of flak for spending so little time with your significant other but so much time with “that stupid fishing pole”.  

     Whatever your reason for having decided to expose or initiate this person to your favorite pastime, we applaud you and warmly welcome the new addition (hopefully) to the great sport of recreational fishing.

         Whether your plans include bringing an adolescent or an adult, a male or a female, a new friend or “that special someone”, introducing a newcomer to the sport of fishing, takes  some thought and careful pre-planning.  You need to know that your plan of attack, the way you prepare your tackle and more especially, your mental preparations, all should be approached much differently than you would if you were heading out by yourself or with an experienced buddy.

     First and foremost, remember to be PATIENT.  Though most everyone has some general  knowledge of fishing, they may not fully understand the basic concepts that are required to fish.  They most likely will not have the expertise to cast or reel, much less how to choose a bait, tie it on, recognize a strike,  and fight a fish .  Someone who has very little or no fishing experience will usually have a much shorter attention span for the sport and may even be a little embarrassed by his/her lack of skill. I’ve seen beginners who, while still learning the fundamentals of casting, have snagged leaves, twigs, even the ball cap off the person’s head next to them, and accidently deposited them  in the water.   

     Casting takes practice, and extreme care and caution should always be used, no matter what level of experience.  Always be aware of anyone  nearby  before casting because those who are not used to flying hooks may like to walk around exploring the water and could get caught up in your (or someone else’s) line.  Drew once accidently pierced his own father’s ear with a 3-0’ hook that was sporting a really pretty cotton candy finesse worm dangling from it. 

     Next,  you must remember that you are there to help your “student” learn.  This means that you should NOT plan to make this trip about what YOU are going to catch. (Hint: do not take your favorite pole, this way you are not even tempted to fish.)  Also, bring several pre-rigged poles (your least expensive or least used) in case one breaks or ends up in the lake or worse…   I have had had a rod slip through my hands, only for it to end up in the water.  If (when) that happens, it’s either go in after it–meaning Drew, or let it go.  You will want a different set-up on each pole—you want something that will catch a fish.  It takes less time to grab a different pole and recast than it does to completely re-rig the same pole.                                                

     Some words of advice before you take the newbie out:   ”Make sure the fish are biting”.  This means to scout ahead.  Stop in to a few of your regular spots and check the fish activity.  I am sure most dedicated fisherman will not find this a time consuming chore, but will revel in a chance to sneak away for the “good of the sport”.  Drew will usually wait until he has found (and caught) a lot of fish at one of his spots before trying to take a newcomer. 

     Plan to go the day before and scout the body of water you will be fishing.  For instance, one day while on a “lunch break” (his story), Drew found a school of crappie dwelling in some submerged trees.  He  “checked” the bite with a few different lures, and then the next day he invited his grandfather, which ended in a successful, much anticipated outing. 

     Don’t be selfish.  Sportsmanship is a coveted reputation in the sport of fishing.  The knowledge you discovered has a small window of time before the bite changes again , so if you’re not able to return within the next few days,  make  a call to a friend who has an eager, budding young fisherman at home and share the love…of fishing.   

     Rookies in the sport will get “hooked” more easily if they are “catching” and not just “fishing”.  Remember, just because you can patiently fish all day, sometimes without a single bite, and still “have fun”, a beginner’s patience—after an unsuccessful first, second, even third, attempt–will be very limited.  A four inch bream or crappie to an amateur is comparable to a 10 lb. bass to a “seasoned angler”.    Don’t be afraid to get one on the line for them the first time, and let them experience how it feels to reel one in.  Sometimes that alone sparks the fire. 

     When working with children, keep in mind that a kid’s favorite question is “why?”—so always explain what you are doing as you do it and why you are doing it.  Regardless of the age, things can be more interesting if you know the hows and whys and not just the thrill of the catch or the memory of the feel and smell of it after it’s released.  It’s also fun and satisfying( if appropriate) to take your catch home for dinner. (Another hint: most women, especially this one, do not want to clean it, so do NOT ask; if she offers, you should know right then that she’s your for-sure “keeper” right there!)

     Another good tip is to remember to have more than just “fishing stuff” with you.  Bring a pre-packed picnic lunch, a radio (with batteries), a Frisbee, or anything that the person would also enjoy, whether your plans are to fish from a boat or the bank – just be prepared.  If on a boat, take a lunch break on shore.  Remember that  young children (and some adults) usually require constant stimuli.  Public parks with lakes often have playgrounds and picnic areas (and restrooms—a must have for most females). 

     Don’t make their first fishing trip with you just about fishing.  The more the beginner enjoys the outing, the more likely he/she is to agree to go with you again (providing it is something you anticipate doing with this person again; if not, I guess you could just do the opposite of these things.)     

     We can never stress enough that fishing should always be about having fun and spending time with the important people in your life.  Together, Drew and I have made countless memories that were somehow connected to the water or a fishing pole…and we’re just beginning.       

See ya at the dock!

Analyzing Bank Fishing

by Drew & Kelli Berry

     Fishing is fishing, whether it’s from a boat, wading in a stream, drifting a river, or throwing from the bank.  If bank fishing is in your plans, here are some ideas to get the most of your fishing trip when standing on the shore.

     First, don’t let the pressure of not having a boat convince you that you can’t catch a lot of fish or that you won’t enjoy your trip.  One of the biggest things with any type of fishing is doing some “mental fishing”, or pre-fishing, long before you ever wet your line.  Think about what is the main objective to your trip.  Do you want to relax or “meditate”?   Do you want to catch a lot of fish?  Are you looking to fill your stringer?   All of these things are important to consider.

    Always have several locations in mind before you head to the water.  If your main goal is to relax, pick and choose your location wisely.   It is hard to get peace and quiet if you are fishing beside a busy boat ramp or a noisy overpass.  Also, if you are limited to the places you can fish, think about the time of day and day of week you plan to go.  A normally busy boat ramp will probably be a ghost town on a weekday, and a cloudy or rainy day will normally limit the number of people (except die-hard fishermen) that venture out to enjoy the water.  I also know that private areas such as farm ponds or privately owned lake property will provide more tranquility to your fishing outing.  But always seeks permission on someone else’s property.  I like to live by the rule of, “Leave it in better condition than you found it.”  This will not only ensure a healthy environment, but could earn you a return invitation as well. 

    Next, think about the type of fish (species) that you want to catch.  Location and time of year will help you narrow down where you should go to pursue these different types of fish.  For example, spring is the best time to catch a lot of crappie.  Night time (dark) is the best time to catch catfish, and bass seem to bite better in low light conditions (dawn or dusk).  Regardless of the norm, you can catch any native species in any particular body of water, somehow, someway, at any time of year; it might just be little more difficult.  Putting as many factors as possible in your favor will ultimately help your chances of catching fish. 

     Another good point is to “ask around”.  Most recreational fishermen will be more than happy to tell you about the areas where they have had success in the past.  Questions that you need to ask are:  What area did they catch the fish?  What bait did they use?  What time of year did they catch their fish?, etc. 

     All species of fish migrate throughout the year, so what worked well and where it worked, will also change throughout the year.   It can be beneficial to do some research/reading about the species and location you are going to fish.  I recommend a good local magazine like GON (Georgia Outdoor News.)  These type magazines are designed to help you catch more fish during certain times of the year.  Knowledge is power in life in general, and especially in helping to be a successful fisherman. 

    Now I will show you in detail how I would break down a specific body of water to target a certain species of fish.  For this example I will focus on catching largemouth bass in the late spring to early summer, and I will use a public fishing area near my house.  

     First are the very basics of my pre-fishing.  Lake Paradise is a public lake in a public park.  This lake is approximately 10 acres and is very accessible by bank.  Because the banks here are very easy to walk, it increases how much of the lake I can fish.  I researched all the different species of fish living in this particular lake.  This helps me know what the bass are feeding on.  From my reading, I know that certain times throughout the year, different species of fish are on the bass’ “menu”.  I have found that the species in this lake include:  largemouth bass, bream, catfish, white and black crappie, carp, and gizzard shad.

     Regardless of your fishing location, before you decide where on the bank to fish, scout the area.  Pay close attention to what is happening around the shore.  Look for birds feeding or baitfish swimming in that area.  Certain areas of the lake are going to have more fish at certain times than other areas will have at other times.       

     Next, it comes down to experience.  Through my years of fishing this lake, I have learned that from early March through the end of March, the crappie move up in the shallows by the hundreds, and the hungry bass are not far behind them.  Usually the first week in April, the bass go on bed and are a blast to catch sight fishing.  I am able to walk around the bank with some good polarized sunglasses and a couple of different types of soft plastics, and just “pick ‘em off”. 

     After the bass spawn is complete, the bream and shad will begin their spawn in those same shallow areas, so I can typically use some type of lure that imitates these baitfish (“match the hatch”) and catch the bass feeding on them.  I have also found that during this time of year I can use a float and a large minnow to catch a lot of these post-spawn bass roaming the banks.  At the end of spring, bass fishing becomes a little more difficult, and it can be hard to find a large concentration of bass close to the bank, although I have found one trick that seems to work very well and, for that matter, on most bodies of water. 

     I can normally always catch a lot of bass anytime the light levels are low, whether in the morning or evening, or my most productive time, when it’s cloudy or even raining.  The bass will be feeding heavily on the shad and can be caught on anything that looks like a baitfish (spinnerbait, crank bait, top water, etc.).  During the summer I live for the cloudy or rainy days and try to get to Paradise when the weather is in “my favor”.   

     Fishing is a complicated sport.  Most of learning to become a better and more successful fisherman is trial and error.  Don’t expect to have the same experience or results each time you fish any of your regular or favorite spots.  No two days and no two locations are the same.  It is easier to write about one specific method for one specific location.  It would be very difficult to put into words every specific scenario in one article.  We at proanglerradio.com  are committed to helping our readers become better fisherman,  so send us your comments or fishing challenges, and we will be happy to give our insight.        

     Whether you are an amateur fisherman, a weekend fisherman, or even a seasoned pro, the most important thing to remember is that fishing should be about having fun.

See ya on the bank!