Thread: How I Got Started

J.W.s thread about the Stages of a Fisherman got me thinking about how I ended up so hooked on Crappie fishing. Instead of hijacking his thread, I thought id start my own.

My grandfather took me under his wing when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. We spent most of our free time in the deer woods, and fishing for Crappie, Catfish, and Bream on Conway, and the Cache and White Rivers. He basically taught me everything he knew about hunting, fishing, running a boat, and just life in general.

Fast forward years later to when I met my wife. Her dad was really into Bass fishing and we started to spend a lot of time chasing ole Bucketmouth on Pickthorne, Conway, Maumelle, and Dardanelle. After a few years, I realized that I had a knack for it and started fishing tournaments. Unfortunately, that didnt go very far because I was a TOTAL bonehead in my younger years, and my career was cut short when I took a little 4-year "vacation" to the state farm!! After that, I decided to slow down a little (in more ways than one,) and I started to chase Crappie again. The company that I worked for sent us on regular guide trips as a tax write off, and I was fortunate enough to get some single-pole lessons from two of the best jig fishermen in the country, Todd Huckabee and Barry Morrow. I guess that's where my love for the thump began. My knowledge of structure and habits learned while Bass fishing helped shorten the curve a little bit as well. BUUUTTT!! None of that helped me when I tried my skills on Conway. That place used to whip me like a yard dog!! After a couple years of getting my butt kicked over and over, Crappie Pro, another great Crappie fisherman, took me under his wing and taught me the ins and outs of Ole Stumpy. I definitely wouldnt be able to catch em consistently there if it wasnt for him. Thanks man.


I love enjoying God's creation, and meeting people that have the same love for the outdoors. My grandfather isnt able to go anymore, but I try to pay forward the knowledge and love of the sport that he passed on to me so many years ago. I have met a lot of great people on this site. I talk a lot of smack, but if you know me, you know im harmless. After my last episode, I have realized that life is too short to sweat the small stuff. So you guys are stuck with me!!


Now a days, I mainly am after the big ones. I spiderrig when the conditions call for it and have dabbled with long lining. I wish I could say that it doesnt matter how many I catch and all that jazz, but man, I am still hooked on that THUMP!

Great post Chris. Enjoyed getting to know ya better through the read. I know exactly what ya mean. It is fun to pick with your buds and some people will always have there kilts in a wad no matter what we post on or about. Too many pictures, not enough details, etc. just keep on doing what we like to do and don't worry about everyone else. We have all made mistakes and ones we wish we could take back but those are the ones that tend to make us more mature. Keep on fishing and living life to the fullest.