The Pattern Of Time/Dedicated to the One's Now Fishing through us

This was the first article I ever wrote for Crappie .com I hope you all that did'nt get to read it back then... will enjoy it now.
It is a true story about a good friend I lost and who taught me so much here on Lake Conway.

I first met Homer Smith in a shallow cove laden with lily pads here on Lake Conway. Hewas in his late 60's and I was in my early 20's. We were both long poling withjigs in a cove, only problem was he was doing all the catching and I wasdoing all the watching. After a couple hours of this, I finally broke down andfrom a distance, "Sir do you mind telling me what you are doing".With-out hesitation he said sure come on over. He showed me a yellow and white Mid-Southskirt, white/red eye 1/32 oz jig and said only fish two feet deep and aroundwhere the pads are thickest. Not having the right Jig head he quickly said hereya go try a couple of these. I did what he said and soon enoughI was on them too. A couple months later I was on a deep water bite withminnows under a bridge on our home waters. I saw Homer jig fishing around thebridge as he often did, but this time with without much luck. He asked they bittenminnows, I quickly said yes and gave him some of my minnows and we fishedtogether catching slab after slab until dark. It was after this trip we become friends for the next 25 years or so,fishing together and meeting each other at the different pattern’s on our homelake and always sharing to help each other catch fish. Homer fished right up tohis passing at 95 years old, and I will always remember and miss my friend inthat little one-man fiberglass boat, who taught me so much over the years. Acouple years ago in the fall, fishing that same cove and pattern me and Homerfished so often, I heard off in the distance a young man yell, "HEY!!!Mister you mind telling me how your catching those fish" Every now andthen when I’m fishing on the water alone and I reach into my net and grab thatbig Ole slab I look up to the Good Lord and say to myself, "This one's foryou Homer" and I know somewhere in heaven he is smiling down at me. Nexttime you are on the water… take the time to remember those kind souls andfamily members who fished with you. Letyourself believe that they are not gone for good… but instead know they arestill living and fishing through your heart and soul. Over these last few yearsI see that I am quickly becoming the new Homer Smith and I can only hope I canbe the kind of soul my family and friends would want me to be in lifeor on the water and never forget the way’s they changed my life for the better. Tight Lines Guys…

Me and dad - in '76 a UALR professor took this sunrise pic at the Palarm/Conway launch to use in a book he was writing on Ark history. I bought the book and had this painted from the picture. It floods me with memories of our good times on the water.

Spring/fall, every Saturday morning, if the weather was right, it didn't matter if I had chased girls all night, we were on the water before daylight. As years rolled on, I got married, he got feeble, but we still managed a couple dozen trips per year. He graciously allowed me to take over the logistics of our trips, but he never gave up the front seat with his sculling paddle and predator-like concentration. Breaks my heart that my son never had the opportunity to fish with the 'pro'.
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Most people never remember all the folks that touch or help shape their lives in a lifetime. I have fished with so many over the years that taught me so much. Great story .

Great stories guys. Forever memories for sure.

This is why we all do what we do , great story Russ , next time I see u on the water I'm going to say hey, I'll see u in the cove this winter!!

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Originally Posted by LazyJ

Me and dad - in '76 a UALR professor took this sunrise pic at the Palarm/Conway launch to use in a book he was writing on Ark history. I bought the book and had this painted from the picture. It floods me with memories of our good times on the water.

Spring/fall, every Saturday morning, if the weather was right, it didn't matter if I had chased girls all night, we were on the water before daylight. As years rolled on, I got married, he got feeble, but we still managed a couple dozen trips per year. He graciously allowed me to take over the logistics of our trips, but he never gave up the front seat with his sculling paddle and predator-like concentration. Breaks my heart that my son never had the opportunity to fish with the 'pro'.
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That is an awesome piece of Lake Conway History
I never got to see it or the place it hung...was it on a bait shop? and when did they tear it down? Thanks for sharing... for years and years I have seen guys who come to Lake Conway to fish out of those little one man water scamps and Jon Boats. It amazes me how sooo many are great fisherman and talking to them over the years... sometimes they seem a little standoffish with their information, but it's when you start talking to them they open thier hearts up to you with a great story and finish it off with some good tips on how to catch crappie. I am always honored when one pulls up to me and ask for help, cos I know how much they helped me over the years. Want to find great Info on a lake?... look for the veteran in the water scamp. The memory's of this lake are haunting and I shun to think of all the great memory's it has provided for family and friends over the years. Great Piece Lazy.

Great story Russ.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

This was the first article I ever wrote for Crappie .com I hope you all that did'nt get to read it back then... will enjoy it now.
It is a true story about a good friend I lost and who taught me so much here on Lake Conway.

I first met Homer Smith in a shallow cove laden with lily pads here on Lake Conway. Hewas in his late 60's and I was in my early 20's. We were both long poling withjigs in a cove, only problem was he was doing all the catching and I wasdoing all the watching. After a couple hours of this, I finally broke down andfrom a distance, "Sir do you mind telling me what you are doing".With-out hesitation he said sure come on over. He showed me a yellow and white Mid-Southskirt, white/red eye 1/32 oz jig and said only fish two feet deep and aroundwhere the pads are thickest. Not having the right Jig head he quickly said hereya go try a couple of these. I did what he said and soon enoughI was on them too. A couple months later I was on a deep water bite withminnows under a bridge on our home waters. I saw Homer jig fishing around thebridge as he often did, but this time with without much luck. He asked they bittenminnows, I quickly said yes and gave him some of my minnows and we fishedtogether catching slab after slab until dark. It was after this trip we become friends for the next 25 years or so,fishing together and meeting each other at the different pattern’s on our homelake and always sharing to help each other catch fish. Homer fished right up tohis passing at 95 years old, and I will always remember and miss my friend inthat little one-man fiberglass boat, who taught me so much over the years. Acouple years ago in the fall, fishing that same cove and pattern me and Homerfished so often, I heard off in the distance a young man yell, "HEY!!!Mister you mind telling me how your catching those fish" Every now andthen when I’m fishing on the water alone and I reach into my net and grab thatbig Ole slab I look up to the Good Lord and say to myself, "This one's foryou Homer" and I know somewhere in heaven he is smiling down at me. Nexttime you are on the water… take the time to remember those kind souls andfamily members who fished with you. Letyourself believe that they are not gone for good… but instead know they arestill living and fishing through your heart and soul. Over these last few yearsI see that I am quickly becoming the new Homer Smith and I can only hope I canbe the kind of soul my family and friends would want me to be in lifeor on the water and never forget the way’s they changed my life for the better. Tight Lines Guys…

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Great piece, you have to have been there to appreciate someone like you. I read your stuff and appreciate what you do.

Great story CP. You have taught me a bunch just through this forum. There arent many out there who are willing to help others out like you do. I really appreciate all the info and I'm sure everyone on here feels the same.

Ditto Russ....You are Homer!

That cool thanks for sharing the story