Hope You enjoy this short story that happened to me on Lake Conway

I first met Homer Smith in a shallow cove laden with lilly pads. He was in his late 60's and I was in my early 20's. We were both long poleing with jigs in the cove, only problem was he was doing all the catching and I was doing all the watching. After a couple hours of this, I finally broke down and from a distance,"Sir do you mind telling me what your doing". With out hesitation he said sure come on over. He showed me a yellow and white skirt, white/red eye 1/32 oz jig and said only fish two feet deep and around where the pads are thickest. Not having the right Jig head he quickly said he ya go try a couple of these with that skirt. I did what he said and soon enough I was on em too. A couple months later I was on a deep water bite with minnows under a bridge on our home waters. I saw Homer jig fishing around the bridge without much luck. He asked they biten minnows, I quickly said yes gave him some of my minnows and we fished together catching slab after slab until dark. We become friends for the next 25 years or so, fishing together and meeting each other at the different patterns on our lake and always sharing to help each other catch fish. Homer fished right up to his passing at 93 years old, and I will always remember and miss my friend in that little oneman fiberglass boat, who taught me so much over the years. A couple years ago in the fall, fishing that same cove and pattern me and Homer fished 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 and then when im fishing on the water alone and I reach into my net and grab that big slab I look up to the Good Lord and say to myself, "This one's for you Homer" and I know somewhere in heaven he is smiling. Next time your on the water take the time to remember those kind souls who fished with you. God Bless you all and have a wonderful Christmas. Take Care Crappie Pro...

A good story crappiepro, thanks for sharing with us.

Grat story i really enjoyed it....i too have had a few homers in my life and i think of em everytime i'm on the water.

thats the way fishin should be!

Thanks for the story CrappiePro. When we are younger we generally think the world revolves around ourselves. As we grow older we learn to realize that life is much better when we share it with other people.

It was my Grandfather that introduced me to fishing as a child, and there was nothing he enjoyed more than taking his Grandchildren fishing. Man O' man how I would love to have the opportunity to sit in the boat with him just one more time. Those days were very special.

Be a real man, take care of, and love your family.

Best wishes to all.....

Wow, what a story man. Best wishes you guys...

thats awesome. Thanks for sharing, a wonderful way to "snap-back" and realize whats important.

Reminds me of both of my grandfathers. I wonder how the old guys always knew where and how to fish with out all of the stuff and techniques we have today.
Don

Thats what fishing should be about great times good friends.

Noslab

great story.

That reminds me of the guy who got me started crappie fishing on old river lakes with long poles. He was a friend of my wife's family. I was 27, and he was in his late 50's. After I got married he kept inviting me to go long poling. I kept thinking that I hadn't fished with a long pole since I was 7 and doubted that crappie could be any where near as fun to catch as bass, bream or trout. I finally told my wife that I would go the next time he asked me just so I could tell him I had tried it and didn't like it.

Our first trip wasn't all that good, but the first time a bobber disappeared in the middle of some heavy brush and a big slab came out, I was absolutely hooked and have had a ball doing it for nearly 30 years.

He and I shared many wonderful fishing trips. Frequently when we got back my wife would meet us at his house, and his wife would fry the crappie along with hand cut french fries and hushpuppies and would have wilted lettuce fresh out of their garden. Man, was that good.

Unfortunately his wife died 5 years or so ago, and we have been having him to our house for fish fries ever since. Even sadder, he has just had a series of strokes, and at 84 won't be able to fish any more.

Thank you so much for sharing such a touching story from your past. As some have said on this thread, "this is what fishin's all about." And it really is.

When I fish, I think of how my Daddy still affects me today. He's been gone 32 years and 20 days now, but he gave me the love of the outdoors that will forever be ingrained in my heart and soul.

Yes, and Mother did the same. Before she died in 2000, she gave me a stainless steel thermos. Every time I drink from it on an early morning trip, I think of her and all that she was and all that she still is to me.

We are blessed to be able to share our love of fishin' with others. When we do so with the younger set, we are building memories that will far outlast our physical presence in their lives.

Blessin's to you and yours! <><

aj

To one and all: "It's okay to say, 'Merry Christmas!' "

Your story touched me :) Thank you for sharing!

Tammy (CC24)

Great story. In a different way I have experienced the same type of treatment from fellow members here on this very board. Many times Ive been due for a vacation and gotten tremendous information from guys right here that made my trip. CEB has coached me up on alot of east arkansas holes (midway!) LA STUMPJUMPER got me familiar with some central spots like Merisach and other holes you dont hear about. GOOCH helped too. And Jerry and Daryl rented their RV to me at Greeson, gave us GPS waypoints and even let us use their minnows when we ran out. I have saved a mail box full of PM's that I dont want to lose in case I need them again. I'd always be glad to return the favor but the trouble is nobody really ever wants to come to Illinois to crappie fish when you have better waters where you are at.

thanks for sharing your story

Thanks for the comments. I like to sit down every now and then and write about my days on the water and share them. This is a great site for that. They are purely for your enjoyment and not met to offend anyone in anyway. Thax Crappiepro

You mean we're not supposed to throw rocks when asked for advice?? :)

Seriously that is a great story and I enjoyed reading it. I cherish the time I have on the water and love sharing it with those with the same passion.