Pete,

I agree that Crappie.com is a super mentor to all of us. Thanks to everybody who took the time to share their stories. This has been a super thread and I am sure will encourage not only some of my students, but each other. Those of you who can, please send them a token of encouragement as a way of saying to them that we appreciate the effort they put into their academics and into life altering positive decisions.


We still encourage others who want to post their stories on this thread. The more I read YOUR stories the more I am proud of those whose shoulders WE ALL stand upon.

Thank you.

old ship

__________________
"OLD SHIP"
www.fishin4crappie.com

My grandfather (aka: Poppy) was my mentor. He taught me how to rig a pole, bait a hook and where to look to catch different kinds of fish at the lake. I inherited a love of the outdoors from him that I intend to pass on.

Now that I'm a new grandpa (a new generation "Poppy") I've already got a rod, reel and tacklebox picked out for my new grandson. I'm hoping I can influence the little guy the same way my Poppy influenced me

Shipahoy41, what year and month is the magazine with Steve Mac on the front cover? Did you do good when you fished with him? He catches alot of fish usually.

Thanks,
Bingo

I NEVER have fished with Steve MacCadams. I stated that I would really like to fish with him. Yes, Steve and I do email each other and he has shared tips and secrets with me and I with him. The magazine cover on my website is an autographed picture he mailed to me to also encourage me. We all need mentoring and Steve will take the time to help others and answer their Crappie questions.

I promise you that if I can EVER get to Paris Tennessee I'll ask to go fishing with Steve.

Thanks


old ship

__________________
"OLD SHIP"
www.fishin4crappie.com

We are truly blessed to have had so many individuals view this thread and to share their stories. I personally want to encourage each of you who will read this thread to continue sharing your stories with others and to mentor someone in fishing and in life. That is our future.

I want to share again two of my favorite rig setups that definitely work. My modified Carolina jig rig is effective deep or shallow water. If you start it deep let's say 10 feet, the lures are 7 feet from the surface. As you bring it in to let's say 6 feet, the lures are 3 feet from the suruface. The tiny "water noodle" floats are tiny and lightweight but they realy help undulate and pulsate the squirrel and marabou feathers in the jig.









Thanks everybody. Please continue to post who mentored you and who you ARE MENTORING in this sport we love called fishing.

old ship

__________________
"OLD SHIP"
www.fishin4crappie.com

You guys (and the Outdoor Channel) have been my mentor. Dad was a state park inspector... who didn't fish! When I was about 5, a park superentendent baited a hook for me and I cast into a stream (Don't remember where)... hooked a big trout that flipped off just before I could grab it. 55yrs later, I am still trying to catch that fish!

After being born, I went back home with my parents to Houston, TX... where my father worked hard during the week but enjoyed fishing on the weekends. So we'd make the haul (about 30 miles) to Galveston hop the ferry over to Galveston Bay and crab fish. Well I was really young so I was on the shore line crawling after hermit crabs and collecting them in a pencil box.
But he gave me the love for fishing, that followed us when we moved to Anniston, AL. Where we fished some golf course ponds and lakes and the dam. Hauled in many largemouth, crappie and bluegill. Watched my father catch massive flatheads from the dam.
Then into Iowa where he taught me about walleye and stripers.
I had been going fishing with him since I was in a car seat... and as I got older he always had patience with me, and never yelled at me for messing up my line or asking him to bait my hook. He taught me how to tie all the essential knots, and fillet fish and everything in between. But the most important part of it all was the lessons in leaving the property I fished at how I found it.
He lives in San Diego now, and we don't see each other but a few times every few years... but he still fishes.
I'd give back some of the biggest fish i've ever caught to have him closer so we could fish all the time, but i'll always remember the time we spent together. He and I are very close and I email him pictures of my catches and now what his grandson catches, and he enjoys them. I think i've become a lot better of a fisherman then he was, but to me he'll always be the man in this regard.

We're planning a trip to Cali this summer and he's booked us on a 2 day deep sea trip... 40 miles out. Hope to catch a huge fish and show him I still remmeber what he taught me.

Crappieangler,

Sounds like you had a great dad.

old ship

__________________
"OLD SHIP"
www.fishin4crappie.com