Thread: Merry X-Mas

To all my readers and clients and friends on this board. I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. My children are grown but I have a four-year old granddaughter that is all that and more. I look forward to Christmas just to see her reaction to everything. The things that come out of her mouth at this young age. I told her back in September when she turned four that I had a present for her and her comments were. ( It better be good Pa Pa ). As if she would even care.

The one thing about working in commercial construction you never know just how much work you will have. Feast or famen. This past spring the rain kept us from starting many undergrounds so my boss let me return to my other job. (guiding). We have a mutual work relationship and it works for both of us. I guided 47 days in a row in April and May and that just transferred into the busiest year I have had in many. I ended up doing 131 trips and could have done about 150 to 175 easy. When I am on the water that much you would think I burn up my spots and I would falter in tourneys. Not for me I really get connected with the weather and lake levels and patterns and really get into what the fish are doing. It helps that I have many locals who talk with me every day and I always know what is being caught and where. Going back a couple of years since I don't fish many tourneys I have won three in a row. Crappiemasters, Crappie U.S.A. qualifiers and Springfield Fall Open. All these tourneys I contribute to being on the water all the time. You can't read about fishing, watch TV about fishing and beat just plain ol time on the water. This is your classroom and I get to go to school a bunch. I fish close to 150 days a year or more and have done so for twenty some odd years. I have worn out many boats, trucks and equipment. Fishing is an expensive business. Hopefully I will be in my fourth new Ranger this coming year as I am negotiating a deal right now. Z-521.

I will be at the Bloomington fishing show in January 29-31st. Just go to there website at Illinois Fish & Feather Expo and ask Larry when I will be speaking and come on out to the show and stop by my booth. I will be booking 2010 guide trips and selling my DVD's and the deep water jigs I use to probe the ledges on both Shelbyville and Kentucky Lake. Let me open your eyes to using larger, heavier jigs to purposely run into structure and get the jig in their face to force feed them. I will have both quarter ounce painted jigs and quarter ounce tensile jigs. These are killer on the ledges at Paris Landing.

Just come on out to exchange fishing stories as I love to meet all the guys from Crappie.Com. I am always open to learning more. I am an electronics nut and look forward to another year of improvements. Downscan looks very entriguiing to me and I can't wait to get it in my boat.

I am off to Pennyslvania on Monday to trim our latest Hotel. Two HVAC systems (Hallways) and 124 toilets, 124 lav sinks and 124 bath sinks, 124 exhaust fans. All need to be done by January 15th. Myself and two others so we will be swamped. Ahh the life of a commercial construction worker, travel and living in Hotels. Then home for a week and then back at it again.

Like I said Merry Christmas and hope everyone gets that new fishing pole under the tree......

Don,t think the boat will fit in your sock [LOL] but lots of luck with the trade

Thanks for the good wishes ---hope your family has a great XMAS

Merry Christmas and I hope you a good New Year Steve . See you on the water .
See ya Kevin ><)))*>

Merry Christmas Steve and I will see you at the Bloomington show.

Merry Christmas Steve- and all the rest of you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all on Crappie.com
Wear your vests or life jackets, I enjoy reading all of your posts and look forward to doing so in the new year.
Floater

Merry Christman to you as well! Look forward to seeing the new ride!

P.S. You did forget one tournament you did loose to the team of Brandenburg and Brandenburg two years ago on Shelbyville.

Merry Xmas, good luck with the new Ranger and listen closely to the granddaughter, she might teach ya some new words you might otherwise have never known.

Well barnicles...ima tryin to delete the last part of my post since it may sound to some people like im trying to pick a fight or something, which are NOT my intentions at all though! Everyone just close your eyes and forget there is anything after "look forward to seeing the new ride" ......k thats all! Merrrrrrrrrrrrryyyy christmas. ho ho ho ho hoooooooo

Originally Posted by birdman

Merry Christman to you as well! Look forward to seeing the new ride!

P.S. You did forget one tournament you did loose to the team of Brandenburg and Brandenburg two years ago on Shelbyville.

Tyler, It had to be three years ago but yes you and your dad beat me. I fished alone though but it is all good. I have had tourneys that I just didn't find them at all. That is tourney fishing win some loose some. You at your young age will win more than your share so just keep entering.

You got me thinking though so I counted back as far as I could remember and this goes way back to the early 80's. I have 21 wins from the old days of the Tolono Club to the Springfield Opens, Decatur Opens, Bethany Opens, Alladin Electric Opens, Crappie U.S.A. qualifiers, Crappiemasters qualifiers Crappie U.S.A. regional. That is just the wins not the top fives.

Like I said it is all good and you will beat me again sometime. Just not to soon if I can help it. I maybe getting old but this isn't a track race.