Here’s something you don’t know - by Brad Wiegmann

I’m assuming you don’t know what I know. It’s a logical assumption as there are few actual outdoor media professionals. Writer’s camps produce a plethora of articles, videos, podcast shows and even TV shows that crappie anglers will read, listen to and watch to learn new techniques, get fishing tips, watch crappie anglers out on the water fishing and so much more.



Writer’s camps have been around a long, long time. Truth is before social media and the internet almost all written content and photography for magazines, newspapers or books were produced at these camps. Writer’s typically had an assignment from an editor or had sent a query in for a topic to write the article about. At a later date the content would be published in a magazine, newspaper or a book.


Then along came the internet. It would prove to be the demise of most written content from fishing magazines to outdoor sections in newspapers. While internet social media sites with angler friendly sites skyrocketed with followers outdoor press and even outdoor editors were losing their jobs. The changing media environment forced outdoor media professionals to change with the times or be without a job.


Many of the writers’s ended up as online editors or started writing content for websites. The reality is being a fulltime outdoor writer is more challenging today than in the past. Nevertheless there are still enough talented outdoor media professionals to keep the stories, photos and videos coming. Even videos are included in media and play a major role in educating young and old angler’s tips and tricks to catch more crappie.


One internet website is one you know well. Crappie.com started back in 1996 with the focus on crappie fishing. The forum platform allows for an exchange of information unprecedented back then and continues to be the leader today in member driven content. Editor Ed Moes gives most the credit and the success to the moderators that police that site keeping it family friendly and unwanted content out.

Over the years, I have attended numerous writers’ camps from upper Minnesota to Key West, Florida and everywhere in between. To attend the host of the camp contacts you with an invite to the camp. Some require an assignment from an editor or proof content will be produced in order to attend. Many camps were at exotic places to hot fishing lakes that resulted in great photos or content. Over the years, I have attended and even hosted writer camps some sponsored by PICO Lures and B’n’M Poles in Mississippi.



I have just returned from the On the Hook writer’s camp on Reelfoot Lake at Blue Bank Resort. It’s a legendary crappie fishing reservoir and destination for crappie anglers. It’s one of the resorts or lodging anglers dream about going to and staying while fishing. Blue Bank Resort owner Drew Hayes welcomed the media members, he and his staff were outstanding.


For this event most of the crappie pros were associated with Crappie Monster and the owner Jeremy Mattingly. It was an interesting camp as Mattingly also taped one of his On the Hook TV show at the same time. I’m still waiting for my cameo in the show. Everyday media would be assigned a different crappie pro to go out in the boat with and during the day would switch to get the with several crappie pros during the camp. At this camp each evening a presentation that promoted a camp sponsor would be highlighted.


Some of the content and photographs you will see in future articles for Crappie.com come from this writer’s camp. Truth is I actually met Moes the editor of Crappie.com at a Bobby Garland Lures writer’s camp on Grand Lake in Oklahoma. I remember visiting with him about writing a monthly article about crappie fishing and he agreed. That was over 100 articles ago and growing.