What it means to be a Pro

[PawPaw Gene]

A great example for others to follow.
"gene"

[wicklundrh]

Most that know me know myself and a bud or 2 have very similar thoughts on this subject . I won't ever be a pro though as it's not in me to be competitive . I typically don't worry about who ketched the most or the biggest , but to be Sure I take lots of time to help anyone that thinks I can help them and give a terribly large number of tips and baits away .
There isn't a lot of things out there that can come close to seeing some little one ketch a first fish or a big fish and there are then the parents that typically smile just as big and seem just as grateful.
Nice read and kudos for not being like some of the "pro" types I have met in the past .

Ketchn,

Your writings and reports on Crappie dot Com are definately indicative of the type of person you are! I have no doubt that you have given away more tips, hot spots, and hot bait choices than we will ever know. We as sportsmen have a great opportunity every time we hit the water!

[wicklundrh]

I didn't add something that has now come to mind, and would like you all to consider. We have spoken of putting an advantage in someones hand, be it a jig, body. or just a few words of encouragement or a way to improve their presentation. I wasn't double digit in age and met a man when fishing with my brother one day. I had never caught a Bass, and this man seemed to be getting all he wanted. He was using a plastic worm, of all things. Made by a company called Creme and it looked just like a nightcrawler. Well I have to tell you I was enthralled that he could take a piece of plastic and catch fish like no tomorrow. Before we parted, he gave me one of these magic worms, and I believe that I never put it on a line because I fooled with it so much that I wound up breaking it into pieces. My point is that 50 years down the road, I can see that happening fresh in my mind.

Fast forward these many years and I have learned to tie jigs, pour jigheads with sickle hooks, paint crankbaits, and catch fish on a regular basis. At a ramp or on the water, folks ask questions or look at my rods to see what I'm using. Folks look at a hand tied jig and are amazed that someone that they can talk to and ask questions has made this wonderful thing. I learned this early on after tying my first jig, and they have become a kind of currency among fishermen and women. I couldn't guess how many I have tied. I have carried a box of these for years. It's a great thing to open a box of them and push it across the front deck in a parking lot and tell them to pick a couple. No matter who they are, a bridge was just crossed and you're now a friend. These small things do so much for the receiver, kind of like giving fish to a neighbor who isn't able to go anymore for one reason or another. I'm no shining example, but hit the mark now and then. Starting up that conversation might just make you a pleasant memory 50 years from now.

"Starting up that conversation might just make you a pleasant memory 50 years from now"

I could not have said it better myself. I am glad that I am not the only one out there doing this type of stuff.

We wear Crappie.com hats, T-shirts, and adorn our boats with stickers. We have the opportunity to be ambassadors of our sport and represent fishermen and women in a whole different light. There are countless threads about the stupid things people do on the water. Maybe, just maybe, with the way some of us do business, we might effect the masses and change things back to the respect we all learned!

[micorps]

I appreciate what you did. You did the right thing not just for your sponsors but more importantly the good of the sport, when i am fishing alone, and see someone bank/dock fishing, i always ask if they want to come out with me, 95% of the time they say no. Not a problem. I have had some take me up on it and we have a blast. In mn, a child caught his first walleye from my boat. I dont know who was prouder, his dad or me. I always keep 5-6 crappie in my livewell coming back into shore also which is when i see the most shore fisherman, always ask them if they want to bring fish home and will give them 5 nice ones if they do. Otherwise i will turn them lose when i have four bags of fish in the freezer. Im no pro but can catch fish, i still have a couple phone numbers in my phone of these folks and will send them a text a day or two in advance when i know if im fishing alone that i met at the landing. Great people and seeing the excitement on their fish is why i do it. Tomorrow will be bringing one of the new members out for half a day also to get a lesson on tight lining. I like reading stories like this. Thank you tim.

[short grub]

great post and a class act you are sir

I just two weeks ago made my postman's son a box full of plastics (20 different colors ) and painted him 10 different size and color cranks the boy is 8 years old, of course dad wanted to pay me and I said no, I said my payment would be picture's of fish with smiles on the faces of his kids.

yesterday he came back from his week long family vacation with some of the best pictures I have ever seen, being single and with no kids or grandkids it does my 58 year old heart good to see kids having fun catching fish

Thank you all for everything you do, be it here on CDC or in the world around you, kindness to children is a fleeting thing in this day and age

[Cane Pole]

Hope you fellers remember me when Ima too old to cut the mustard. Getting there fast too, wherever there is.

PS

I like crappie cakes.

[Gansett]

Great post. About nine or ten years ago a major crappie tournament came to my home town in Alabama. I became quite involved in it and got to know several pros quite well. I'll never forget a conversation when one of them started talking about walleye fishermen from "up north." He said that he hoped those guys never came down here and entered crappie tournaments, because they'd win every one of them. He said the techniques used to catch walleye fit perfectly for crappie and they've been doing it a long time. It's just something that stuck in my head. Heck, except for pictures, I've never seen a walleye.

[micorps]

Great post. About nine or ten years ago a major crappie tournament came to my home town in Alabama. I became quite involved in it and got to know several pros quite well. I'll never forget a conversation when one of them started talking about walleye fishermen from "up north." He said that he hoped those guys never came down here and entered crappie tournaments, because they'd win every one of them. He said the techniques used to catch walleye fit perfectly for crappie and they've been doing it a long time. It's just something that stuck in my head. Heck, except for pictures, I've never seen a walleye.

I was never a pro walleye guy but picked it up quick, some of my crappie setups are the same for walleye, including my go to setup except I tightline the setup not slow troll. Walleyes are interesting and challenging creatures. Most challenging part of crappie I find is learning the lake and finding the structure, but they don't have walleye here in South Carolina lol

[HOODLUM]

Awesome read Wicklundrh!
Your work ethic and attitude is like no Pro or Guide I know around here... (there is quite a few! 2 are related!)
I'm no pro angler but like to share in the wealth, when I have extra cranks or softies with me...Feels good to make someones day

[crappiewisdom]

Hope you fellers remember me when Ima too old to cut the mustard. Getting there fast too, wherever there is.

PS

I like crappie cakes.

These days, I cut the cheese more than I cut the mustard.....