The 2018 Crappie.com JMMA award recipient is.....
Doug Wynn, aka "M R Dux".
https://www.crappie.com/crappie/atta...e-img_2714-jpg
I usually wait till I know the actual award has been delivered. But I thought I'd announce this now because of the fact he's currently in the hospital recovering from major back surgery. I thought some good news and good thoughts would aid in his recovery.
As many of you know, Doug has been a stand up guy, representing Crappie.com and the crappie fishing community, for a long long, time now. He represents all the values of the JMMA Award, and is very well deserved. The vote by our Super Moderators was unanimous (which it has to be btw). Here are a couple quotes from their own lips:
Doug is always helpful and sharing tips and info, through posts and videos. He answers tons of questions. He goes way above and beyond in helping others. ….G
Member Sponsor, Supporter, Sponsor of Ky Forum, big advocate for Asian Carp removal, crank bait pushing/pulling seminar host, host of the W. KY Shindigs, prize provider for my Spring Flings, and I hear he's a pretty good "guide" on the "twin lakes"....Pappy
Here's also a little write up from one of his biggest fans. This was supposed to be a brief write up, but if you know Rickie, you know it's not often brief! lol
It's a challenge to write about family without seeming biased. Most already know Doug (M R Dux) is my first cousin. But he's more than that. He's a friend, a mentor, and a wealth of knowledge ... and not just in crappie.
There are so many stories in his life - of early hunting and fishing years growing up, fishing with his Dad, his time in some bass tournaments, his ventures into sporting dogs, his winter years in snow covered corn fields guiding for waterfowl, and his decision to become a fishing guide and create Crappie Gills and More ...
I still remember well his quandary of trying to decide whether to give up the waterfowl guide business and venture into a fishing guide business. It wasn't an easy decision for him. The snow goose season was his "bread and butter" income - wrapped into just a few short winter months ...
I often wonder if he would still be chasing those "birds" ... except for the fact that his knees and back were becoming increasingly more and more difficult to deal with the 2:30am wake ups to get his waterfowl clients up and going, setting up thousands of decoys by pre-dawn truck headlight work ... and then put in grueling cold all day hunts of lying in a frozen corn field or pit blind. Then get a bite of supper, arrive at the motel for few short hours of sleep, and jump right back at it at 2:30am the nest day.
While being a fishing guide doesn't require 2:30am wake ups in out of state motels (and the rigors of decoys and frozen corn fields) - the dedication involved is still instilled in him.
To say Doug put in the time for his clients (past waterfowl clients and present fishing clients) would be a understatement.
I would guess that a large percentage of the clients Doug books are not focused on catching ... but those wanting to learn what's in his head that has allowed him to be such a successful guide (and mentor) thru the years.
But it's not just the "guide" in him that makes Doug special. He's always willing to share info with others ....whether on the water, thru his posts at Crappie.com, thru his op-eds in local publications, talking with folks at fishing camps, or simply jawing over coffee at his taxidermy studio ...
One would think that a guide would stay away from the water when not booked with clients ... but not Doug ...
I can't count the times he's called to say "let's go try this new idea", or "let's go try this new area" ...
Now I realize I'm lucky to be the cousin of such a mentor and wealth of knowledge ...
But I think the man just loves to fish - that's Doug.
As you can tell, Doug is very well respected, and one of our most upstanding members. Right now he's going through a rough time and he needs our prayers. Heal well and heal fast Doug, those Crappie are not gonna catch themselves.
Congrats Doug, and please PM me your mailing address so I can mail you your award! lol
One last thing, there will be another announcement coming out in the next day or two from me so stay tuned.
