Page 3 - Crappie NOW - May 2018

Opening Cast

Studying tournament fishermen
has complicated my life.
May 2018 EDITOR/ SR. WRITER I remember a simpler time when
I knew what to take fishing. A trip
consisted of grabbing my Zebco 33
IN MEMORIAM and tin can full of redworms, maybe
a bucket of minnows, and a bag of
Mann’s Jelly Worms. I would throw
WRITERS stuff on my bicycle and head to the nearest pond. All
Darl Black species were fair game.
Vic Attardo In my mid-teens, a 1954 Ford extended my
Ron Presley range to rivers and borrow ditches. Trips were still
Vernon Summerlin simple and fun.
John Phillips Things didn’t change much in vo-tech school,
Greg McCain college and biomed school. Limited time and money
John Felsher kept my fishing arsenal small but I moved up to better

rod and reel combos and more baits. Graduation
and a regular job led to a johnboat, but I kept fishing
simple.
Today things are complicated. I agonize over
what to take fishing. I need a Gore-Tex rain suit,
waterproof boots and water sandals, a pair of
polarized sunglasses, sunscreens and buff to protect
old skin from the sun, insulated coat and bibs, cell
phone, credit card for when my cell phone falls into
the lake, scent-killing hand towels, cool looking logo
shirts, digital camera, Side Imaging, mapping chips,
drag chain…all things I didn’t have when fishing was
simple.
I have 80 fishing poles. That’s three times more
than I need and ten fewer than I want. I must decide

© Copyright 2018 which ones to take; jigging poles, casting rods, pullin’
rods, slow trolling 16-footers or the 12-footers, etc.
Baits are difficult, too. A bucket of minnows and
four colors of jigs is all that’s needed to catch crappie,
but having eight shades of greens, blues, reds, etc.
is very important “just in case”. Also, I need different
styles of bodies including tube, shad, stinger, paddle-
tail, curlytail, mini, maxi, etc. and four weights of
jigheads in four colors each. So now I have to choose
Cover Photo: from over 3000 possible combinations when I tie on
Driftmaster owner David a jig.
Baynard with an Alabama River Nuf said…I miss the simpler life when I knew
Crappie Clubs....43 crappie. Tim Huffman photo. what to take fishing.

Tim Huffman
Editor/Sr. Writer

3 Crappie NOW May 2018