Championship Round on Wilson Lake

For the past several days, the Ultimate Match Fishing Crew and I have been shooting the championship round on Wilson Lake in Florence Alabama. The fishing has been great, and the matches very exciting. I love this area and the people! Unfortunately, I have nearly lost my voice (probably due to the numbers of fish I have had to do commentary on). Guess I will have to rely on my co-host, Fish Fishburne, who is never at a loss for words...

Fish Fushburne and some of the UMF crew prepare for the days shoot

Scout II

After yesterday's blog, I had some requests for photos of my old 1972 Scout II. Well, it took some searching, but I found the one and only picture I ever had taken with that old truck.

I thought it was very appropriate that I had the hood up in the photo, as that is the way it was most of the time. If you look closely, you can probably see the puddle of oil underneath it from that leaky rear main seal. She wasn't real pretty, but neither were those short gym trunks I had on in the photo. Hey, they were stylish in the day, and still are if you are blond, female and under 17 years old...

That old Scout sure wasn't as flashy or trustworthy as that new Silverado I'm driving now, but it did teach me a thing or two about working on cars and provided me some lasting memories. Even if most of them were bad!

White Allen Chevrolet

Yesterday was a great day! It made me think back to the days of pulling my boat to tournaments with an old International Scout II.  I had to hold the wheel with both hands when I stopped because the brakes pulled so hard to the right. Every time I got a tank of gas, I had to pour in a quart of oil since the rear main seal leaked so bad and I didn't have the $300 to fix it!

The reason for my flashback to my late teens was the new 2012 Chevy Silverado 4X4 Truck I picked up from White Allen Chevrolet in Dayton, my new vehicle sponsor. Twenty-five years ago, I could never have dreamed of driving such a tow vehicle. Yeah, my job definitely has its perks these days.  I have sure logged a lot of miles since that old Scout II that I cussed so much in my early years, but looking back I probably wouldn't have changed a thing. It was part a of the growing up process...

Benefit for Hospice of San Angelo

Yesterday, I was in San Angelo, Texas to emcee the Suddenlink Open Bass Tournament benefiting San Angelo Hospice. Before the event, I had an opportunity to display my Outdoor Channel truck and boat at the Suddenlink facility while meeting fans who stopped by. The event went very well with some big bass being weighed in on O. H. Ivy Reservoir despite the windy cold conditions. In the end, over $16,000 was raised for Hospice of San Angelo!

Legend

The last couple of days, I had the opportunity to fish with tournament fishing legend and friend, Harold Allen, on his home lake of Toledo Bend, Texas. We caught it all on video for Stihls Reel in the Outdoors.

The fishing was very good, with many of the fish beginning to move up on spawning beds. I had a chance to really give my new Arkie Signature Swim Jig a workout, catching over twenty-five bass on it around the flooded shoreline grass.  The only thing better than the fishing was listening to Harold stories from his years on the tournament trail and Toledo Bend. Harold is a true icon of the sport and it was an honor to spend a couple days on the water with him!

Safari Club International

Last weekend, Outdoor Channel sent me to the Safari Club International (SCI) Show in Las Vegas to do an autograph signing in their booth each day. Wow! What a show!

I heard for years how incredible it was, and it definately was! I have never seen so many incredible mounts in on place in my life. After my booth time, I was able to walk the show and met with several outfitters with whom I will be shooting shows next year. All in all, a great experience!!!

Caribou

Last week, I picked up the pedestal mount of my Woodland Caribou from Hamrick's Wildlife Studios. He did a rush job, finishing it in only four weeks so I could have it in time for the Hart Production's Cincinnati Hunting and Fishing Show. Paul Hamrick did an outstanding job!

C