Excuse me for missing last week’s Daily Limit – my father passed away.
John Henry Suchan left this world early on Oct. 5, less than an hour after I visited him in the hospital. I was the last of his seven children to say goodbye. The others said he waited for me before he let go.
He had a great 86-year run, and I’m thankful I got to tell him so and that I loved him.
Dad was a structural engineer who helped send men to the moon with his work on the Saturn V rocket, then he helped defend our country building aircraft like the F-15 and A-12 stealth bomber. (Dad and his co-workers nicknamed it “The Dorito.”)
But he was also about family, buying a lakehouse in retirement and inviting his children, 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren out to boat and fish. Every year in my youth he took us for a float trip on the Current River. We’d often spend vacations camping or on a houseboat on Table Rock Lake.
As funerals go, it was pretty nice. Family, friends, co-workers came from far and wide. Yogi Berra’s line — “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours” – came up. We Suchans tend to use humor even in the most trying times.
Things were fine until I was viewing him and noticed the spray of flowers near the head of his casket was sent by the JM Family. It was touching and really choked me up.
I appreciate being a part of this B.A.S.S. family. There are a lot of similarities between Dad and Jerry McKinnis — work ethic, dedication to family. They’re both prime examples of why theirs is called the “Greatest Generation.”
They’re always there for their family. And Dad will be with me always.
Tackle talk with Martens
It’s Aaron Martens week here at Bassmaster.com. The Toyota Angler of the Year will be featured for a Bassmaster LIVE on Lake Guntersville this Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT.
Steve Wright has stories leading up to that event (see Mental coaches) and here’s some of Martens’ thoughts about the never-ending process of prepping tackle.
“You always try to improve,” he said. “My tackle has to be improved on a lot. I’ve never had my tackle done. I don’t think any pro angler is ever done with their tackle. There’s just too much. There’s always ways of perfecting the organization. Hopefully this year I can perfect it and be done with it.”
How much time do you work on it in the off-season?
“It’s full time. It’s literally full time getting ready for next season. I don’t use it all but if I need it, it’s ready. There’s stuff I don’t use for a couple seasons, then there’s stuff I use a bunch. If after five years I don’t use it, I don’t bring it. It’s weird.”
Martens admits he always brings too much. He said he hopes to assess the 2016 Elite schedule and cut it down by about a third.
“It depends where you go, what time of the year,” he said. “Lakes change, it all changes. Every season is different. Different things happen. It’s hard to get Angler of the Year. It’s really hard. I’m going to work on it; that’s the goal every year.”
Watch out, Martens could be on the verge of making a run like KVD’s.
Hite respects high water
The extended family of Davy Hite is still marveling that Clara Gantt, Hite’s aunt, survived South Carolina’s floods by hanging onto a cross for five hours.
Hite had to make his own quick escape from rising waters, but the pro angler showed his respect to water when he built a river cabin a mile down from the Lake Greenwood dam.
“My river place, it’s in a place that can certainly flood,” Hite said. “The 100-year high water mark, I built 8 foot above that. I put it on poles.”
With floodgates open, the water rose fast and forced Hite, his wife and son, to make a quick move over a dam or risk being stranded. The land was inundated but he moved his Tacoma to a high spot where the water only got a foot deep, and his cabin’s floor was 8 feet clear.
South Carolina is finally starting to dry out after Hurricane Joaquin sent more than 20 inches of rain in some places. Hite said it’s crazy because the year had been abnormally dry as systems crossing the U.S. seemed to skirt north.
“I keep telling Kevin VanDam, we need rain, we need rain,” Hite said, with KVD assuring him it’s coming. “I said no, it never rains.”
VanDam called Hite soon after the torrent to check on him, and Hite told him he was affected but only suffered minimal damage.
“I’m not going to tell you this time the rain missed us,” he said. “It didn’t go north of us this time.”
Schultz knows some stuff
Elite angler Bernie Schultz knows some stuff and has the writing chops to impart great, thought-provoking information. He writes a column here on Bassmaster.com and has come up with a couple dandies of late.
First, Schultz tackled the no-snag rules that hurt anglers in Elite events this year. It quite possibly could have cost a Classic bid or two. That look at the antiquated rules designed for fish other than black bass also elicited a great number of comments.
Schultz also wrote an interesting piece on auctions for vintage fishing collectibles titled Going … going … gone! Most people in the business enjoy looking at fishing antiques, and some have even amassed impressive collections, Schultz included.
It’s amazing though that some of those collectors don’t even fish, he writes. They just appreciate the tools of the trade.
Back in B.A.S.S.
The 2006 Bassmaster Classic champion is returning to B.A.S.S. After qualifying through the Bass Pro Shops Central Open circiut, Luke Clausen will fish the Elite Series in 2016.
Because of a lucrative sponsorship deal, Clausen spent the past decade fishing FLW events. He said it was time to make the switch but wished he’d qualified for the Elites sooner.
Former FLW anglers Jacob Powroznik and Brent Erhler both won ROY after jumping over to B.A.S.S. It might just happen again, but it’s going to be even weirder, having a Classic champion vying for the Elite Rookie of the Year title.
Culling
- Former Elite angler Clark Reehm came upon an interesting situation last week (right). He called it cannibal bass as the two fish were locked up and foundering near the surface. It’s definitely a case of his eyes were bigger than its mouth. Reehm separated them and the eater swam off.
- This story on ideal fishing footwear got some interesting comments from anglers reporting issues they’ve had from improper shoes. Seems folks wearing sandals have had some incidents resulting in injury, while others fear open-toed shoes invite disaster when there are rods and sharp hooks laying on the deck. What’s on your feet?
- The final Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open is being held this week on Lake Seminole out of Bainbridge, Ga. It’s a great lake, just a bad time, said Randall Tharp, adding that October might present the most difficult fishing there. But Tharp is among those hoping to win and nab the final Opens berth to the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic. Stay tuned and see who gets in Saturday.
- Practice for the Open on Lake Seminole has shown some interesting catches, from several big bass to this critter. Paul Gettys reeled in the gator below – nothing we haven’t seen before, with Randy Howell coming to mind. Gettys probably just wanted that frog back. Question is if he got it out of that mouth. Long-nose pliers seem a must for that task.
