Over my 35 years of competing in B.A.S.S. tournaments, I’ve logged a lot of highway miles … hundreds of thousands, in fact. And through those travels, I’ve met some remarkable people — individuals who influenced my life and career.
Among them were other competitors, fans of the sport, people in the media and a slew of industry contacts. But perhaps the most important were some of the families I became acquainted with — people who opened their doors and welcomed me into their homes.
Some were brief encounters. Others developed into lifelong friendships. And those are the ones I would like to share with you now.
Florida natives
Among the first were Steve and Mary Porter of Okeechobee, Fla. They took me in early on and have followed me ever since.
I first encountered Steve back in the early 1980s, through the Red Man Tournament Trail. He was bigger than life and a dominant force on Lake Okeechobee. I remember him winning many of the tournaments I entered — at least it seemed that way.
He reminded me of the “Marlboro Man” — the chiseled cowboy used by advertisers to promote Marlboro cigarettes back in the day. Steve had the same rugged good looks, and he drove a big, black Ford 4-wheel drive truck with chrome rims and dark, tinted windows. Behind it he towed a matching 20-foot Storm bass boat with a Mercury Black Max on the back.
He was the epitome of cool.
Although I ran into Steve a lot in Florida events, it wasn’t until we reached the finals of the Red Man All American in Kentucky that we finally met. We had both qualified for the final in our division, and I narrowly beat him for the win. When the weigh-in concluded, he came out of his way to congratulate me. That’s when I also met his wife, Mary, who has to be the kindest woman on earth.
Since that time, we have become close friends, and I value their friendship. I learned a great deal from Steve, who some of you will recognize as the true innovator of the “Okeechobee Big-Bladed Spinnerbait.”
Carolina cousins
About this same time, I was competing in the Hydra Sports series — a nationwide team trail for boat owners. Shaw Grigsby was my partner, and we had a lot of success together back then.
One day, while prepping for an event in North Carolina, a mutual friend named Tommy Chapman introduced us to Joe Mullis and Ken Barnett — two local aces on Lake Wylie. We hit it off immediately.
After that initial meeting, Joe and Ken taught us how to jig spoons for bass holding on deep structure — a technique totally foreign to a pair of Florida boys who thought 10 feet of water was “deep.”
As the years passed, Joe met and married his soulmate, Cindy, and they had two sons together. We stayed in touch. In fact, I got to pre-fish with Joe during the Classic on Lake Wylie in 2004 — the one Takahiro Omori won.
Joe and Cindy are quality people … salt of the earth. And I’m proud to call them my friends.
Virginia’s for lovers
Not long after meeting Joe, I qualified for my first Bassmaster Classic — on the James River in Richmond, Va.
While practicing for the event, I noticed a boat with a couple behind me, observing as I fished. After what seemed an eternity, the man finally asked, “So which one of those big time bass pros are you?”
I broke down immediately and began to laugh. They were laughing as well. I told him my name and where I was from and he said, “You’re mighty sporty with that spinning rod.”
Again I laughed, wondering where the exchange would lead next.
Minutes later, we were boatside, shaking hands and exchanging phone numbers.
His name is Wade Rook, and I soon learned he was close friends with Woo Daves — the B.A.S.S. pro who put the James River on the map and won the 2000 Classic on Lake Michigan. Before the conversation was over, his wife Laura invited me to their home for dinner, and I accepted.
This was back in 1989, before either of us had children. Not long after, however, each of our families had two sons. And I’ve watched as Caleb and Bryce Rook grew into men over the past 20 years.
The Rook family are among my closest friends, and I’m so thankful they took the time to meet a young pro from Florida, and watched as I competed in my first Bassmaster Classic.
A cajun connection
More recently, I met a special couple from Louisiana named John and Kelly Girouard. They welcomed me and fellow Florida pro, Cliff Prince, into their home during two separate Toledo Bend Elite events.
John is a retired Marine helicopter pilot, now doing real estate and construction. His wife Kelly is the owner/broker of their company — Toledo Bend Lakeside Realty.
The two of them wrote the book on hospitality.
Any time the tour heads to Texas, I know I’m welcome in their home. That’s a special feeling. But I have to tell you, it’s tough staying with a couple who know so much about the lake. We want to talk about fishing, but B.A.S.S. rules prevent it. So, instead, we discuss food, family and politics — all topics we’re in complete agreement on.
Loving New York
During one of the Elite events on Lake Oneida in New York, I met a couple whom I felt I’d known my whole life. They are Dick and Dawn Ottman — mutual friends of former Elite Series pro Peter Thliveros.
Dick is a former security guard for the Entergy Nuclear Plant on Lake Ontario, and Dawn was a systems analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield. Now retired, the pair have a second home near ours in Florida, and we try to get together even when there are no B.A.S.S. events on Oneida.
Although I’d like to consider myself special, the truth is, they open their home to a number of touring pros — including Peter T., Mark Menendez, Tim Frederick and others. Their interest in fishing began when their young son Dave (now grown) wanted to compete in B.A.S.S. tournaments.
A few years back, I nicknamed Dawn “Tour Mom” because she looks after her boys on tour like a mother hen, and we all love her for it.
Family ties
These are just some of the people I’ve met and befriended throughout my career. There are many others, and I value all of them.
When I first began this trek more than 35 years ago, my main objective was to win tournaments. And I won a few. But now that so much time has passed, I realize it’s not the tournaments, but the friends I’ve won that made this journey so worthwhile.
Thanks to all who made me a part of their lives. I am forever grateful.