Collins quit for kids

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Albert Collins visits with staff giving the Classic qualifiers goodies after their registration and angler meeting on Tuesday.
Albert Collins visits with staff giving the Classic qualifiers goodies after their registration and angler meeting on Tuesday.
This is the second Classic for Collins, who also fished the 2013 event on Grand Lake.
This is the second Classic for Collins, who also fished the 2013 event on Grand Lake.
Collins won the 2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to earn his berth to the 2016 Classic.
Collins won the 2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to earn his berth to the 2016 Classic.
Just missing the BNC title the year before on the same body of water taught Collins he needed an aluminum boat to get into the winning backwater area.
Just missing the BNC title the year before on the same body of water taught Collins he needed an aluminum boat to get into the winning backwater area.
Collins qualified for the 2013 Classic on Grand Lake by winning the 2012 Weekend Series title in what started an incredible run.
Collins qualified for the 2013 Classic on Grand Lake by winning the 2012 Weekend Series title in what started an incredible run.
During the 2013 Classic on Grand, Collins was confident he had found the potential winning fish but the cold front scattered them.
During the 2013 Classic on Grand, Collins was confident he had found the potential winning fish but the cold front scattered them.
Collins came in disappointed and finished 48th.
Collins came in disappointed and finished 48th.
Traffic rolls by Collin’s home in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Traffic rolls by Collin’s home in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Collins and his wife live on a small ranch just outside of town.
Collins and his wife live on a small ranch just outside of town.
They have a coop full of chickens.
They have a coop full of chickens.
And there is tons of equipment out back.
And there is tons of equipment out back.
Of course there’s a couple of hounds in a pen and several loose.
Of course there’s a couple of hounds in a pen and several loose.
He has several bass fishing boats.
He has several bass fishing boats.
Plus a couple of other boats. too.
Plus a couple of other boats. too.
A fish attracting structure sits on a trailer ready to be sunk.
A fish attracting structure sits on a trailer ready to be sunk.
There are all types of extra boat parts, like batteries and props.
There are all types of extra boat parts, like batteries and props.
As well as tackle. There’s some that’s boxed up.
As well as tackle. There’s some that’s boxed up.
And some loose.
And some loose.
There’s seats and life jackets.
There’s seats and life jackets.
Collins backs his main tournament boat under a carport.
Collins backs his main tournament boat under a carport.
He had been out practicing for an event on Sam Rayburn.
He had been out practicing for an event on Sam Rayburn.
The main sponsor on his wrap is 6th Sense Lure Co. The owner is a friend who’s make lures like this.
The main sponsor on his wrap is 6th Sense Lure Co. The owner is a friend who’s make lures like this.
and this.
and this.
Collins has an entire room for his bass fishing passion.
Collins has an entire room for his bass fishing passion.
About 9 years ago, Collins returned to the tournament scene after a self-imposed hiatus.
About 9 years ago, Collins returned to the tournament scene after a self-imposed hiatus.
He quit fishing cold turkey after he got custody of his two girls. He decided to devote his time to them.
He quit fishing cold turkey after he got custody of his two girls. He decided to devote his time to them.
One would say he had his priorities straight.
One would say he had his priorities straight.
Now to check out the ranch.
Now to check out the ranch.
Down in the back is the small herd of cattle. Once they see Collins, they know it’s feeding time and head up toward the hay.
Down in the back is the small herd of cattle. Once they see Collins, they know it’s feeding time and head up toward the hay.
Collins said a company comes and places bee houses along the edge of his property in winter and take them up north in summer.
Collins said a company comes and places bee houses along the edge of his property in winter and take them up north in summer.
He fires up the Kubota to move a huge round hay bale.
He fires up the Kubota to move a huge round hay bale.
He backs the spike in the bale and off he goes.
He backs the spike in the bale and off he goes.
The cattle stop in their tracks as an unknown visitor points something odd at them.
The cattle stop in their tracks as an unknown visitor points something odd at them.
After that’s gone, they follow Collins out to the feeding field.
After that’s gone, they follow Collins out to the feeding field.
Several are still weary of the visitor.
Several are still weary of the visitor.
Collins finally coaxes them all over to an area where he dropped the bale.
Collins finally coaxes them all over to an area where he dropped the bale.
But these cattle are still leery of the oddity in their environs.
But these cattle are still leery of the oddity in their environs.
Collins watches for a moment, showing he’s both comfortable getting inside a mess of cattle or a mess of bass.
Collins watches for a moment, showing he’s both comfortable getting inside a mess of cattle or a mess of bass.
He then moves the bale out to where they normally feed, under a big Texas sky.
He then moves the bale out to where they normally feed, under a big Texas sky.