3yrs, 6mths, 29 days...

I thought about you again today as I often do when I find myself alone on the water. You were the one man I can literally blame for my addiction.

You bought me my first fishin pole. I remember this because there are pictures to prove it. How else would a man 34 years of age remember their first birthday.

In reflection it seems as if the years between then and now flew by in an instant. What I wouldn't give for one more day in a flat bottom scuttling through the cypress trees tight lining a red shiner.

So many stories, so many memories, so many little lessons that you taught me that helped lead me to where I am today. It never seems to fail when I find myself in Hick's Pocket it all comes rushing back and nearly takes my breath away.

I remember those early days when we would come in early to a pile of Nutter Butters and big bowl of vanilla ice cream served up from a gallon bucket that would later be used to freeze filets. Those ziplocks just wouldn't quite cut it. Still don't to be honest.

As a young man I had no patience whatsoever but you had more than enough for both of us. I remember fishing through a run of tops or down a row of button willows without a bight only to turn around an hour later and make that same run and load the boat. Your patience and instinct rubbed off on me no a doubt. Its shown on more than one occasion since you left.

It seems like just yesterday Bo called me on my way home from a day of pre-fishing for an event the following weekend on Red River and gave me the news. "He's GONE" he said. It was something that I had thought was impossible, but you slipped away sometime in the night lounging in that favorite chair of yours.

So much has happened since tha day that I would give anything for you to have been a part of. I have been truly blessed but there is still an emptiness when I think of what you would have said.

On July 8, 2008 stating through the glass of the nursery scared to death I wondered what would her nickname have been. Naturally keeping the Pharr tradition she soon acquired one. Little Halo sure would have loved her papaw.

On October 23, 2010 as I hoisted that trophy up on that stage in front of a rain soaked crowd there were many voices cheering but one was missing. Or was it?

On that last run in with 20 minutes to go I swear I heard you say "Stop here, be patient!". With the last cast call on the tip of my tongue I heard it again, "Just a little longer!". The rest is history.


I miss you and think about you quite often. Nobody would know it because I keep my feelings to my self as you always did. I often honk the horn on the medic unit as I pass your graveside on the way back to the station from another trip to LSU.

I hate to keep rambling on but I just had to tell ya whats been on my mind. Afterall we have to save a few things to talk about when we meet again. God knows these next 34 will be gone before you know it.

Well so long till then Papaw, but could you do me a favor between now and then? Stock that freezer up cuz we gonna have one heck of a fish fry when I get there. I'll bring the hushpuppies and cheddar peppers.


Mike posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What a way to start a season... Live and Learn...

It's been a long two and a half weeks. The tournament results weren't quite what I had planned but after a practice with only 1 keeper and one short fish, I feel certainly blessed to have been able to put a little sumpin sumpin together. Even if only to prevent me from acquiring the dreaded "Double Goose", I am proud of the fact I caught 2 more keepers that I had in 6 whole days of practice given the conditions.

You know it's funny how this sport works in that even in a situation with conditions as brutal as we had there is always a silver lining. If your optimistic even with a royal butt whippin' you can learn. In most cases it's "what not to do next time" but when we have this mentality there is something we often overlook.

In almost every case wether we see it or not you can take several days worth of horrible fishing and in hind site figure what you should or could have done differently. For me personally, 9 out of 10 times my gut told me what to do and I always have a plethora of excuses as to why I didn't act on instinct.

In my opinion it's like many critical situations we encounter in life. Our hunch's speak loud and clear but our minds being the control freaks they are by design say no. If it doesn't make since in our minds we are far less likely to take a risk.

It's time I put my foot down. If I am going to make it anywhere in this sport I have to be willing to risk more. If I get that hunch about a technique or pattern that should work I will at the very least try it. I'm only selling myself short in most cases if i don't.

Well I think its time to turn in. My little princess will be up and at em before you know it and I have SOOO much to catch up on tomorrow after being gone for two weeks.

Nite y'all...



Mike posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lake Lewisville Open Day 2

Ok this starting off exactly like the Lake Texoma Open. Well minus 70 degrees ad two layers of clothing.

I slept in, slowly drug my butt out to figure out how to fit 6 toats worth of tackle and gear into my boat and finish the day off with working out a few minor glitches or "bugs" on my rig so that I could concentrate on fishing and not worry about when I could take are of it later. Piece of mind in knowing everythings working properly can go a LONG way with our sport as for me about 90% of it is a mental game.

Well by the time it was all said and done it was dark. I took a lunch break and had to send the occasional email to make sure all my meetings were lined out fo Tuesday on my way through Shreveport To NO to the Classic Expo, but for the most part I was in deep concentration.

I had pretty much just thrown everything in the toats when I returned my buddies boat I used at Texoma (THANKS HOJO) but even though my house and personal organization skills are a mess I HAVE to be organized when I'm on the water. I have learned that when competitive fishing I have to have everything where I know where itis for two reasons. TIME & MONEY.

Time is money in a sense because I have to dig for something I can lose valuable fishing time . I can make a few cast in a minute and I'll let you do the math on what 5 minutes of digging cam cost. I mean 5 minutes is what one me the Texoma event. 5 minutes could hbe cost me over $20,000 - $30,000.

There is a little more to te money side of it however. It also makes it even more important to get organized before I make the first cast in practice as well. I can't tell you how many times I have got on a bite and gone to Academy and spent $50-$100 maybe even $200 on tackle just to return and find it a few days later. Now if it was just a pack of worms here and there it would be one thing but to tell the truth I don't have the willpower to go to Acdemy for a pack of worms. I always find something on sell when I get there. An you women think we are so much different! HA!!! Whatever I can do to keep myself out of that place I HAVE TO DO IT. we aren even gonna talk about BPS of Caellas. That reminds me....

Well I'm gonna hit a little more map study and then it's off to bed. Got a big day tomorrow and I have to make time to break in the old Merc Pro Xs and get my Humminbirds set up to my liking and get use to this new 1198 si. I can't believe it's only the second time I have had the old Legend Alpha 211 in the water.

Good night guys and galls I'll be sire to check back in tomorrow for those of you who are interested in what this Crazy White Boys up to.

G-Nite y'all!!!


Mike posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lake Lewisville 2011 Night 1

As usual I got a late start. Finally get home from the old fire station after a few necessary stops and start loading things up. The plan was to leave by about 4:30 to get to Moms in Ft Worth at a decent rime and unload and visit.

Fast forward to 7:30 and off we go, "Black Betty" with "Red Ruby" in tow and Halo and I buckled in tight for our journey west. I was a little nervous about the road conditions ahead but had been getting reports that the roads in the DFW didn't really ever get that dangerous.

The trip flew by as Haleigh Bug was out cold within and hour and I pretty much spent the whole trip after that on the phone with my favorite Legend Rep Cindy. With all the excitement we have planned over the next 6 months (i.e. Bassmaster Classic, Red River Big Bass Extravaganza, Bass Life Banquet) it's easy to do.

Finally touched down in Rhome, Tx around 11:30 and fortunately baby girl remained asleep or else OMG it would have been a LONG night. Unpacked got everything settled in and went to work on a little map study.

I'll be honest with ya, I was a little discombobulated about where I should initially start, but after looking over my good old handy dandy iPhone Navionics app I feel much better. Now that's assuming it's accurate. It usually is but there can be some slight differences from the actual contours from time to time like , oh let's say a 2 ft hump that's actually a 60 ft valley on Amistad.

After 86 waypoints dropped on just 1/6th of the lake, 1% battery life on my phone and discovering that this should be more than enough to keep me busy for a while tomorrow I'm off to bed. As soon as any light peaks through the window Lil Bit will be coming at me with her famous "GET UP DAEEEEE!"

For those who really give a darnI'll try to post notes from day to day just to kind of give you an idea of what a day in my life can be like. These next 18 days are gonna be quite exciting. Well for me anyway. I only hope that it will all end with the same result as my last fishing expedition in Texas. Fingers crossed.....

Peace out...

It's a "New Year"!!! Will it be a "Happy" one?

So far this off season has been crazy to say the least. A few new doors have opened and some old ones have closed. I have made every attempt to take full advantage of each and every opportunity even though I have been somewhat distracted with a few unexpected surprises. None the less the show must go on and like the old Alabama song says "you can't keep a good man down"!

I feel extremely fortunate and blessed knowing that going into this next season I have a little extra help from some new sponsors such as Legend Boats, Humminbird, Minn Kota, and Mercury Outboards. After the issues I had last season I can at least go into the 2011 not having to worry about a lack of warranty or being handicapped by outdated or antique equipment. I now have without a doubt some of the best equipment money can buy. I mean, anything can happen but with that piece of mind and a little momentum and confidence from Lake Texoma I have never felt more prepared for the adventure ahead of me in 2011.

"THE CLASSIC"... That's what 2011 will be all about. Not only Is it the "Super Bowl" of the Bass world but how sick would it be to qualify for it in my back yard? I mean dude, I can be on the Red River in less than 15 minutes! That's like the Cowboys making it to the Super Bowl in Cowboy Stadium, which as proven this year is apparently impossible. Maybe that wasn't a good choice of comparison.

Who knows what 2011 has in store. The only thing I do know for sure is that it's a new year and I'm extremely blessed to be in a much better position with much better equipment than I had a year ago today. I think it's safe to say I probably won't change my style. More than likely I will live and die by my "go big or go home" or "swing for the fence" mentality as it seems that it's worked to this point! Stay tuned!!!!

I'm ready. February 24th can't get here soon enough!





Mike posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Shreveport,United States