PLANO, Ill. (Nov. 11, 2010) - With his telltale southern drawl and the same boyish grin he's always had, Hank Parker still draws a crowd wherever bass anglers gather just like he did when he was tops on the tournament trail several years ago. At last year's Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Ala., each individual in the long line of autograph seekers patiently awaited their turn for a chance with the legendary angler who claimed two Classic titles of his own before going full time into the business of producing and hosting outdoor programming for television.
What has made Parker such a fan favorite for so long is that he has always been quick to flash that smile and willingly give up his knowledge to help others catch fish. His tip for "fading" a spinnerbait along laydowns is a deadly early winter fishing technique for right now across parts of the country where bass and baitfish are on the move in creek channels near shorelines.
"First of all, make sure the spinnerbait is tuned so that it runs perfectly upright," Parker said. "This is easy to do, often requiring only a slight bending of the blade arm one way or the other to make it run true. Make your cast to where the laydown first enters the water and use a retrieve speed that allows the bait to run right along the trunk or branch until it and the bait both fade out of sight. Don't ever leave without repeating the cast at least three or four times. The bass can come from anywhere along the retrieve, and there's a good chance of catching more than one from the same laydown."
Parker has always been an educator for the sports he loves, a trait not so common among many of today's bass pros who try to be secretive about what they are doing to catch fish.
"I always make it a point to watch and listen as Hank interacts with the public any time he makes an appearance on our behalf," said Jesse Simpkins, vice president of Plano Molding Co. "He relates with everyone and never misses a chance to offer a tip for catching more fish. I've seen him give personal demonstrations on everything from tying knots to rigging plastics. He's a get-it-right guy that has certainly played a role in our product development for many years now."
While much of Parker's fishing time today is spent with his own family, he continues to be active in television with his Hank Parker 3D hunting show on TV and makes public appearances at hunting and fishing venues across the country. He likely will again be one of the main attractions at the upcoming February Bassmaster Classic to be held in New Orleans, spending much of his time in the Plano booth.
But there is good news for his autograph seekers who don't want to wait until then. Plano is currently running a free-to-enter contest for a Hank Parker autographed Plano soft tackle bag model 4826 on the company's web site, www.PlanoMolding.com. No purchase is required, but entrants must be at least 13 years old and reside in the United States or Canada where such contests are allowed.
Full rules and the online entry can be found by clicking on the Hank Parker image on Plano's home page. The contest is underway now and ends at midnight CST on Nov. 20.