Human dynamics are fascinating. Coming from a background in public speaking, I have seen through the years the application and implementation of a few in each audience who grasp the content and apply it to their everyday lives and careers—the same thing in the fishing industry. I provide Big Bass Seminars to bass clubs throughout Texas and the rest of the country, yet in observing those in each audience, only a few get that certain "gleam" or "spark" in their eyes. Chances are only a few of those implement what they learn.
Yet, every so often, a success story shows up. Be it Robin Crest, who, after applying to a goal-setting program, reached further than ever before in her personal life, to Les Pratt, who, after sitting in a Big Bass Seminar, went out and caught a 7-pound bass on a swimbait, or to the latest success story of a young six-year-old boy who has become quite serious in this beautiful sport of fishing.
Meet Thomas Farmer. Kindergartner and fishing nut. Great kid, polite and respectful. Thomas's father, Dwight, supports his son's love of fishing. While surfing the Internet a few months back, Dwight found information about Flopper's Fishin' Academy and quickly enrolled Thomas as a participant.
Thomas was one of 254 in attendance that day. I remember getting my photo taken with him. He had that spark in his eyes. He was happy to be a participant. He was running from the casting station to the knot-tying station with anticipation and touching and feeling every type of bait on display. Looking at the 11-pound mounted Largemouth Bass. Father Dwight needed his track shoes on to keep up with him. There was something special about this young man.
Fast forward a month to the US Army Corp of Engineer Event at Lake Lewisville, Texas. I had a booth there, and guess who showed up? That's correct, Thomas and his father, Dwight. Because we are right at the water's edge, Thomas took advantage of this and threw a buzzbait on my 8 ½ foot Loomis rod and a Shimano baitcaster. This six-year-old handled the bigger equipment with relative ease and experience. He even had his picture taken in the bass boat!
I had my monthly Big Bass Seminar at Bass Pro Shops a few weeks later. Guess what? Correct again, Thomas shows up dragging along Dad. And Thomas didn't sit on the back row; he wanted to sit up front! Dwight and I had a previous conversation at the Corp of Engineers event about Thomas coming over to fish THE LAB. I extended that invitation again and firmed it up.
The expected day finally arrived. Dwight and Thomas show up to fish THE LAB along with another friend of mine Rusty Robbins who is a member of The Colony Bass Club. Everyone catches fish, and Thomas bangs out a 16-inch bass on a live crawdad. He is perched up on what we call the "49'er" bridge and sets the hook, and walks the fish around the side of the bridge to a nice landing at the shore's edge. After taking his picture, Rusty (retired) teaches Thomas how to "kiss" and release the bass.
The bass fishing slows somewhat, and Thomas switches tactics to catching bluegill. There is nothing better than observing a young boy who cast after cast, catches, and releases many fish. I'd venture to say that if we were counting, Thomas caught between 35 and 50 fish. What was even better was watching three grown adults having a blast watching this young man catch fish after fish. The fun continues as a very good friend and neighbor, Kyle Nelson, shows up and joins in on the fun. In real life, Kyle plays B.J. in the Barney television series. Kyle proceeds to share his Barney experiences with Thomas; however, Thomas stays very focused on his fishing.
A few weeks later, I walked THE LAB, and in observing the canal, there are bluegill everywhere. Most are close to the waterfall, and the others hug the shoreline, which is almost inaccessible to humans. Occasionally I see three to four smaller bass cruising and getting set up on a herd of bluegill every once in a while. The bass are a dead giveaway as the bluegill will be pretty dormant, then all of a sudden, they start moving. When you see a big splash alongside the bank, you know that a bass just finished a hearty bluegill meal. I walked up to the "Jay" bridge (named after Mark Brown's son, Jayden) and saw something I had never seen before.
Standing on the "Jay" bridge, looking towards the main poolside, were hundreds of bluegill migrating towards the canal . . . and coming from both sides of the main pool. If you see pictures of THE LAB, the main pool starts right at the Jay bridge, and under the bridge, it gets very narrow and goes into the canal. Imagine standing on a small bridge, looking down, and seeing hundreds of bluegill migrating on both sides. Unbelievable! I stood utterly motionless and watched the feat being served up by Mother Nature for about five minutes. Every hundred or so that cruised by was another fantastic sight - many 10-12 inch bluegill. Where in the heck are these fish the rest of the year? In the deeper water of THE LAB hanging out? Holy cow! This steady progression lasted for at least five minutes and then trickled down with fewer fish.
I called Dwight and advised him of what was happening at THE LAB, and now the water was clear enough for Thomas to see some bass cruising and chasing bluegill. Dwight indicated they would be right over.
Dwight and Thomas arrived, and the first thing I noticed was Thomas was out of the truck (while Dad was still gathering gear!). He was walking the shoreline with his POLARIZED GLASSES on! Thomas observed the huge herd of bluegill and spotted an occasional bass. In addition, he could see and hear the big splash along the shoreline, indicating a bass had just taken a bluegill. Thomas's first notable catch of the day was a 17-inch long largemouth which I believe is his largest to date. Dwight says, "Thomas looked like he was battling a marlin," landing that bass. Not only was the bass his largest, but he caught it on a 8 ½ foot long Loomis rod with a Shimano baitcaster . . . remember, Thomas is SIX years old.
Next came the bluegill with Thomas bangin' one after another. I told Thomas that I had seen some bluegill that went at least ten inches cruising into the canal. Well, Thomas finally spotted one and worked on that big bluegill for about 30 minutes. The challenge was that every time Thomas had thrown out his line, a smaller bluegill would take his worm!
Now the next part of this story is pretty amazing. We had told Thomas to use a tiny piece of worm to catch bluegill. A technique that he had mastered. Yet, he wasn't catching that big one! Thomas, on his own accord, decided to change things up and placed a whole worm on his small hook. Well, you guessed it . . . the bigger meal enticed the big bluegill to strike, and Thomas yelled out that he had it as he masterfully reeled the big bluegill up on the grass. We measured the bluegill, which was just a tad over the ten-inch mark.
I remarked that it was a HUGE bluegill, and Thomas replied that it was not a bluegill but a R E D - E A R sunfish! (Dwight tells me that Thomas has a fish identification chart at home and studies it faithfully!) I continue to call the fish a "bluegill," and Thomas reminds me that it is a Red-Ear Sunfish! Okay, Thomas, I may need the fish identification chart! Dwight took many photos with the regular camera and his video camera. Thomas, practicing catch and release, released the fish back into THE LAB.
Another great day of fishing. Thomas bangs out two records for himself, a 17-inch long Largemouth and a 10-inch RED-EAR sunfish. A smile on my face shows up every time I think about this young angler and how much fun he is having. Yes, students listen, learn and implement. Yes, we are handing off our wonderful sport to this future angler. Yes, I'd say the future looks very promising to this fine young boy with a "gleam" in his eyes!
Chuck Bauer is a noted Big Bass Specialist who has been recognized many times by various organizations, including Bassin' Magazine, Texas Fish & Game, North American Fisherman Magazine, Outdoor Life, Texas Hunting and Fishing News, The Dallas Morning News, and Texas Outdoor Times Magazine. In addition, Chuck is a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association and is on Pro Staff for Kick-n-Bass.
