I've taken people fishing that I've met here on the forum and several people I've seen at the ramp. I always keep an eye out for people fishing with their kids on the bank. I've picked up several father/son, father/daughter, grandmother/grandson combos from the bank or at the marina. I usually have a couple extra rods with me just in case I pick someone up. I love the shocked look on their face when I ask them if they want to come fish with me. I usually have to tell them that I'm serious a couple times before they believe me.

Quick story from about a couple months ago...

I had been fishing for a couple hours already and was waiting at the marina to pick up my wife. While I'm tying up, a grandmother and her 10 year old grandson walked by on their way to fish at the crappie barge. I could tell that he was excited to be fishing but knew that there was not much action at the crappie barge recently. The grandmother smiled and said hello as they walked by. When my wife got there I told her about the two of them, and she already knew what I was going to ask her (she knows how much I love picking random people up to take fishing LOL). I walked over to where they were getting set up at the barge and asked the grandmother if they wanted to come with us. The boy looked at grandma, and after a few "are you serious?" she said absolutely. As soon as she said that the boy jumped out of his skin with excitement!! What I didn't realize is that the boy was autistic. He didn't have a male role model that would do things with him so it was always up to grandma to take him to do boy stuff, such as fishing. I have always had a place in my heart for mentally and physically disabled children and was so blessed for our paths to have crossed that day. We had a great day, caught some fish, he drove the boat some, and my wife and his grandmother talked and took pictures. When it was time to go, the boy walked up to me and gave me a big hug. His grandmother immediately began crying. When he started to walk away his grandmother stopped and thanked my wife and I again and told us that he had never hugged a man before. Ever.

We took the two of them out fishing with us again just a couple weeks ago. The fishing was a little slow but we all had a blast, and I got my hug again. That little boy has been an amazing blessing to me. And I think I was able to give a little back to him as well. You just never know when or how you are going to impact someone's life. You just have to keep your eyes open for the opportunity.

I've taken people fishing that I've met here on the forum and several people I've seen at the ramp. I always keep an eye out for people fishing with their kids on the bank. I've picked up several father/son, father/daughter, grandmother/grandson combos from the bank or at the marina. I usually have a couple extra rods with me just in case I pick someone up. I love the shocked look on their face when I ask them if they want to come fish with me. I usually have to tell them that I'm serious a couple times before they believe me.

Quick story from about a couple months ago...

I had been fishing for a couple hours already and was waiting at the marina to pick up my wife. While I'm tying up, a grandmother and her 10 year old grandson walked by on their way to fish at the crappie barge. I could tell that he was excited to be fishing but knew that there was not much action at the crappie barge recently. The grandmother smiled and said hello as they walked by. When my wife got there I told her about the two of them, and she already knew what I was going to ask her (she knows how much I love picking random people up to take fishing LOL). I walked over to where they were getting set up at the barge and asked the grandmother if they wanted to come with us. The boy looked at grandma, and after a few "are you serious?" she said absolutely. As soon as she said that the boy jumped out of his skin with excitement!! What I didn't realize is that the boy was autistic. He didn't have a male role model that would do things with him so it was always up to grandma to take him to do boy stuff, such as fishing. I have always had a place in my heart for mentally and physically disabled children and was so blessed for our paths to have crossed that day. We had a great day, caught some fish, he drove the boat some, and my wife and his grandmother talked and took pictures. When it was time to go, the boy walked up to me and gave me a big hug. His grandmother immediately began crying. When he started to walk away his grandmother stopped and thanked my wife and I again and told us that he had never hugged a man before. Ever.

We took the two of them out fishing with us again just a couple weeks ago. The fishing was a little slow but we all had a blast, and I got my hug again. That little boy has been an amazing blessing to me. And I think I was able to give a little back to him as well. You just never know when or how you are going to impact someone's life. You just have to keep your eyes open for the opportunity.

I have never given up on people. I will give anyone a chance. until you do me wrong. At that point i keep it moving.

I've taken people fishing that I've met here on the forum and several people I've seen at the ramp. I always keep an eye out for people fishing with their kids on the bank. I've picked up several father/son, father/daughter, grandmother/grandson combos from the bank or at the marina. I usually have a couple extra rods with me just in case I pick someone up. I love the shocked look on their face when I ask them if they want to come fish with me. I usually have to tell them that I'm serious a couple times before they believe me.

Quick story from about a couple months ago...

I had been fishing for a couple hours already and was waiting at the marina to pick up my wife. While I'm tying up, a grandmother and her 10 year old grandson walked by on their way to fish at the crappie barge. I could tell that he was excited to be fishing but knew that there was not much action at the crappie barge recently. The grandmother smiled and said hello as they walked by. When my wife got there I told her about the two of them, and she already knew what I was going to ask her (she knows how much I love picking random people up to take fishing LOL). I walked over to where they were getting set up at the barge and asked the grandmother if they wanted to come with us. The boy looked at grandma, and after a few "are you serious?" she said absolutely. As soon as she said that the boy jumped out of his skin with excitement!! What I didn't realize is that the boy was autistic. He didn't have a male role model that would do things with him so it was always up to grandma to take him to do boy stuff, such as fishing. I have always had a place in my heart for mentally and physically disabled children and was so blessed for our paths to have crossed that day. We had a great day, caught some fish, he drove the boat some, and my wife and his grandmother talked and took pictures. When it was time to go, the boy walked up to me and gave me a big hug. His grandmother immediately began crying. When he started to walk away his grandmother stopped and thanked my wife and I again and told us that he had never hugged a man before. Ever.

We took the two of them out fishing with us again just a couple weeks ago. The fishing was a little slow but we all had a blast, and I got my hug again. That little boy has been an amazing blessing to me. And I think I was able to give a little back to him as well. You just never know when or how you are going to impact someone's life. You just have to keep your eyes open for the opportunity.

I've taken people fishing that I've met here on the forum and several people I've seen at the ramp. I always keep an eye out for people fishing with their kids on the bank. I've picked up several father/son, father/daughter, grandmother/grandson combos from the bank or at the marina. I usually have a couple extra rods with me just in case I pick someone up. I love the shocked look on their face when I ask them if they want to come fish with me. I usually have to tell them that I'm serious a couple times before they believe me.

Quick story from about a couple months ago...

I had been fishing for a couple hours already and was waiting at the marina to pick up my wife. While I'm tying up, a grandmother and her 10 year old grandson walked by on their way to fish at the crappie barge. I could tell that he was excited to be fishing but knew that there was not much action at the crappie barge recently. The grandmother smiled and said hello as they walked by. When my wife got there I told her about the two of them, and she already knew what I was going to ask her (she knows how much I love picking random people up to take fishing LOL). I walked over to where they were getting set up at the barge and asked the grandmother if they wanted to come with us. The boy looked at grandma, and after a few "are you serious?" she said absolutely. As soon as she said that the boy jumped out of his skin with excitement!! What I didn't realize is that the boy was autistic. He didn't have a male role model that would do things with him so it was always up to grandma to take him to do boy stuff, such as fishing. I have always had a place in my heart for mentally and physically disabled children and was so blessed for our paths to have crossed that day. We had a great day, caught some fish, he drove the boat some, and my wife and his grandmother talked and took pictures. When it was time to go, the boy walked up to me and gave me a big hug. His grandmother immediately began crying. When he started to walk away his grandmother stopped and thanked my wife and I again and told us that he had never hugged a man before. Ever.

We took the two of them out fishing with us again just a couple weeks ago. The fishing was a little slow but we all had a blast, and I got my hug again. That little boy has been an amazing blessing to me. And I think I was able to give a little back to him as well. You just never know when or how you are going to impact someone's life. You just have to keep your eyes open for the opportunity.