This is about the crappie industry in general, but mainly about our local connection, the privileges we have and our personal impact.
(Sorry so long!)
Last year when Wally Marshall ended his affiliation with Bass Pro Shops, there was quite a bit of speculation and rumors about what happened. I read in the forums about DUIs, disputes over profits, and how he told someone at a convention that simply asked how to fish a certain lake, ‘just buy my DVD’. Unfortunately, I bought into all that krap… before I had to stop myself and realize that this was all just hearsay, conjecture and just plain gossip with no real factual proof. So I had to back up and tell myself, I ain’t gonna believe this krap ‘til I get the facts or talk to the man himself.
So when I asked Wally why he was no longer with BPS, he told me this:
BPS wanted to buy the Wally Marshall name. Wally sat across the table from Johnny Morris (owner/founder BPS) in Springfield Missouri. Johnny discussed how he wanted to move forward, but owning/buying the WM and Mr. Crappie name. Wally told him, ‘that’s all I got is my name’ so he declined the contract and ended a very high profile and profitable relationship. Further proof of the quality business relationship occurred less than a month later. BPS called him up and said ‘Come pick up your boat’. Wally was surprised since they just ended their deal, but they said, “we still want you to have our boat”… so he went and picked up a brand new Z9 with his logo on it. That’s a pretty big deal. Nobody has given me a boat lately… and especially not the most prestigious fishing store in the country that is rumored to be ‘mad’ at me. It’s sitting in his driveway if you want the actual proof.
As you now know, Wally has partnered with Lew’s to make and market his rods and reels and will announce soon a deal with a prominent (preeminent) tackle company to market his jigs and products. Again, this is not the sign of a man on the ‘outs’ with anybody or business.
So all I’m asking is before you post anything on this forum, or share gossip with anyone for that matter, check the facts yourself. Or if you’re mad about some personal pet peeve, just cool off awhile before you go blabbing all over the internet. Most, if not all the guys in the crappie business are just good ole boys trying to make a living doing what they love.
I’m guilty of it myself. Last year during Wally’s ‘Big Crappie Classic’ Hugo tournament, I made some offhand comment on the forum about timing, location or griping about something. Another forum reader posted that Wally had done more for our industry than any one man. That sure made me take a look at myself and the effect of what I was saying… in print… to hundreds of readers.
In the movie “The Social Network” a college student (founder of Facebook) is jilted by some girl in school. So he goes back to his dorm room and posts some garbage about this woman to blow off steam. When he approaches her later, she says “The Internet's not written in pencil, Mark, it's written in ink. You write your snide Bulls*%# from a dark room because that's what the angry do nowadays”.
These forums are a double edged sword. We have great access to information sharing and I personally have learned an immense amount of knowledge from all of you. Unfortunately, we have lost the man to man, personal nature of talking to a neighbor over the back fence.. and the personal responsibility that comes with that. I’m not a politician or a salesman and I don’t need your vote for anything and it is not my business. I don’t really have a dog in this fight except my own personal interest in seeing new products and techniques. I want to learn how to be a better crappie fisherman, catch more and bigger fish. We get that from all the local jig makers, small tackle businesses, guides and the ‘experts’ and old timers that are willing to share their expertise. We also get it from more ‘organized’ groups like CAT and a local businessman named Wally.
It used to be crappie fishermen felt like we were ‘outsiders’. All the fishing shows and tournaments were about bass. If you talked to anyone it was the old geezer at the boat ramp with a jon boat, cane poles and minners.
The best non-bass show you could get was about catfishing. Now the burgeoning industry has tournaments, national trails and competitions, ‘celebrities’, clubs, DVDs, forums etc., but there is still only a few shows occasionally about crappie. Lake Fork Tackle will be producing some crappie shows featuring Ronnie Capps for delivery later this year or early next year.
Here locally, we are still in the infancy of a new crappie club, really just getting started. Jay Don, Paul and the other CAT board members work hard (for free) to try and promote and share their love for crappie fishing. Is it always perfect? Of course not. Will they make everyone happy? Never. But I know them and I know they will always do their best and try their hardest. There’s no grand conspiracy, smoky back room deals or any of that other [censored]. Almost all of this industry is just good ole boys trying their hardest to bring crappie fishing into the forefront for sharing information and to bring in media, promoters, and sponsors so we can all benefit! All that work is so we are not left with only chit chat and information from the old geezers at the boat ramp. CAT board members and officers do it for free! Just cause they love crappie fishing. Honestly, you couldn’t pay me to have their tough job. I don’t have thick enough skin to be a politician or club officer in this age when anybody with a big mouth and an attitude can use their freedom of speech to mouth off. It is just ‘not right’ and an injustice and that really rubs me the wrong way. I would hunt them down and kill them.
They get it off their chest, but the damage is done and has effects on down the road on the men and the industry.
On my local lake, Lake Lavon, there is a guide named Jerry Hancock. A few years ago the makers of Hot Spots map contacted him for some key ‘hot spots’ on Lavon and he shared some with them. One of the posters on the Lavon Forum spouted off “That’s BS. I don’t know any guide who would threaten their livelihood and give up good spots like that”. That’s right, you don’t know Jerry. All that do know him know that he did just that and it is available to the public on a map. Again, most, if not all of the guys in this industry are just trying to promote crappie fishing and make it better for all.
I know it’s old fashioned, but before you take a pot shot at someone you don’t know personally or a topic that you are not personally involved in,
just don’t. Talk to the man personally or to the folks personally involved in a situation before you write some krap or your ‘great opinion’ on a forum. It is in print and people read it… and it does affect our industry and the ‘outside’ viewers. Most all of us are pretty decent folk and are just given to fly off every once in a while. Most all on this forum are good folks and want to learn and promote crappie fishing and information sharing. Kudos to all!
In the end, it’s really just a little green fish, it’s my hobby (passion) and it is NOT brain surgery or saving the world. Sometimes we all just need to lighten up and enjoy our God given and hard fought freedom… to just go fishing. In this country we have the freedom to say pretty much anything we want, anytime we want, anywhere we want. A lot of soldiers and brave Americans fought and died for our freedom to do that. On this Veterans Day, we can be mindful of our responsibility to use that freedom wisely.
Sometimes we know we can be anonymous and hide behind a face-less, nameless ‘forum handle’. Mine is Texas Express but my name is Tim Smith… and that’s my two cents.
Now let’s go fishin’.
CallMatthew@972-754-1698
I know I have been guilty in the past and probably will be in the future. I apologize for my past and in advance for any time I screw up. 
Tim. We may need to reread this now and then to refresh our memory.
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