guide mike metcalf

Is mike still guiding on t.bend

No

Is Mike still fishing tournaments? Had the pleasure of fishing with MM '86-'89. When he still lived with his Momma. Like most of the great bass fisherman from that region, Mike first learned how to feed his family with rod and reel. Fishing for money was easy pickings after that.

Haven't seen his name in a few years. That guy was absolutely dominant on Toledo and Rayburn. I'll never forget seeing him bring in that monster bag in an Anglers Choice tournament. I think it was 42lbs.

He ruled Redman on Toledo in the late 80's early 90's.

Two guys were extremely strong in East Texas in the 90's. Mike Metcalf on Toledo (he also won big tournaments on Rayburn and Richland Chambers) and Gary Yelverton on Rayburn/Toledo Bend. Gary passed away during some of his prime tournament years. His house in Ringgold, LA sometimes looked like a boat store with boats he had won for sale.

There are several interesting stories about Metcalf and Gary but there is no sense in repeating them here and starting some sort of conflict. Both of them were outstanding tournament fisherman during their time.

I was fishing the TTT when it was part of FLW on T-Bend, when he won the tournament with 28 lbs from a borrowed boat. I was fishing with Stan Burgay and watched him catch 25 lbs in a matter of 30 mins... so needless to say I was in awe of those two guys.

There used to be videos of those TTT events. Not sure if they are available anymore but one that Mike won was particularly interesting. He accidentally culls without a 5th fish. He looks up and says, oh well, we'll just catch another one. He ends up winning the event.

Was Gary the guy who had cancer and passed away in his deer stand ? The guy I am talking about was a hell of a fisherman and I think he may have fished with Metcalf.

I was told Gary passed away in a deer stand. I got in the boat with him once on T-Bend in 1987, early in my career. He took me to a channel swing in San Patricio Creek, looked around for boats in all directions, then said, "you ready to see some fish?" He picked up a Mudbug and proceeded to catch 14 four pounders on 14 consecutive casts. The most awesome crankbait display I've seen this side of Lake Baccarac.

Lol holy hell. That's pure greatness right there.

Years ago when you could leave the boat while in a tournament, Gary an Mike had 30 lbs in the livewell at 8.30 am , so they went to Huxley bay and had breakfast .I do not think they ever had to cull any more fish and won the tourney.

I knew of one spot the fish were so stacked they would cast in and throw a 5 lber in the boat, not take the fish off the hook , leaving him bouncing in the boat, grab another rod and do it again till they ran out of rods.

Watched him, LG Allen, Stan Burgay, Larry Matthews, James Owens, Mike Mills, Gene Lund along with my dad and many other great guides out of Huxley Bay, bring in loads of bass on that old skinning dock. Those guys could fish!

Aw come on man, these two guys sound like legends, we need to hear some stories. Just ignore the naysayers.

There was one year they won EVERY Team Tournament Championship in the State either together or in the case of two that conflicted with each other, they fished solo and won.

I believe they won 5-6 boats and over $200K in cash that year and never left the State of Texas.

I drew Gary in a Redman on Palestine and noticed he had 5 rods on deck, all with a Black/Blue Jig tied on. We pulled up on his spot, and before I could get my rods untangled he had three 7lbers in the boat flopping on the carpet while he went in after his 4th.

He then told me, "Jim, I'd appreciate it if you would totally forget about this spot." I then told him, "Gary, if you didn't want me to know about this spot, you should have never brought me here!" I do confess, I did go back there about a year later in a club tournament and never got a bite!

Both Mike and Gary were super fishermen.

I think I know a story in which might be in the above statement. I fished Specialty Bass years ago and that was probably one episode.

Wow. WOW! Lol. What were you thinking when you got in the boat and saw the 5 rods rigged the same way? I can imagine how confused I'd be. . .

I got to fish with Mike 3 Days back in the late 80's, learned more in 3 days then previous 28 yrs about catching bass. He has to be one of the most talkative guys I know. Might of said 40 words in three days that included you'll wanna go in for lunch or eat on the boat and continue to whack-em.

Randy Qualls and Mike Metcalf teamed up several times several years back.

Randy is a great fisherman too.

They won several Basschamps events

I remember fishing an Anglers Choice tourney on Rayburn, I was fueling up my boat beside Gary early one morning, he was coughing really bad, I said to him, " your allergies are as bad as mine, He said " no son I wish that's what it is but it isn't, anyway he seemed to be a hell of a man.