100 degrees. Humid. The air feels like that in a small bathroom after taking a 30 minute roaring hot shower. Sticky.. sweaty.. hands slipping off the reel handles.. Texas summer on Lake Cypress Springs. 15 years ago. Just another typical summer day for two kids on top of the world. Wake up early, walk down the hill to the boat house. Gently set the boat down in the cool slick calm waters of eldorado bay. The friendly verbal assaults exchanged among these two boys would begin after the run to the mornings first fishing hole.. after waking up. One of the many things these lanky sunburned Texans had in common, was the love of chasing and catching the elusive and beautiful Largemouth Bass. Fish tales were created, lies were told.. dreams were spoken out loud. Of those dreams, one was never forgotten, and yet never realized.

Reeling in a firetiger crankbait from a dock laden bank.. the two young teens talk about what is probably one of the most incredible bass fisheries in Texas, and realistically the United States.. Lake Fork. "some day, we'll both fish Lake Fork with a professional guide". The dream. Fishing the ultimate bass lake... with a hired hand to show us the ropes. Together. Two best friends, and a guide to be determined..sometime.. hopefully.. it is just a dream after all right?

or is it?

Dreams come true. Something parents tell their children. Teachers tell their students. Motivational speakers tell their audiences. Dreams DO come true.

Saturday May the 21st, a dream came true. Fast forward 15 years. 15 years...from those days of youth spent on Lake Cypress Springs. The alarm clock doesnt have a chance this morning. Awakened by an internal clock set to rise so this dream doesnt go unrealized. 4am. Steaming hot water across the face of the 29 year old, married father of one. Not a kid anymore....although as giddy as a kid. Anxious. Ready. Ready to make dreams come true. The hour drive to Lake Fork Marina seemed like an eternity. The lights inside Tiffany's restaurant are a beacon for the hungry souls preparing for a day on Lake Fork. The now all too familiar silver Tundra, towing a gorgeous Ranger z520 Comanche pulls past the beacon lights and parks. This really is happening.
The coffee is fresh, and piping hot.. The guide is there..the kids are there.. at Lake Fork Marina. At LAKE FORK. This IS really happening!

Following an assault on perfectly fried eggs, crispy hash browns, mouth watering bacon and toast.. The two kids.. (no longer kids) and The guide load the boat.

The smell of two stroke exhaust fills the cool air surrounding the boat ramp as the Yamaha Vmax250 growls to life. The truck parked, the Guide hops in his boat.. with the two young men..15 years after talking about getting a guide together on Lake Fork.

The day is filled with smiles, laughter.. fishing tales and other lies and jokes. The guide expertly directs his clients on what they are fishing, how to fish it, and why. Educating them. Teaching them. Laughing with them. Possibly not realizing, he is making a dream come true for two young men, who are no longer boys.. who are living in a dream hatched so long ago. Thundering hooksets commence following a tale tell "thump" on the end of a line soaking in the famous waters that create Lake Fork. Fish are caught.. Fish are missed. Two young men, are taught.. as if they are kids.. soaking in knowledge passed on by an encyclopedia of information... the guide. The "Teacher", watching as his "students" dream becomes a reality. Dreams DO come true.

THIS is why many of us chase the elusive Largemouth bass..many of us had dreams. Many of us HAVE dreams. Winning a tournament, catching a double digit largemouth, sharing time with friends, loved ones...dreams.

MY dream came true.


THAT is why I bass fish.

************************************************************

Mark Pack is a guide on Lake Fork. A professional. A great man who I now consider a friend. To say his guide service is FIRST CLASS is a tremendous understatement. The time he puts in educating his clients on the finer points of fishing techniques, understanding bass habitats, reading and understanding electronics and answering all questions you may have is incredible.

Thank you Mark, for your time. For having us two kids in your boat for a fantastic day of fishing and fellowship. I look forward to the day we can share the deck of your boat again... on Lake Fork or elsewhere.

Great read. I know you guys had a blast with mark. I can speak from experience that he is a great teacher on the water and a good friend off. I feel lucky to know him as a friend and a mentor.

good read ROF. Kudos to Mark.

Dang Boy, you sure can take Pen to Paper..
Great read, dare I say you're hooked .. LOL

Don Barone doesn't have anything on you....great write up and story!

Keep up the good writing....you should apply to some magazines or websites! You have a gift!

I'm glad you and Scott finally got the opportunity to go do that, Sheb. I know how much you guys looked forward to that.. and for good reason. A great write up as always!

Well said my man...It sounds like you guys had fun and I hope the cake I left ya wasnt all that bad, after 2 days in a rod box!

i do it for the chicks

dude....

that was... it was GLORIOUS. That was freaking incredible! moist..succulent cake.. mmmmmm Thanks for that bud! really appreciated it!

Wow...what a write-up.. I can't speak as eloquently as Shelby, but I agree 100% that it was an epic day....Pack makes you feel like a friend right from the start, making you comfortable to fish and have fun all day long.. It goes without saying that he really knows that lake...

As for finally filling a 15 year dream, thats just priceless. I don't get to spend enough time with my friends these days, so these memories will be burnt into my mind forever..Luckily, Sheb easily outfished me all day long, but it was a blast none-the-less...

and many more to come.

He shared the recipe with us..yumyum

He must have made something up then, because he got on the phone with my wife after lunch on day 2 and she wouldnt come off it...Although I did give him what I "thought" was the "secret" ingredient!

Nice. Makes me want to look up a friend I fished with back in the day. Haven't seen or heard a word from him in 35 years. We had plans and dreams back then too.

You are more than welcome my man...I will let her read what you wrote...She likes it when people like her cooking...Lord knows yall have seen pictures of me, and I didnt get that figure riding a bike!