Bio
Then And Now
I have been fishing since I was about seven years old. It all started out fishing in Maine for native brook trout in small streams and brooks back in those days with my brothers and father. By my late teenage years I purchased a 12 foot aluminum v-hull powered by a Johnson 3 HP 1960's vintage outboard. A Minn Kota 28lb thrust electric trolling motor powered the boat around the small ponds I fished in Maine. I caught several bass in that beast over the years including a 6 pound largemouth in Labrador Pond in Sumner, Maine that fell to a double bladed buzzbait in less than a foot of water, yes a buzzbait.
I then moved up to a 1994 Tracker Pro team 17 with a Mercury 60HP., joined a local bass club, Androscoggin Bassmasters, fished as a boater.
Today I sport a 2004 Nitro 901 dual console powered by a Mercury 2.5L 200 HP EFI with a Tempest Plus 23 pitch 3 blade prop. The boat was purchased and is serviced at Mid Maine Marine in Waterville, Maine. The boats electronics include a Lowrance LCX-15mt with GPS, Lowrance HDS 10 on the console, a Lowrance LCF-1440 In-Dash Digital LCD Flasher and a Lowrance LCX-27c with GPS on the bow.
If you get some free time, stop in and see Ronald, Garrett and the boys for your next new or used boat, marine products or maintenance needs.
I would also like to thank TIGHTLINES Lure Company for the opportunity to be a member of their Pro Staff Team.
Personal Information
- Hometown - Dixfield, Maine
- Family - Nancy (spouse), Brian (son)
- Employment - NewPage
- Hobbies - I enjoy spending time with my family, fishing with my son and ELB, sports photography, computers, web design, and deer hunting. I also enjoy helping kids and my fellow anglers improve their angling skills.
- Favorite Lures - TIGHTLINES Lure Company Ultimate Vision Blue Black 4" UV Beaver & Blue Black Swirl 5" UVenko
- Favorite Pro Angler - Kevin VanDam
- Pro Staff - TIGHTLINES Lure Company
- Bassmaster Elite Series Marshal, Blue Ridge Brawl Smith Mountain Lake, VA
- Member PAA, Professional Anglers Association since 2009
- Member B.A.S.S. since 1989 - Bass Anglers Sportsman Society
- Member Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation since 1994 - The Official B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of the State of Maine
- Member Androscoggin Bassmasters since 1994 - My Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Bass Club.
- Founder & Youth Coordinator L/A Junior Bassmasters in 2005 - Second junior bass club to form in Maine in 2005.
- Member USA Bassin Tournament Trail since 2006
- Arnie Yates Sportsman Award Recipient - (1999)
- Webmaster Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation since 2003
- Webmaster Androscoggin Bassmasters since 1999
- Webmaster L/A Junior Bassmasters since 2005
- Bass Club Positions - Secretary, Treasurer, Tournament Director, Youth Director, Public Relations, Webmaster
- Member of the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park Master Plan Advisory Committee
Most Memorable Tournament Day
Fishing an open on Cobbossee Lake in Manchester, ME with my friend Rick "ELB" Baker. We struggled most of the day. With about two hours left we had a water current pattern going and was flinging 4 lb bass in the boat rather consistantly from one small area in 10-16'. We had several doubles and with about 5 minutes was trying to figure out which bass to cull between the four that we had in our hands. We ended the day with almost 30 lbs for 8 fish good enough for second, any other day that may have won.
Most Memorable Moment
This one is easy, my son Brian competed in the Maine Junior Championship in 2008 and won in the last few moments of the tournament which meant he was going to the Eastern Divisional on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
Well, knowing that drop shotting would most likely be the key to winning at Winni, Brian practiced drop shotting the rest of the season on home waters.
The Bassmaster Eastern Divisional tournament got under way after a three hour delay due to fog, I knew this was OK, although temps were chilly for the anglers the wind was calm which meant easy drop shotting control. Brian ended the day by catching two smallmouth drop shotting.
Of course like any curious tournament angler or parent I nosed around to see what the other competitors had as they were bagging fish. Well they kept it well hidden and were quiet about their catches and I really didn't know how it was all going to turn out. As they lined up I saw that Brian was near the end of the pack, we all know what that could mean.
The angler who had full control over the "hot seat" had 5 lbs even with Brian and one other angler yet to weigh, I knew it would be close.
Brian weighed in 5.5 lbs of smallmouth with his big fish of the day weighing 3.0 even, thus moving him into the "hot seat".
The grin that I could see on his face while sitting there proved to be the grin that gave him the 2008 Bassmaster Eastern Divisional Championship Trophy!
It was one of the most special moments that his mother and I have witnessed in his sporting career, we have never felt so proud of his accomplishment and dedication to wanting to win.
Unfortunately Brian didn't win the 2008 Bassmaster Junior World Championship, since there were no legal fish weighed in his division. However, he has the taste and knowing his drive he will be back on that stage again.
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