Like many boys in the Midwest, I grew up with a fishin’ rod in my hand in a family that took vacations looking for walleye and northern pike. I moved to California in 1987 and reluctantly switched gears to trout and golf. One of my golf partners Manuel Mendez, had a brother, Dink, that made spinner baits and gave me a few as a Christmas present one year. That messed me up, as it gave me my first experience with a big bass. Armed with only a small spinning rod, I never saw that fish but knew it was “special”. I just haven’t been the same since.
I went on to fish WON Bass as a back-seater for several years until one of my draws suggested that if I wanted to learn more about the delta winter bite I should join the West Valley BassMasters of Tracy club “‘cause those guys always manage to catch a few”. I’ve been president of the club for a few years, taking time off to chair NCCC-3 in 2007 and have been very fortunate to meet some real quality people along the way.
