My Future in Fishing

I know this title will immediately gain the attention to those close to me. No, I am not about to stop fishing. My love for the sport was ingrained in me many years ago by my parents. This past year I have changed careers which for the next few months will limit my time out on the water. This limited time to fish makes it very hard to put together a weekly fishing show. The show has a fanbase that seems to be growing and is well liked by many.

As many of you know I also have a YouTube channel where I put old fishing shows and my personal fishing videos.  https://youtu.be/z8VKcEgdhLIAs  I enter 2018, I often wonder which direction should I concentrate on…videos or TV. I enjoy the teaching aspect of both videos and TV. I realize what a tremendous opportunity I have been given. At the same time, I realize to continue in TV, I will need some help to truly be successful. Up until now I have run the show basically as a hobby.

I have considered taking on a partner to share airtime with me. This will give more than one perspective of the techniques being used and add character and spontaneity to the show. I have also considered hiring a general manager/sales person for the show. Why would I put all this out there for the world to read? Well because I have many friends out there and your feedback is both welcome and trusted. Any advice on this subject is welcome and appreciated…even criticism. 

So…what are you waiting for, let me know what you think.

Lowell Henderson

Litter...What can We Really Do?

Over the years, as a fisherman I have spent thousands of hours on the water. During that time, I have seen all kinds of people, places, things, animals and incidents. Other than boaters not respecting one another, the one thing that really bothers me is littering. I realize that every now and then a boater may accidentally let a piece of trash blow out of the boat while going down the lake. But, this isn’t really the issue I would like to deal with today. More and more I see trash out on our waterways that has just been intentionally thrown out on purpose. Much of this trash, comes from us fishermen.

The summer months brings out the pleasure boaters and the partiers to the lake, which also adds to the amount of garbage left behind at the end of the day. While this doesn’t surprise me, it does sadden me. The reason litter on our lakes doesn’t surprise me is easy enough. We as a people have forgotten how to treat each other much less the great outdoors. So…what can we really do to fight this problem? Well, for starters we can start cleaning up our mess. It’s not going to be easy and it won’t be quick either. Our waterways didn’t get this way overnight and they won’t be cleaned up overnight.

Here’s what I suggest for starters. As we spend time out on the water, lets vow to pick up one or two pieces of trash every time we are there. That will be easy, there’s lots of trash out there. Lets put the heat on anyone we see littering in or around the lake. Don’t have to get crazy about it just let them know you don’t appreciate it.

While I plan to start doing my part I’m going to offer a little incentive to some of you to help as well. If your club or organization has a clean-up day, I want to know about it. Let me know when and where you cleaned up and I will personally give your group a shout out on both my next blog and TV show. Alabama has some of the most beautiful waterways in the world, let us keep them that way.

If you’d like to send me pictures or videos of what your group has done that would be awesome. I’ll leave you my e-mail below. Together we can and will make a difference.

Lowell Henderson

Lowellhenderson65@yahoo.com

Ps. If you send me an e-mail please put “Waterway Clean Up” in the subject. That way I’ll know it’s not spam. Thank you.

When you think you have seen it all...

Well guys this week has been tough. During the time that I had to fish, it was brutally, hot. One of my fishing days I had the bright Idea to fish a kayak tournament, then the same afternoon film a show. This was a very bad idea idea. It left me dehydrated and totally exhausted. But, it was nobody’s fault but my own. I didn’t drink enough water or eat properly.

On a brighter note, I did get my show filmed and turned in on time. I also witnessed something on Lake Catoma I’d like to share with you. Now for those of you not from my area, Lake Catoma is our public water source. It has a ten horsepower, motor restriction, and there is no swimming or wading allowed. What I saw Saturday afternoon around 6:00 pm completely caught me off guard. A man and his family headed down the lake just as many families do in their little boats. But, somewhere between the boat ramp and the 157 bridge the man stopped his boat and let his kids out to swim. Not only was this activity against the law, it was extremely dangerous. The boaters on our lake do not look for swimmers in the water…they aren’t supposed to be there. Hell, some don’t even look for other boaters.

The right thing for me to have done was to have gotten word to them that they were breaking the law or simply picked up the phone and called 911. The area they were swimming in was a heavily used boat lane that most boaters coming and going always use. I kept thinking that soon they will climb back in the boat and go on their merry way. Forty-five minutes later they did. This has bothered me ever since that day. I have made up my mind to make the call if I ever see this again. I hope if any of you witness this type of dangerous behavior on this waterway or another you will please report it. I would rather see someone get a ticket that to end up with a life being lost.

https://youtu.be/qykZObsCkF8

You might need more practice if...

Over the years, I have written countless blogs and articles concerning fishing, and the fishing industry. Proudly I have watched the sport grow to heights I never thought it could reach. But, along with the sports success, the sport is finding huge problems along the way.

Courtesy out on the water seems to be at an all-time low. Having just turned 52, I was brought up in a time where we were taught manners. We opened doors for women, said yes sir, yes mam, please and thank you. All outdoorsmen considered each other family. This moral standard by which my generation was raised is slowly being replaced. Its replacement seems to be rudeness and selfishness.

When I hit the water, I am in my happy place, as are most fishermen and other boaters. For the water to remain our fun and relaxing place we must as a group find a way to get along better. This blog wasn’t intended for just one group, well actually it is…all of us. From the bass pro to the bank fisherman we need to treat each other with respect.

I learned a long time ago that I don’t own the lakes and waterways I fish. Common sense and good parenting taught me that. Sometimes doing what is right isn’t always the easiest route to take. It is however usually the best route and the safest. One of the worst things I see on a regular basis is fishermen crowding each other. At that point both parties generally get pissed. This is the easiest situation in the world to void…use your head. If someone is fishing a spot before you get to it, let them have it. Move on. If you are fishing with a child you have just done two things. Taught the child a good lesson and you avoided an incident out on the water. If that one spot was the only spot you thought you could catch a fish, you need more practice.

When I’m out on the water I try to treat other fishermen as I would like to be treated. This includes bank fishermen. Just because a person has a boat and another person doesn’t, does not give the boater right to fish all over the non-boater’s spot. By using common sense, decency, and respect toward others, our happy places will begin to be happy places again.

Have a great day!

Lowell Henderson

Blocking a public boat ramp...Really!

Things about fishing usually get my attention quickly. Lately, some things about fishing have gotten my attention…but not in a good way. Incidents of anger between anglers out on the water, are getting as common as road rage on the highways. While the sport of fishing is booming, it seems that ignorance on our waterways is too.

I have personally witnessed a couple of things in the last month that are very disturbing. I have watched a kayak angler paddle directly between another kayak angler and the bank she was fishing. He then proceeded to fish the water where the female angler was anchored down on. The second incident that has my blood boiling happened on the same lake, just on a different day. A boater that obviously thinks he is above the law and better than everyone else, parked his truck and trailer in the water on a single access boat ramp. That’s where he left it while he went fishing. This action prevented any other boat from using the boat ramp until he left the lake.

It is rudeness and stupidity such as this that cause problems that often lead to severe problems. Where or when did this kind of crap become ok? I certainly don’t remember this stuff being common place while I was growing up. I have fished tournaments for over thirty years, and fun fished for over forty years. Never have I seen the need to act in such a disrespectful or hateful manner while on the water.

As a rule, when launching from a public boat ramp, you need to spend as little time as possible on the ramp. Have your boat ready to put in when you back down the ramp, then get your tow vehicle out of the way as quickly as possible. This is called common courtesy.

Addressing the other issue, don’t crowd people out on the lake. It’s not a hard rule, just give people space. Treating others the way you expect to be treated, will usually take care of all the problems we encounter. This applies to everyone on the water. From the bank fisherman to the bass pro and everyone in between. The water is the most beautiful, relaxing place on earth…let’s keep it that way.

Different Water, Different Patterns

As I looked back on this week, I realized that I had been fortunate enough to fish on three different bodies of water. Two lakes and one pond. Each body of water I fished seemed to have its own personality. What worked on the first didn't work on the second, and what worked on the second didn't work on the third. I guess the most satisfying part of this week wasn't that I got to fish a lot, but that I managed to catch fish everywhere I went.

The secret to my success this week wasn't some great stash of knowledge. If I had to credit anything in helping me it would have to have been patience. The bite was slow and it took time on the water to figure out what was going on at each place. The first place I fished was the toughest. It took me two hours to put the first bass in the boat. That was also the first bite I had. After that the bites came a little quicker. I simply looked for other spots that were similar to where I caught my first fish. This pattern didn't yield a fish every time I stopped, the bites per hour however went way up.



The second body of water was tricky as well. I fished down a bank throwing a jig around every fallen tree I came to. It wasn't long and I had a three pounder in the boat. I thought yes...figured this one out early. Boy, was I wrong. Seven or eight trees later without another bite made me start to re-think my strategy. It was then by accident that I figured out what I was doing wrong. I came up on a tree that was on a little secondary point. This tree was running straight out on a point laying in a grassbed. I threw my jig out off the end of that point and immediately caught a small bass. I happen to drift right over the spot where I had just caught the bass and realized that the tree didn't even run out into the water. The trees weren't holding the bass, the grass on the point was. While I only caught one more bass running these secondary points, I let one big bass get off and missed quite a few more.


The third place I fished was the pond. The trees in this pond seemed to be the only place to get a bite. I lost a lot of jigs and plastic worms fishing all the timber but I also caught lots of fish. Every place we fish is like a puzzle. It's up to us to put all the pieces in place.

You guys have a great day, I'll see ya out on the water.

Fishing Muddy Water

One of the situations I am often faced with is fishing muddy water. Bass being predominately sight feeders don’t normally bite well in extremely muddy water. But, they will bite because no matter what the water conditions they still must eat.

My go to bait when fishing muddy water is the jig. A jig is a bulky type bait which a bass can easily find if fished in the right places. Dark colors such as black or blue will almost always work better than lighter colors in muddy situations.

When the water is muddy or heavily stained, I like to throw jigs in and around wooden cover such as lay downs or brush piles. I fish the jig as close to the cover as possible. Bumping the wood helps the fish locate the bait and sometimes produces violent strikes. This is a good time to fish a jig that has a built- in rattle.

So, the next time you’re faced with a muddy water trip, pack plenty of jigs and trailers and you should do fine. You guys stay safe on the water.

Lowell Henderson

https://www.facebook.com/Mulberry-River-Bait-Co-942787962471153/

I have a fan!

Just yesterday while browsing in my local Wal-Mart, I was recognized by a fan of the show. Not having been in the public spotlight all that long, this kind of thing overwhelms me a little. But, as the man asked a few questions and another customer joined in, I quickly became more comfortable. It didn’t take long for me to realize why I long to make fishing my fulltime career…I love everything about it.

Not only do I like the actual fishing and the outdoors in general, but I also like teaching others about fishing as well. Now as I rode home a little while later I couldn’t help but smile…I have a fan. Sure, I have been approached out on the water before, but this time seemed to put all the hard work in perspective.

Before our conversation ended my new friend informed me that he and his brother watched all my shows and have seen all my videos on YouTube. He went on to say that because of watching what I do he and his brother had recently ordered two kayaks and were waiting on them to come in. Just so happens that the kayak company is one that I have been trying desperately to get their attention. I believe in karma 100%. Native Watercraft…you are welcome.

To my new friends, may the wind always be at your back and your lines stay tight.

Lowell   Please subscribe  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCRhws6QFWuKmXbHcW10CrQ

My Business Feels Cluttered

 

As I begin this blog I sit and look around my cluttered office/bedroom. This is kind of how my business feels right now…cluttered. No, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. By cluttered I simply mean I have a lot going on and I need to organize a little more. Starting and running a show alone is a daunting task to say the least. You are pulled in a hundred different directions at the same time and a wrong move could cost you a potential new customer much quicker than you can even imagine. The saying, “You only get one time to make a first impression,” has never rang so true as it does right now.

 Every show I turn in to the TV station leaves me wondering, what could I have done better? How could I have explained that better, or what the &%$## happened to my audio. Audio problems are a pet peeve of mine.

Goals are something I am constantly updating and striving to reach. My goal over the next few months is to upgrade equipment so that I can offer a few different types of shows. One of my goals is to be able to take off with a friend on his or her boat and shoot a show anywhere we want to. Or, sit with my dad, grandkids, or anyone else, down on the river and film and relax at the same time.

Another goal of mine is to one day move my office onto a small houseboat. I can think of no better way to keep the spirit of the show fresh than to run it from the water. I have heard that marina people are some of the best people in the world to have as neighbors…I aim to find out one day. Soon I hope.

Are you a potential show sponsor? If you are I hope I have never given you a bad impression to deter you from that. Do you have ideas for my show? I want to hear them. My email is lowellhenderson65@yahoo.com. The feedback I get from guys out on the water, family, friends, co-workers, and all my social media contacts, leaves me with a very warm feeling inside. I’m glad I didn’t try and start a show that looks like every other show on TV. I like the relaxed atmosphere of “Simply Fishing.” Sooo…I think I’ll leave it this way for a long time. You guys n gals have a great day.

Lowell Henderson

Post cold front bassin'

New Year Resolutions

Well, we are now into the new year. Resolutions have been made and probably already broken by many. Myself, I really don’t put much stock in New Year resolutions, however I will say that I intend to be more productive this year than last. I can’t really complain about last year, it was certainly not an unproductive year. I fished more than ever, learned to make videos, and started a TV program all while working a fulltime job.

In 2017 I hope to take my fishing skills and TV show to the next level. Will 2017 be the year I get to truly live my dream? Well, like anyone else starting a business I think that answer will rest solely with me. I am already looking at those around me in the fishing industry to see what they are doing to insure their success. What I am seeing is people that love what they are doing. I also see people that get such a satisfaction when they give back to the industry. I see people that are both by their actions and commitments, changing the industry for the better. This is the group I want to a part of.

As I grow my show this year, I hope I can continue to put myself in the place of my sponsors to keep in mind what they need from me. I hope to represent each one of them in a way that makes them proud to be associated with me. Above all I hope the fans of my fledgling show will hang with me through this year as I go to some new places and try new things. After all, without you guys I would be nothing.

Lowell Henderson