I just want to say thanks to Donnie and everyone who helped out Barren. I also want to thank James Blair for his hospitality in letting me his boat while he
was not feeling well.
I joined the KBF back in 2001. I thought it would be nice to fish different places that my club doesnt go regularly. What I didnt expect, but now has been MORE gratifying than the fishing, was making friends from all over the state. Ask anyone. there are some exceptional people in the KBF and James Blair, aka Papaw, is one of those people.
I went to the Barren qualifier without a boat. Mine was taken to the shop the week before and I fully expected to have it back in time, but thats another story. I called Donnie Saturday and told him my situation. He said we had 6 guys that would need to be paired boater-boater so I would just be one of those 6. I was paired with James Blair who told me he had one spot he wanted to fish, then the rest of the day was mine. He told me I was driving the boat to the spot in the morning and I was running the trolling motor. That morning Papaw told me he wasnt feeling well and I said we could stay back. But he insisted he needed 2 fish to stay in the AOY points race. So we went to his spot where I managed to boat a small limit and Papaw got a slot fish. Once the sun got over the treetops, it was apparent that Papaw was feeling worse, but he insisted we stay out. Eventually I told him I was taking him to the truck. We left the boat in the water and I pulled his truck right down to the boat. We sat in the truck parked in the shade with the air conditioning running for awhile as I wondered what to do. My instinct told me he needed to go to the hospital, but told me he wasnt leaving that parking lot. He had to weigh those fish. So after awhile he said he was going to take a nap. I left and went to the boat and fished around the small cove within sight of the truck. after about an hour Donnie saw me and asked what I was doing in the cove. I said "its not off limits". He said "thats not what I mean". So I told him Papaw was not feeling well and in the truck so I was staying close. Then Donnie asked how many fish I had and I told him a small limit. He told me Papaw was in good hands and for me to go out and not come back until I had a good limit. So I did.
I wondered whether to write this. I even called and asked Donnie because Some people this may take offense and holler that some of the rules were bent when we got out of the boat or that I was shown favoritism with my draw situation. But those people are missing the point. THe KBF is about people and the relationships it builds. I have made many close friends from all around the state and its just because of a couple of hours in a boat together. If fish bite, thats even better.
I joined the KBF back in 2001. I thought it would be nice to fish different places that my club doesnt go regularly. What I didnt expect, but now has been MORE gratifying than the fishing, was making friends from all over the state. Ask anyone. there are some exceptional people in the KBF and James Blair, aka Papaw, is one of those people.
I went to the Barren qualifier without a boat. Mine was taken to the shop the week before and I fully expected to have it back in time, but thats another story. I called Donnie Saturday and told him my situation. He said we had 6 guys that would need to be paired boater-boater so I would just be one of those 6. I was paired with James Blair who told me he had one spot he wanted to fish, then the rest of the day was mine. He told me I was driving the boat to the spot in the morning and I was running the trolling motor. That morning Papaw told me he wasnt feeling well and I said we could stay back. But he insisted he needed 2 fish to stay in the AOY points race. So we went to his spot where I managed to boat a small limit and Papaw got a slot fish. Once the sun got over the treetops, it was apparent that Papaw was feeling worse, but he insisted we stay out. Eventually I told him I was taking him to the truck. We left the boat in the water and I pulled his truck right down to the boat. We sat in the truck parked in the shade with the air conditioning running for awhile as I wondered what to do. My instinct told me he needed to go to the hospital, but told me he wasnt leaving that parking lot. He had to weigh those fish. So after awhile he said he was going to take a nap. I left and went to the boat and fished around the small cove within sight of the truck. after about an hour Donnie saw me and asked what I was doing in the cove. I said "its not off limits". He said "thats not what I mean". So I told him Papaw was not feeling well and in the truck so I was staying close. Then Donnie asked how many fish I had and I told him a small limit. He told me Papaw was in good hands and for me to go out and not come back until I had a good limit. So I did.
I wondered whether to write this. I even called and asked Donnie because Some people this may take offense and holler that some of the rules were bent when we got out of the boat or that I was shown favoritism with my draw situation. But those people are missing the point. THe KBF is about people and the relationships it builds. I have made many close friends from all around the state and its just because of a couple of hours in a boat together. If fish bite, thats even better.
