Randy Pope

In Rural North Carolina, before I was 5 years old, I started fishing with a stick, string, hook and a red worm, in any body of water that held fish. Some of the fondest memories of my youth are loading ten family members in a six seater Chevy on a hot summer day with 20 cane poles stuck out of both windows on our way to Lake Norman, NC for a day of fishing.

So from my youth on up to 52 years old, I have always loved to fish. I do believe it is something you are born with. I started Crappie fishing in late 1980's – wasn't very good! I did one tournament, and didn't catch a limit. I got better in the early 1990's, and qualified for my 1st Crappie Classic in 1994 on Lake Norman NC. Classic site was in Arkansas 750 miles away. I had never been farther than Lake Norman – 30 miles away! We finished 2nd, but should have won it. The big one got away! That year of 1994 got me hooked on tournament fishing and I have been going hard at it ever since, with many tournament wins along the way; a regional win in 1999, national championship in 2003 in Arkansas, four consecutive Bass Pro Shop Classic wins in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007; all four on different lakes and another in 2009. Our biggest win of all came in the 2007 Crappie USA Classic on Kentucky Lake.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and I'm going back to feel the tick or see the line jump. Good fishing.