Throughout my fishing career I have been on a lot of amazing fishing trips and met many amazing people, but none more amazing than my newest fishing buddy Mitchell Mock. Here’s why.

A few weeks ago I was asked by my sponsors at Bass Pro Shops to help out with a very special request. I was told that they were contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to aid in granting a wish for a young man with a life threatening illness. Mitchell suffers from a type of brain tumor called anaplastic ependymoma and his wish was to have a shopping spree at Bass Pro Shops.

Mitchell and his family arrived via a stretched Hummer today at the Macon BP where myself and the operations/promotions manager Katherine White welcomed him to the store and instructed him that I was at his disposal to help in making any decisions on fishing equipment and Tim the hunting pro was going to aid in the hunting dept.

Mitchell had many items on his list and we wasted no time getting down to business. We talked trolling motors; tackle boxes, rods and reels and one of his favorite forms of fishing dock shooting. The employees were great at giving Mitchell the royal treatment when we needed some help finding stuff and I don’t think I saw him stop smiling the whole time he was there.

After we were done in the fishing area Tim our Hunting Pro took over and helped Mitchell with the hunting items on his list. While I was waiting on them to get through I overheard one of Mitchell’s family members describe Mitchells medical trials and tribulations and without getting into details I can tell you that he has been through more than anybody his age should. It was then I realized how amazing this young fellow was. I have been disabled since I was an infant and have never known any other way of life. But Mitchell who was a very athletic kid before his diagnoses and played many forms of sports has had all of this taken away from him due to his medical condition. This would send most people into a downward spiral of depression but Mitchell refuses to let it beat him and instead of focusing on the things he can’t do he chooses to focus on the things like hunting and fishing that he can do and live life to its fullest. That’s why before he left I asked him for a favor. I told him that people are always asking me for my autograph but in the few hours that I have known him his “never give up” attitude is truly an inspiration and I would like him to autograph my favorite Bass Pro Shops visor. I went on to tell him that now when I am having a bad tourney that I can just look up at the underside of my visor and know that Mitchell would tell me suck it up and pop that one last cast to put that winning fish in the boat. Mitchell is truly an amazing person and a real PRO in my book!

After giving a Trophy Catfishing demonstration at Bass Pro Shops last month I was asked by a customer if I would help out with with a fishing rodeo for his cub scout troop. And of course I agreed.Out of all the door's in pro fishing that have opened for me over the last few years nothing beats the feeling that I get when working with the kids.

Yesterday was a great day for catfishing down at the local P.F.A. This kids fishing area was only built a few years ago so the channels werent more than 3-4lbs but the kids really had a great time

I spoke with the kids and told them that not only were we going to go out and have a great time fishing but we were also going to have a fishing tournament just like I fish on the Bass Pro Tour with prizes for Big fish,most fish,smallest fish and a few others. Then we went to it.

We had moms, dads and grandparents fishing with their kids and I tried to get around to visit and fish with as many as I could. Some of the boys even brought their sisters along and they got in the action too!

The kids stopped for a short lunch break then went back to it. The Catfish Reaper Bait Enhancer that I provided all of the kids was really bringing the fish to the bank.

Big shout out to my sponsors at Bass Pro Shops for providing the gift cards and prizes to give out!

I just wanted to say thanks to all of the folks who stopped by and visited yesterday & today at the Bass Pro Boat Show in Macon. Fishing is in my blood and I love sharing my knowledge as a Pro so that others can use it to have the fishing trip of a lifetime the next time they go out! I also had a good time visiting with 3 time Classic qualifier Brian Snowden this man is a class act.
For those that missed it I will be giving a few more Trophy Catfishing seminars next Saturday and Sunday at the Bass Pro in Macon. Stop by and see me I will be there from 12-4pm each day!

When my friends at www.proanglerradio.com  gave me a call asking if I could help out at the Atlanta Boat Show by giving a few fishing seminars I said "Heck Yeah!!".

So I  met up with the other Pro Angler Radio fishing team members at the world congress center today and we did our thing!! Chris was on point showing us how to tie a drop shot. Matt D was money working his float n fly mojo up in the big tank. And I was slinging 8/0 circle hooks up close and personal down in the front row.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to support us!

Word on the street is that we did such a good job that we have been asked to come down to the Fisherama in Perry Ga next month for a repeat performance.

Matt up on the Triton working the float n fly

Chris sharing his "Drop-shot Tricks".

Me sharing my slimey-est secrets with the crowd.

We were really packing the seats in during our segments too!:cool:

 

During the off season I have been trying to do as much as I can to help out in my local community. So today I visited the Medical Center of Central Georgia Childrens Hospital.

Spro, Gamakatsu, Bass Pro Shops and my good friend Ann Wickham donated enough stuff to make up some great gift bags for the kids. And Bass Pro Shops donated a bass fishing game w/ rod and reel controller for the hospitals xbox 360 in their play room.

I spoke with about 10 of the patients that could come down to the play room. I then shared my story of how I was in there place before and let them know that anything is possible if they just dont ever give up!!

Then I went room to room and visited the rest of the children who were unable to leave their beds. I know how hard it is on the psychie to be in the hospital as a child and this was great seeing the kids smile for a few minutes and take their minds off of the day to day stress.

Below are a few pics of my visit. The last one is of my new friend Easton Blanchard he has been battling with MS. The nurses said he was a firecracker and an avid outdoorsman. His parents were telling me about how during the summer they helped Easton reel in a big ol 24 lb flathead out of the pond behind their house. I told him that not just anybody can catch a mean ol monster of a cat like that, and as a trophy I autographed my lucky hat and gave it to him.

Thanks again for everyone who helped out with this visit!!

Folks, the Mighty Mississippi river is not for the faint of heart. It has the strongest current that I have ever seen in my life on a river. That and all of the barge traffic made traversing this legendary waterway just as hard as fishing it. On day one after virtual fishing all month I second guessed my initial game plan and went out on the main river to catch a big momo or 5. Well after no luck fishing the slack water behind the wing dams i fought with the river all day and put up a great big ZERO at the weigh in on day one. But with only 18 out of 55 anglers weighing in fish I knew I still had a chance to place overall with a strong showing on day two.
6am on day two I went back to my initial game plan to find some back water and catch some flatheads which is my forte'. I rode about 15 miles upriver on plane in my 17 ft cc bay boat jumping barge wakes in order to get to my holes before daylight. I even think I peed a little after catching too much air on one of those tsunami's that the barge's put off. But as soon as I had the 1st whole set it paid off with multiple bites and a 4lb cull fish to get the skunk out of the boat.
I found a spot on a ledge in about 20 ft of water and stuck the nose of my boat in the mud bank to keep her steady as I lost my anchor in the big current on day one and continued to catch a few more 8-10lb blues.


Being hyped up with the way my newly found mojo was working I noticed it was time to head back down to Memphis and see where I would end up in the 2009championship standings.


As I said I was dead last after day one but my 4 fish on day two weighed out at 30.75lbs. When it was all said and done I ended up with a 19th place finish out of 55 of the nation’s best fishermen on the Bass Pro Tour. Just outside of the money but in my mind it showed that even when the odds aren't in his favor this paraplegic can walk the walk when he has too

Way to go Man!

“I went over to County Line Lake in Jonesboro, Georgia to try out my new catfish reaper. The place was supposed to be open until 8pm but I was told that it was closing at 6.Well with only a little over an hour or so to fish I went to it. I found me a nice undercut bank with a blow down and showed them cats why they should fear the reaper!! I had to leave right when the fishing was getting good but I managed a few fish with the biggest being around 10lbs.I also had one 20+ break me off after it took me for a ride!
This Catfish Reaper Bait Enhancer is off the Hook!!!! – Josh M.”

Another Good fish or three hooked on the Catfish Reaper Bait Enhancer!!!

"Took a little vacation and headed up to Wyndham Vacation Resort at Fairfield Glade, Tn.
While we were there, we took the famous Catfish Reaper Bait Enhancer, along with a chicken leg and thigh, and, well, let the pictures do the talking.
Mind you this is mid November in COLD water, and here's some folks fishing for catfish? You got to be kidding! Well, as they say, "the proof is in the pudding".
On our first day of fishing, my Wife set the bar a little high as she reeled in an 8.7 lb fish. I tried to keep up with her, but the 2.4 lb and the 3.6 lb fish just weren't enough. Hope you enjoy the pics.

A HUGE THANKS out to The Sultan of Slime as my Wife caught her LARGEST FISH EVER!!!!

 I'm still just tickled as can be for her. I think one of the pics says it all in her smile. Her PB was caught on 8# line too!! We thought she'd never get her in, but after about a 15 minute fight, like a pro, she got her to the bank. Thanks again to S.O.S. and to my very loving Wife for making a little vacation a lifelong memory!!!!! - John Smith"

Another Satisfied Customer! That's a nice one !! - The Sultan


"Got my shipment from SOS Labs on Saturday and showed these Ohio guys how to catch some catfish. I only got to fish for a little while on Saturday but managed a few for the freezer, biggest about 9lbs. And after the second fish they dropped the cut bait and started begging for some of the Catfish Reaper. Thanks again Sultan for the help, your new bait enhancer has really helped out this transplanted Georgia boy and I can’t thank you enough!! - Jason H."