The Joy of Fishing
Memories that money cannot buy

In my home town B. G. Tutt was the man to call if you wanted to know all the important fishing information.

It was the difference in a wasted trip and a trip you would remember and talk about for a long time.

B.G. could tell you which lake in central Missouri to fish, the water temperature, clarity and even the arm of that lake that was producing the best bite. He would tell you the baits to use and how to fish them and if you knew anything about the lake he could tell you the exact bank, point, cove or bluff that was holding fish.

Black bass, White bass, Crappie or Walleye he was knowledgeable about all species. He just liked to catch fish.

The Family owned a Clothing Store but don't bother coming by for information on Tuesdays or Thursdays or even calling on Sundays. Those were B.G.'s fishing days. But on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and even Saturday the Clothing store had a steady stream of fishermen and regular customers interested in one thing. . .How'd you do B.G.?

B.G. Tutt was my father.

I don't remember the first time dad took me fishing or even how young I was. I do remember he gave me a cane pole with a cork, baited my hook and we watched together as the cork bobbed twice and went under.

It was my first fish! Dad was more excited than I was.
For the next 40 years we fished together and each trip we took was a wonderful memory that money simply could not buy.

His banjo flip trick he used to free baits hung up on brush piles or rocks was just amazing and it worked about 80% to 90% of the time. If that didn't work he showed me how to make a knocker out of a safety-pin and a bell sinker.

He added a skirt to the back of a hellbender for a little extra action or to the back of a chugger before skirts on hard baits were popular. He taught me to improvise, improve and create but most of all he taught me the true joy of fishing.