Growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River was like having a playground with endless opportunities. Exploring those banks was a treasure hunt for unique pieces of driftwood and fishing lures that had washed ashore. It was a simple pleasure that I could only appreciate many years later. Fishing and hunting always trumped the salvaging but better than that was hunting and fishing with my young cronies.  

Talking with old friends (as in old in age and as in old friends forever) we all agree that we wouldn’t change where, when, and who we grew up with, for anything. From Billy who always went joy riding with me in my dad’s boat to John who lost a gallon of blood when a northern pike thought his hand was a bluegill to Jumpin’ Joe who was part muskrat as he was “one” with the backwaters. Those quick thoughts only scratch the surface, but the stories end the same way even after all of these years: with a smile on my face.

That brings me to current times and two “old” childhood friends: Snake and Guff. I don’t know how they got those nicknames, but I do know that I can’t remember a time when they weren’t called Snake and Guff. We have gone on a couple of reunion fishing outings and during the most recent one it was agreed that it would become an annual event and thus needed a proper title. That is how the 2024 Crappie Classic II came to be. Like the original event, the hype lived up to the expectations. 

Once on the water the fishing was pretty intense with bragging rights at stake. Trash talk filled the boat faster than we filled the livewell with fish. Stories flowed and there was so much laughter coming that everyone on the lake probably thought our boat was full of beer. The reality was that there wasn’t any beer. There didn’t need to be any as the company and the action was so great.

At one point Guff jumped up on the bow of the boat and assumed the role of Captain. I’m not sure if you would call it fate, luck, or even skill, but we did go on a crappie run where we caught fish on almost every cast. Captain Guff announced that the run of good luck was a direct result of him being in charge and that he wasn’t surprised in the least.

Snake chose to hold court from the back of the boat. I am not sure if he knew it or not, but the back deck chair is the most comfortable seat and whoever sits in that chair is also responsible for operating the door to the live well. With almost nonstop action, Snake was a busy guy.

The hours in the boat slipped by and we burned through years of stories. Looking back, it was one of my favorite days of the summer and I am looking forward to Crappie Classic 2025. I guess I should tell you who won this year’s “classic.” Well that is the easiest question of the day to answer.  Drum roll please: this year’s Crappie Classic winner was . . . whoever you happen to be talking to.

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