I became an avid fisherman almost as soon as I was old enough to hold a pole and watch a float bob on the water.
I was introduced to the sport by my father, Joe Bourne, who was one of the best crappie anglers I’ve ever known. More than fifty years ago, he and my uncle Doug built a wooden johnboat, and they powered it with an old eighteen-horsepower Johnson outboard. Together they used this rig to fish on nearby Kentucky Lake, which at the time was the largest manmade lake in the world.
They were smart fishermen. They figured out how to find and work sunken drop-offs in the days before fish finders and electric trolling motors were in common use. My dad would sit backward in the bow of the boat, sculling with one hand and “tight-lining” minnows along the drops with the other. It was sort of an “angler’s ballet”—very coordinated, rhythmic, and graceful. His “depth finder” was a heavy egg sinker tied to the end of his line. He used a fly rod to continuously lift and lower this sinker up and down off bottom. When it took longer to bump, he knew the bottom was deeper. If it bumped shorter, the bottom was shallower. In this way, he could follow the old creek channel drops where the crappies were schooled. He and my uncle caught fish with amazing regularity!
My brother and I started going on these crappie trips when we were very young. My dad would rig us each a pole with a float and we’d drag these behind the boat. We learned that when our float disappeared, if we lifted quickly, we could hoist up a crappie.
I still remember the excitement of those trips, the fun we had, and the coolers full of “slabs” we’d bring home and clean for family fish fries. It was these early trips that instilled in me an enduring love for fishing, its challenges, its rewards, and its simple good times.
My dad passed away when he was almost eighty-eight years old. He left behind a legacy of exuberant good nature, caring for his family, and sharing his enthusiasm for fishing and hunting. Because he took the time to introduce my brother and me to the water and woods, we both became avid sportsmen.
In fact, I turned this passion for the outdoors into a profession. I became a full-time outdoor writer/broadcaster. Along the way, I had the pleasure of fishing some of the best waters with many of the best anglers in the world. I’ve caught everything from bluegills to giant tunas. I’ve shared my stories and shows with millions of anglers around the world. Still, some of my best memories are of those early days on the water with my dad and uncle and brother.
I’ve passed this love for the outdoors on to my children. My son is a “serious” fisherman and hunter. My daughter is less ardent about outdoor sports, but she still enjoys watching a float bob underwater and pulling out a sunfish. To each his or her own. That’s the beauty of fishing and hunting. You can enjoy it at whatever level you wish—serious or casual, whether you’re a girl or a boy.
In 1988, I wrote my first outdoor book, titled Fishing Fundamentals. It was geared toward beginning anglers, and its purpose was to teach the basics of fishing. Moreover, my goal was to share the pleasures of fishing with others who had the desire, but not the know-how, to get into this sport. The book has been used by literally tens of thousands of anglers since it came out.
The Scouting Guide to Basic Fishing covers much of the same information as Fishing Fundamentals, and is updated to modern times. Most of the basic concepts of fishing are the same, but equipment has changed quite a bit since 1988 and huge technological advances have been made over the years that help anglers increase their success and fun in fishing.
My fervent hope is that you apply the fishing instructions and strategies offered in the following pages and share in the fun. Fishing is truly an undertaking of joy, excitement, challenges and rewards. There is magic in dropping a bait in the water and pulling out a fish!
There are so many people to acknowledge and thank for their support of and contributions to this book. My wife, Becky, has been my love and my anchor over more than a quarter-century. She’s the smartest, kindest, most fascinating woman I’ve ever met. My children, Hampton and Haley, are the best kids in the world. They bring true joy to their dad’s heart. My mother has been the kind of mom all youngsters should have: loving, supportive, and fun. My brother and I still join forces several times a year to pursue fish, ducks, turkeys, and other critters. He’s the perfect outdoor partner. I’ve also been blessed with fishing and business friends who are too numerous to mention. (One exception is Eddie Burchett, who put on his thinking cap and came up with the title for this book.)
I acknowledge my Creator for His soul-saving grace and love. It gives me pleasure to know that Jesus called fishermen from their boats to help in His earthly work.
In closing, I dedicate this book to my late father, Joe W. Bourne III. He is gone from this world, but never from my heart. Whatever heaven is like, I hope it includes a lake full of crappies and a creaky old johnboat so we can relive those early days of fishing together. I love you Pa, and I miss you.
Wade Bourne