40% of my time is spent bank fishing. I love hanging out with this small
group of old goats (most in their late 70's and early 80's) that bank fish
Belleville Lake. We all met about 3-years ago while I was fishing a
tournament and I choose to work the bank they were carp fishing. They
started picking on me, so I made it a point to go back after the tournament
to sit and chat. Now, I make it a point to visit them a few times a week.
I love listening to their old tales (that I have probably hear at least a
100 times), but they always seem to add a little something new each time.

Another group I make sure I visit a couple times a week is a group of
homeless folks that actually live in tents along the river section of the
lake. I again love to hear their stories while I catch a few silver bass,
perch, crappie, and walleye that I leave for them to eat. Most are there
because of booze and drugs, but once in a while you meet a few that just
happen to fall into hard times. They usually only stay there about a week
or so and then they leave. One old gentleman (Walter) is my favorite. I
watch out for Walter just to make sure he's alive and well. Walter stays
all year round, collecting beer and pop cans to get what little he has, and
I make sure he always finds a little package of stuff, for he will not take
money or charity of any kind. But if he finds it on his own, that's ok.

So I love to walk the banks, catching fish, enjoying all the nature around
me, and conversing with whoever is around. I believe bank fishing has only
helped me to become a better boat angler. For while the two methods are
almost totally opposite of each other, the techniques I have learned from
bank fishing has helped me to win more than a few tournaments when the
conditions get tough.

--
Craig Baugher
Be Confident, Focused, but most of all Have FUN!