It started like it does with every fisherman: wading creeks and fishing ponds. But it quickly elevated from there. Hours spent fishing became days and muddy banks turned to carpeted decks. The majority of my childhood was spent between a trolling motor and an outboard.
Some would say that was the first stroke of luck. But God had more to do with it. You see I'm not some rouge that just picked up a rod one day and said I'm going to try this fishing thing out. The addiction is hereditary. My father, Ricky Baker, or as he prefers to be addressed, 2 Time State Champ, has fished all his life. And his father before him, though more for food than just fun.
And my mom. One in a million. One of those strong women who has put up with a lot of late nights and early mornings and thrown together countless sandwiches. The only time she ever said anything to me about my fishing was about the 7th grade when I got my first 'B'. She banned fishing for two weeks! She knew what she was doing as always and that 'B' didn't happen again. Fishing was in the family.
My sister was along side for a while til she gave up bass and brim for baby dolls and then boys. But she's always stayed close. Kept up with everything. Scraped all the website, magazine, and news articles together and logged them for future nostalgic use. A true fan and friend til the end.
So I grew up fishing. Local pots on Lake Martin and Yates with dad then club tournaments on my own. Kowliga Bassmasters. Now that's a group of guys that are hard to beat. Fishing sure, but more so in character. I met some of the greatest guys I've ever known in that club: Neil, James, Hank, Billy, Mr. Seeb, all of them. "Salt of the earth" is too cliche. But there's really no other way to say it.
Then came college. Auburn University. When I enrolled it was just another stepping stone to get to where I didn't want to go, the real world. But Sophomore year it became an outlet for what I love to do. The Auburn University Bass Sports Club. I joined with a friend and gained several more. It's been by far the best part of my college experience. I've had the opportunity to fish all over the country on lakes that I'd probably never seen otherwise.
So that should have you caught up on me and how I got here. The college life is almost over with graduation slated for December. But there's still a little Auburn Fishing business to take care of so stay tuned.
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Past Tournaments and Accomplishments
