I started fishing at the ripe old age of five. I was first introduced to the sport by my grandfather, who owned a pond filled with bass and perch, four blocks north of where I currently live. He would take me out in a little wooden rowboat that was painted red and would paddle me around the pond. I was hooked on fishing from the start.

In addition to this, my parents exposed me to trout fishing around various Rocky Mountain areas, where some of the best fishing spots were found in Colorado. These specific areas were so plentiful simply because beavers built their dams along small streams, which would form small ponds. Even when the fish weren’t biting, my parents realized it was just as much fun for me to throw rocks in the water.

My father loved going to these types of areas. Bear in mind this was in the 1950s and 1960s (What is an S.U.V.?). My dad was determined to get to these fishing spots and would drive the family car into these places, regardless of the possibility of damage. We would return home without any mufflers, exhaust pipes, and cut tires.

My paternal grandparents lived in Kentucky, where we would drive yearly for a visit. My parents and grandmother would take me fishing on a small river (currently known as Lake Beshear) where we would catch bass and catfish with cane poles. When my parents would visit my relatives my Uncle Elmer would always take me fishing on Kentucky Lake in a small boat. At this early age it was just another lake to me, however, now I realize how fortunate I was to have had this experience.

In Colorado we frequently fished gravel pits for bluegill. What is catch and release? My mom wished we knew these words back then, as we would bring home buckets of bluegills for her to clean. Times were hard, so everything you caught you ate.

As I got older I started fishing out of some multi-species clubs in Colorado where I learned that you had to fish for more than just bass to win (The weight of wipers and walleye are far greater than bass). These clubs had numerous expert fishermen where one can gain a unique education without much expense. One year I was able to finish in second place and in subsequent years I had the biggest largemouth bass and the largest smallmouth bass.

My techniques were refined by local bass fishing clubs. At one particular tournament, everyone there thought they had taught me too much since I was the only one to bring in a legal length bass. Fortunately, this tournament produced a nice pay check, along with eligibility for the top six in the bass club to compete in the state team tournament. Each year I traveled to various lakes and reservoirs to fish the state team qualifier tournaments. I fished in  the Sun Country Tournament Trail and finished in first place twice in the Make a Wish Tournaments. The past five years I have been fortunate to fish as a pro on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail from California to Louisiana.

I am also involved with the Cast for Kids Program, which includes taking physically and mentally challenged kids fishing. This is one of the most enjoyable times that a person can have, especially when you help these kids catch a fish. I additionally devote my time to the Make a Wish Tournament and Take a Kid Fishing Day at various Wal-Mart stores.

My activities also extend to fishing seminars at sportsmen’s shows, as well as, boat shows. I also write articles for magazines and appeared in the past as a weekly guest on the Great American Outdoor Trails Radio Magazine for a year, Gander Mountain edition of the Great American Outdoor Trails Radio Magazine for a year, and have appeared on Rocky Mountain Adventures television fishing specials. In addition to being an avid fisherman, I am also a certified Mercury Marine technician.

Please remember to take a kid fishing (even if they just throw rocks into the water), so they can get hooked on this sport as I have.

"Alex" Alexander