Club'n

So I recently joined a B.A.S.S. Federation Nation affiliated club. I signed up with the Eastern Shore Bassmasters back in September and so far, I enjoy it. At first it was a little intimidating because I was not sure just how I would stack up to the other guys' level of competitive fishing. I think I have held my own pretty well so far, finishing out the fall/winter portion of the tournament season in 4th place. Our tournaments will begin again in late March, but back to my start with the club. From the minute I was voted into the club, I knew it was for me. I got along great with our club president, Dave Perrego and the rest of the members. I actually had to fish with two of them before I could be voted on. The first was Jon White. Kind of a rough around the edges type of guy like myself, and you could tell he was the kid that did not have the type of upbringing that puts kids these days on a soft pillow of love and compassion, which gives them the wrong idea about the real world. No, this guy I can tell, had that tough love growing up and as a result, disappointment does not affect him as much as the majority of folks. Just like me. We fished together on my boat in a club tournament and caught zero. It was real tough fishing that day and needless to say we both thought it could have gone better, but neither one of us pitched a bitch fit about it. What's done is done... move on to the next tournament. I think the general attitude on the boat that day solidified a new friendship. The 2nd member I fished with was Toni Asti. A young kid (20 I think) that has his whole life ahead of him and he knows it. Goes to college, keeps up with meetings and a good angler as well. We met at McGinnes pond one day after work just to fish for fun and I had made the claim to him before that day, that McGinnes was almost always on. Well we must have hit it on one of those almost days because we had a nothing start. Keeping at it, Toni kept skipping his worm into and under covers to pull his first one off some USAV just out from the bank; a nice 2 pounder. Then, if I remember correctly, we headed out of the cove and he caught his second right in the middle of the mouth of the cove. Okay, now I'm getting worried. I trolled back into the very head of the creek arm and he switched to a frog and began to pull it across the mats of pads that filled the corner of the pond. I was flipping a YUM Gonzo Grub to the edges of the pads. Sure enough, one smacked his frog and he brought it to the boat. "I knew he was there" Tony said. "I could see the pads moving, and there's no wind". I ended the day with nothing and I am convinced that every time a new person comes on my boat for the first time, I will NOT catch fish that day. By now this story probably makes it sound like I never catch anything. I swear I do, but I am usually by myself. Well our outing was not a complete failure for me. Tony gave me some great info about the club. What to expect from the other members, meetings, tournaments and I made a new friend. I think putting Toni on fish could have influenced his vote to bring me in the club. What's that they say about first impressions? Just kidding. Toni, if you are reading this, you're a good guy, I look forward to our many fishing adventures that have yet to come. Keep up the good work in school and your head in the game. You are for sure going somewhere. I know you have not quite figured out what it is you are meant to do, but I assure you from my own experience in life that you don't pick it, it picks you. You'll know what it is when it comes. You may have to try a few different things in life to find out, but as long as you are doing the right thing by staying out of trouble, your calling will "call you".