CALLING DINK BAIT!!

[WAHOONBOX]

I KNOW YOUR NOT EXPECTING THIS DUDE.....BUT ...PLEASE SHARE WITH US A THOUGHT....A TIP WE SHALL SAY ....ANY THING THAT YOU FEEL WILL HELP THE NOVICE...OR THE NEWBIE...OR PERHAPS THE VETERAN

GANG..."DINK BAIT" WAS MY MAIN MAN PRE-HARRINGTON DAYS....HE NEVER ONCE LET ME DOWN...ALWAYS MADE ME LOOK GOOD AND NEVER ONCE RECEIVED DA CREDIT....NOR DID HE ASK FOR IT. HE WAS MY RIGHT HAND MAN INSTRUMENTAL IN US WINNING TOGETHER THE 2000 NC GOV CUP

NOW HE TEAMS UP WITH THE BEAST AND I ONCE MORE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TOURNY CIRCUIT...

WELL I GIVE HIM CRDEIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE....WITH LESS THAN 4 HRS LEFT IN A TOURNAMNET YEARS ...DINK BAIT WENT ON A TEAR ....PICKED OFF 4 WHITE BOYS AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR AND ALMOST A FIFTH....THE MAN IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE GAME TODAY....

SHIT. I BETTER SHUT UP...SECRET WILL BE OUT!

STEVE ...TAKE A BOW AND RIG US A BAIT WILL YA???

[Dink Bait]

Marty those are some awfully nice words. In the 17 years I have known you, you have always given credit where credit is due. As for the rest of it, well you know how I feel about credit. As long we know it that's good enough for me.

As for the tip.....I can think of a few with no problem and maybe someone will tie a better knot, bend a better haywire twist or rig a better bait. The best, most universal tip I can provide is this; find the teacher and the opportunity. Here is what I mean by that. When I met Marty I could hold my own fairly well inshore fishing. Maybe catch a few gulfstream dwellers inshore on live bait along with the usual reef suspects but I did not know squat about bluewater fishing. Worse , I thought I knew something from my "Harkers Island Fishing School" days taught By Randy Gregory, Jim Luxton and I think a very young Ken Kramer. Yeah, I am a certified old dude. I had a few successful offshore trips catching suicide Dolphin and Wahoos. This is where I am when I meet Marty.

Marty's shop is beside my office and in the afternoons I can see him offloading people and fish from a center console boat. Nice fish. Big fish. Lot's of 'em. I am definately meeting this guy. I start asking questions and Marty shares EVERY DETAIL. What went on that day and how he made it happen. I have found the motherlode. You guys have been there when the question is asked, "where did you catch em". You have also heard the answer, "in the mouth". Well there was none of the superior, arrogant dockside attitude. I wanted to know and as you know Marty wanted to teach.

The price of admission for the schooling was a willingness to work my ass off at the fishing business and maintain a borderline obsession with catching fish. This guy was OBSESSED with catching Wahoo in particular. I was in Marty's shop the day he shows me a sketch of his idea for what was to become the DFA complete rig. Leader material was tested by tying mono to the bumper of his pickup and the terminal end to the door knob of his shop. Someone we know has a scar from some very strong 100# mono breaking and bullwhipping him on the chest. Looked like he had been shot. I am digressing but I can't help it. Any time I think about "pre Box years" I remember hundreds of stories.

My point is this. I believe if you really want to learn and want to be the best, you have to find the teacher. I had learned all I knew by trial and error and you know how slow that is. I have read that most bad decisions come from a lack of experience. Conversely, most experience comes from bad decisions. The guy with the experience sure does move the whole process along for you. Obviously we have to bring something to the table. This has to be a two way street. Fortunately I think the very best of 'em are secure enough to share what they know and genuinely enjoy it. There is not a great deal of glory in toting ice, thawing/prepping bait, pre-cutting a few hundred leaders, sharpening hooks etc.,etc. The good news is that the guy that can not wait to perform the most meanial task is in high demand. The very best fisherman can not wait to share what he knows with the guy that absolutely burns for the knowledge and opportunity when he sees himself in you.

I really did not intend to get all philosophical here. A lot can be learned from books, seminars and videos. Unfortunately the book or video never says to you, "you have got to be an absolute dumbass to screw up that badly". Or "I watched you whiff on that Sailfish. God that was ugly". The book or video does not recognize desire and hard work and reward you with opportunity. As you have gathered Marty and I have shared countless days and struggles on the water along with a fair share of glory. I am one very fortunate dude but then I am still toting ice and thawing bait too.

Thanks for the opportunity Marty.

Next time the topic will be Cheese Its crackers and the fine art of navigation.

Steve

[anthony]

Steve,

I will be eagerly awaiting the next post Enjoyed every word of that one.

[Glenn W]

Dang Steve, that about sums it up-- took two frigging boxes of Cheese Its to read it-- but that about sums it up Seriously, 5 Star buddy.
I don't get all mushy in public about the ole man very often, but you hit the nail on the head with our teacher, mentor, friend---- compadre:
Marty Hiatt

[Bite Me]

Steve,

I will be eagerly awaiting the next post Enjoyed every word of that one.

Ditto,

That is far and away one of the classiest posts I have seen.

[FASTWATER]

RIGHT ON!!! Which reminds me of my favorite bumpersticker ever> Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted< !!!PEACE

[Baywolf]

Right on Steve!

[O-SEA-D]

That was a grat write up dude....thanks

[HOLWACHAGOT]

WOW. Great write up.

[BTH284]

Thanks Dink Bait and Marty for sharing this with all of us a good write up by both of you.
I can say from the little time that I have spent with Marty fishing on only 2 makeups and the few coversations I have had with him, I thoroughly take into my mind every thing he chooses to share (life and fishing) and talk about. Even the constructive criticism causes me no negative feelings at all because he then takes the time to show what you did was wrong and why I might add ,then how to correct it. That my friends is a true teacher. Not only showing you how to do things, but how to correct the wrongs and get back on right track with very little down time being the key.

Whenever I speak to him or Brian for that matter, I feel that I need to get the biggest funnel made and screw on my head and just listen and learn and let the knowledge that I thirst for just pour in because these guys are willing to share it with us. I feel that I could listen and learn from these guys for years on end. The short amount of time that I fished with Overboard and the info he shared will not be forgotten either.

I ride an office and jobsites 40 plus hours a week for living at this point in my life but that will change soon. However,my mind, heart and my soul belong to gods oceans and the creatures that swim there that he gives to us to kill and eat!!!! I am glad that their are teachers such as Marty to show us how to kill more efficiently,more speedily and be more consistent with the whole practice.
I not only tip my riggers to you by my hat is off as well.