We’ve all heard the slogan, “Take a Kid Fishing.” Well, that’s what this story is about. It’s about a mother taking her son fishing and you’ll figure out what happened next.
First, though, an old friend and fellow competitor, Dennis Taylor, recently sent me a bunch of old southern California magazines and papers. While thumbing through them, a lot of old memories flooded back into my mind of anglers I used to compete against and the fun we had on the water and off. Then, I noticed something I hadn’t forgotten – more so it was something I hadn’t thought about in a long time. The year was 1989 and I wasn’t fishing competitively anymore due to school but I was still entrenched in what was going on.
Team Martens’ first 3rd-place finish of the 1989 season. Photo courtesy of Craig Sutherland ABA Newsletter April 1989.I’d go by the tackle shop and get the latest scoop and this one specific team kept coming up. Stuff like, “Oh, this kid and his mom are cleaning up at Castaic.” Or, “He’s the wonder kid – he’s only in high school and kicking everyone’s butt.” “Dick Trask say’s he’s the next Ricky Clunn or Roland Martin.”
I just shrugged my shoulders and thought it was all hype.
But then I’d get the magazines and yes, the kid and his mom were kicking the rears off of the most respected teams in the Southland.
