As you read this, a good many of us are preparing for Capt. Mack’s Professional Grade Spring Fishing Classic! For instance, from the Lake Country Kevin Wahl, Mark Smith, Jim Lumpkin and I will all be there. Trust me, you will not want to miss this event! 

Here’s the details:

Location – Jim Ellis Mall of GA GMC, 3600 Buford Dr., Buford, Ga. 30519

Time – 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until I pass out… 

Speakers – Our very own Mark Smith from ReelTime Guide Services, Ryan Hanks and Franco Curotto of Cast Fishing, Jimbo on Lanier, Capt. Brandon Davis from Bent Rod Charters, LJ Harmon from Lanier Baits (the dropshot Jedi), Capt. Ron Mullins- The Striper Experience, Capt. Adam Parker, Oakwood Bait and Tackle’s Paul Mark’s and Kris Kemp, Ryan Marquis from Tiny Boat Nation, and Marty Allagood from The Bait Shack

Vendors from all over including Oakwood Bait and Tackle (the striper megastore), Capt. Mack, Lanier Baits, and many more!!! Guides such as Capt. Brandon Davis, Mark Smith, Kevin Wahl, and I will be there to book with. 

I encourage any of you that can to come up and take part in this event. The fishing and outdoor world need these things. We need TRUE fishing and hunting events like this, not the usually crowded halls filled with brickabrack and junk. We need seminars, vendors who know and love their crafts, and experts we can chat with about all our concerns and questions. These events are vital to the success of our sport and to the personal growth of each of us as outdoorsmen. 

In the glory days, I remember going to the NWTF Convention around about this time of year in Unicoi and I remember the Atlanta Boat Show being filled with guides and lodges from all over the south. We had the Fisharama back then that was filled with bass boats, crappie rods, crappie jigs, bass tackle, and celebrities like Capt. Mack and O’Neal Williams, Bill Dance and Orlando Wilson. These were the events that we looked forward to every year. My Dad and I booked trips there, bought gear, and met great people. I’m truly thankful to see these events making a comeback and I can’t wait for this one.

When I was probably 10 or 11, my father and grandfather took me to the NWTF show at Unicoi. We went every year as far as I remember and frankly, I don’t know if it was the state or national show. However, that year I had a little money and wanted to buy a mouth call. We turkey hunted A LOT back then. I mean every Saturday morning my grandaddy would pick me up and we’d go to White Plains and hunt. So, I was into turkey hunting to say the least. Anyway … AS I was walking around talking to people and looking at calls I saw Quaker Boy calls booth and a vast array of mouth calls. Oh man, I had hit the motherlode! Well, I made a beeline over there and started looking and asking questions. An older gentleman came over and started talking to me. He took a call off the table, gave it to me, and picked up an identical one. He sat there for an hour or more showing me how to make yelps, purrs, and cuts. Yes, I bought the call and it turns out the older gentleman was Mr. Dick Kirby, the founder of Quaker Boy and one of the greatest turkey hunters to ever strut the woods. 

So yes, ladies and gentlemen, these shows are important and if you see me wandering around stop me. Talk to me! I love sharing what we all have been so blessed to do!

See you folks Saturday! 

—Outdoors columnist James Pressley can be reached at pressleyoutdoors@gmail.com .