David Simmons shows off a big 5 pound 2 ounce Lake St. Clair smallmouth bass!
I was back in Michigan again during August 2001 for the Bassmasters and had the chance to get out on St. Clair for a day of fishing with long-time fishing buddy Dan Kimmel of Lansing. The day started out rough and dark, but we managed to boat a few bass and Dan landed one decent Musky. Our persistence paid off with another Lake St. Clair trophy smallmouth. The beautiful 5 lbs. 2 oz. brownie was caught on a shad-colored Right-Bite tube with a 1/2oz head “vertically” jigging a seawall in 22 feet of water. She fought so hard my arms were shaking afterwards.
A hawg smallie like this really tops off a great day of fishing on a quality fishery like St. Clair. We had a terrific time discussing fishing, the tournament scene and Yamaha outboards, of course. Dan’s understanding of the fish and the market come from years of involvement with local organizations and State agencies. I was lucky to spend a day with him and learn a lot more than just how hard a big smallmouth pulls. Thanks Dan!
By David Simmons
Field Promotions Coordinator
Yamaha Marine Power Group*
Current-swept St. Clair River seawalls can produce some huge smallies with the right presentation like this beauty caught by David Simmons.
For those of you who haven’t been fortunate enough to meet David Simmons before, he’s an outgoing fellow who’s a friend to all anglers. He’s a pretty good angler too.
David is formerly from Lansing Michigan where he and I met years ago. David did a stint at Bass Pro Shops before moving on to his present post at Yamaha in Kennesaw Georgia. To say he’s thrived there is an understatement. Yamaha is in the tournament and fishing motor scene in a big way and David is a driving force behind that. Yamaha motors received the JD Powers awardsfor customer satisfaction in outboards.
In recognition of David’s impact for Yamaha Motors, and the fishing industry and tournament scene, he was recently awarded the first ever Bassfan.com 6th Man Award. Click here to read about more about this fine honor for a worthy, but “humble” person. It’s not difficult to see he’s the perfect person for the job and that he loves what he’s doing. I know I hope we get to spend another day on the water together sometime in the not-to-far future.
* David Simmons moved on from Yamaha to a dream job with FLW Outdoors helping rev up the crowd before the Tour weigh-ins among many other duties. He has now left FLW Outdoors, had a family and is an avid angler still instilling great character in his children for fishing and the outdoors.
COMMUNICATE – A lot of problems can be ironed out with a question. Like after the boater misses a fish “Do you mind if I throw in there?” I’ve offered my baits up first thing in the morning; by saying “If you need anything just ask.”
Somewhat tongue in cheek, but Lake St. Clair bass tournament weight record holder Scott Dobson isn’t laughing after not one, but two large Lake St. Clair muskies attacked his brand new Minn Kota trolling motor head two days in a row
After a disappointing finish in the 2007 B.A.S.S. Southern Opens, Edwardsburg, MI angler Mickey Thomas is hungry and confident he’ll show measurable progress in 2008.
I’d like to begin by giving credit for the idea of local sponsorship to Scott Rauber the author of Fish for Free. A couple of years ago a friend and I were kicking around the idea of tournament fishing. We heard about an up and coming tournament being sponsored by a local radio station and we decided to sign up.
Yesterday at the Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing, science prevailed thanks to many, many persons who took the time to write in, and especially those who showed up to speak before the Commission on Commissioner Walters’ amendment to close bass fishing on the Inland Waterway and Black Lake from May 1 until the third Saturday in June.
Over the years, many young people and aspiring pros have asked me for the best career advice I could give them. My answer has always been simply “come early and stay late.”
