Published: May 07, 2008 04:35 pm            

VES student, pro angler continue alliance

The lure of the outdoors has always been strong with Bassmaster pro angler Mickey Thomas.

And that fascination eventually led the Michigan man to a spot in the BASS southern and central professional fishing series.

It also led him last week to Valley Elementary School, where Thomas reacquainted himself with a new-found friend, VES fourth-grader Chad Simpson.

Thomas and Simpson’s friendship dates back to last year at about this time, when Simpson’s mother, Teresa, approached Thomas as he made a stop in Charleston while returning home from participating in the 2007 Bassmaster Southern Open at the Santee Cooper (S.C.) Reservoir, according to Bassmaster magazine writer Louie Stout.

Telling Thomas that her son was a big fishing fan, Mrs. Simpson asked the angler if Chad could take a look at Thomas’ boat, Stout wrote last month. An alliance was formed, and another part of that bond was cemented with Thomas’ visit to Smithers.

“I had Chad get in my boat and spent about 45 minutes with him,” Thomas said last week. “I then kept in touch and sent him a subscription to Bass Master magazine and then decided to set up to take Chad fishing.”

“Fishing is for everyone,” Thomas told the VES student body in an assembly. “When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time outside.”

“The great thing about it is how fun it is,” added Thomas, who estimates he’s on the water with rod and reel about 270 days a year.

Thomas answered a wide range of questions, including one about his favorite fishing tactics (one is fishing in shallow water), another about his biggest fish caught (a 145-pound marlin), and others.

The most important element in being successful in the sport? That was an easy answer, he said.

“Hard work is the key. The harder you work at everything you do, the more you learn and the better you get.”

Thomas, who will compete at Santee Cooper again this weekend, also shared ice cream from one of his sponsors, Moosetracks Ice Cream, with the students and their teachers. In addition, Simpson and his classmates, and a few lucky others, got to tour Thomas’ 21-foot Champion bass boat.

For his part, Simpson, who also enjoys riding his bike and playing with friends, was thrilled that Thomas chose to visit with him and his classmates.

“It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to it for two months.

“He’s one of my heroes.”

Later in the day, the duo went fishing at Plum Orchard Lake, where Simpson caught a slightly-longer bass than Thomas, Chad’s mother reported.

“This entire experience has been one I will never forget and wouldn’t trade this opportunity for the world,” Thomas said of his visit with the Valley school.

“I am progressing at a lot slower pace than I expected but it is a huge learning curve,” he said in describing his first year as a professional. “I just need to be diligent and keep working hard and I will continue to improve.

“Overall the fishing as a pro has been awesome.”

His main sponsors as he competes in the BASS southern and central events are DirecTv, Galaxy 1, Moosetracks Ice Cream, Triton Boats, Mercury Motors, D and R Sports, Gamma, Deka Batteries, Motor Guide, Poor Boys Baits, Lowrance and Navionics.

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com

        

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