Who's Behind Crankbait Central?
"Hello, I'm Chuck Bailey - and I'm a crankaholic." Fact is, I am completely unrepentant, and down right addicted. And I'm convinced that given the right information, you will be too!
Crankbaits can be some of the most effective tools in an angler's arsenal, and yet they are also some of the most misunderstood and underused baits. As an educator, I want to change that. My personal goal is to remove all hardbait mysteries, and reveal some practical secrets that will increase the fishing community's confidence in crankbaits.
Confidence! It's the key to fishing any lure successfully. The ingredients are 1) knowledge and 2) experience on the water. I want to provide you with the know-how, so that when you go fishing, you will do so armed with a boat load of confidence.
About Us
Ok, ...as of yet, there is no "us". Perhaps a diverse team of experts may evolve over time to expand the range of species discussed, (and perhaps even include saltwater, which admittedly, I know nothing about!). For now, there is... well, one energetic angler with a passion love for crankbaits and a desire to share what I know, and still hope to learn.
I am a passionate bass fisherman, who sometimes dabbles with walleyes. So naturally those species will represent the basic foundation upon which Crankbait Central will be built. Someday, knowledgeable authors will move us to include toothy critters (pike, muskies), trout, salmon, strippers, pan fish, etc... One step at a time. Even if bass and walleye are not your preferred species, there is still a lot you can glean from the articles found here.
During a recent stint as president of Western Bass Club, (the oldest bass club in America - founded in 1938), I observed that new and younger members will willingly sacrifice precious time to come to a bass club meeting "IF" they leave with more fishing knowledge than when they walked in. "Knowledge" separates the beginners from those who consistently bring fish into the boat. I had some great teachers, and now I get my greatest joy in life from seeing others succeed. Especially when it comes to fishing.
Am I professional fishermen? No. I have been a high school metal-shop teacher, a Numerical programmer, an application engineer, and for the past two decades - a Lutheran minister. Obviously my boss requires me to work on Sundays, (so weekend tournaments are out), but every Monday I fish from sunrise to sunset - 52 weeks a year. Vacations are largely spent on the water. I'm a 50-something, fairly productive, experimental angler with an unquenchable thirst and hunger for new fishing information, which I have collected and am now eager to share.
Not everyone with accumulated fishing knowledge gets to fish the pro tournament trails or be a guide - but that doesn't mean those seasoned anglers don't have something to share. Besides, most of what you will read at Crankbait Central does come from the professionals who make a living as fishermen. I'll keep researching, interviewing, and assembling the data the pros will share, and we'll benefit together!
Future Dreams
I sincerely hope that you will be instrumental in helping Crankbait Central become an increasingly useful resource to the rest of the fishing community. Your opinions and feedback are always welcome - and strongly encouraged.
I also have a few ideas for further down the road.
* A forum would be great! (However, since I'm an amateur web designer - it's going to take awhile to get there - but get there I will!)
* Crankbait Data Base. I've always dreamed of creating a "Selection Tool" that will allow a reader to choose a series of desired characteristics (ex: balsa, floating, non-rattling, shallow diver, length 2-3 inches, price $4-5, etc..), and receive a list of crankbaits that would meet the angler's needs. Sound helpful?
* Performance Videos! Someday, I hope to have the most popular crankbaits on film so that you can actually see them work (while being retrieved) before you buy them. Seeing is believing!
* Commercial Books and Videos! I don't plan on reinventing the wheel. There are some great crankbait resources out there - I hope to make them available to you.
I make no bones about it - it is my intention to make you a "crankaholic" too! I want to empower you with all the latest data and information so as to razzle-dazzle your fishing partners and turn them into your "net slaves".
Fishing! It is a great sport - a healthy outdoor tradition that needs to be passed on to future generations. So receive and enjoy all of angling's blessings, ...and then pass it on! That's what Crankbait Central is all about!
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Dedication: I dedicate this website in the memory of Larry Gonczy: a well respected Northwest prostaffer, my fishing partner for 17 great years, and most of all - my friend. He always made me laugh. The first cast is always to you big guy!