A debt of appreciation and total gratitude.(EricM,CFF Community)

[heath j]

I know that over the years past I had totally detached myself from my one true love of fishing engulfing my life in work and lost time. I bounced around from time to time to a few forums while I had hits in misses in more ways than one. I came upon a forum called catfish1 and checked out some of the big cats on there and thought that I would never be able to experience that opportunity in a lifetime. I dropped a single post on there and within no time I had an incredibly nice gentleman by the name of Eric Maurer PM and tell me to check out this forum called the ChattanoogaFishingForum. I registered on and cruised around a few and the welcome I got was one of literal shock!! After the years of drama on the other forums I had frequented I couldn't have asked for a better response from multiple members and wealth of knowledge of our local waters. I looked up Eric and shot him a message or two with a bountiful amount of questions that would drive a normal man insane. Eric answered every single one with so much more than I could have ever asked for or known!!! He is the most unselfish person I know when it comes to giving up every tidbit of information he can on what most men consider the most secretive sport modern time. In a matter of no time Eric and I had rounded up a date for us to head to this place I had heard so much about called "The Nuke". I turned into a kid again and I was at the ramp more that an hour early and awaiting his arrival, I was so worried I even called to make sure he was coming a couple times that very morning. As always there he appeared with that never ending smile and greeted me like I was one of his own. I honest to God reconnected myself with one of the most important and greatest loves of my life that very day I hit the water, I was home. If it hadn't been for his graciousness, kindness, and giving spirit I would not have had the opportunities and knowledge to have a shot at these great creations of God. Eric I want to personally thank you so much for all that you have done for me, from twice giving me the opportunity to catch my PB cats, to being the great man you truly are, and for inviting me to join this great community of friends. This may sound like alot of hulla baloo but this is the best way for me to show my appreciation because words are hard to come by sometimes. Thanks to everyone that has added there input and helped me throughout the past. Guys and Gals you are some great friends and thanks so much for all that each and everyone of you have done for me and each other.

Sincerely,

HeathJ

 

[Buoy-Master]

No Heath...Thank You for posting this!
ALWAYS good to feel like a kid again!

 

[Pointer 78]

Now you done it. His head's gonna get so big, he'll have to get a bigger boat.

 

[rsimms]

Pointer 78 - 4/19/2009 7:46 PM

Now you done it. His head's gonna get so big, he'll have to get a bigger boat.

And more duct tape! emoDoh

Great post Heath. Very well said... and much deserved.

 

[Jmax]

I agree..he is, "One of a kind!" emoPoke No..really he is a great guy and I will second what you said. Nothing like getting someone hooked or should I say...Rehooked on fishing. Good to have ya back. Welcome back to our family...the family of the CFF. All shapes, sizes, colors, genders and you just about name it of people. The one thing we all have in common is fishing so,"We are a family of fishermen and fisherwomen." emoGrouphug Jmax

 

[ChooChooSnakeMan]

I can add that the CFF is home to many, many people who give of their time and talents to help others and not only with fishing! I am blessed to have many friends thanks to the CFF, each one of you is appreciated very much. I want to thank two members of the CFF in particular who have shared their boats with me, taught me many things, and most importantly become great friends. It is unreal how many times when I needed some fellowship and fishing company that Jmax and / or Polo-dog would give me a call with "hey let's go fishing"! Recently they unselfishly not only took me fishing, but my son in law and on one occasion his dad also. My son in law, Jordan, is a very fine young man who loves the outdoors and is now "addicted" to bass and crappie fishing thanks to Jim and Mark.

 

[shsimons]

We are all fortunate to have a bunch of "guides" in the area, that aren't actually guides, but sure do know how to catch fish like guides. It is super seeing your big fish posts Eric.

 

[Fat Albert]

<font face="comic sans ms,sand" color="#ff0033" size="4">thanks for posting your article.....and it is true he is a good one...... there for a moment I thought that Eric was writing this post......hahahaha love ya man FA</font>

 

[drumking]

Great post. Eric is humble, but deserving of all the accolades. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[xrfoxracer]

i have not been able to meet eric personally... hope to some day.... but from what i know... heard and seen on here he is truly one of a kind.... we are a family here as i have learned more then i could in YEARS on this forum in the 2 years i have been a member here....

Thanks for posting this thread we should a take after Eric and Help each other when asked or even off help and knowledge especially to the kids and younger generation because we/they are the future of this sport.

 

[EricM]

I appreciate the thoughts and words. There are a number of folks on this forum who donate a considerable amount of their time and knowledge to help others, and I am very honored to be counted amoung them! emoGrouphug

 

[SpurHunter]

No doubt Eric is a fine man for doing all he does. He is directly responsible for quite a few folks getting back into, or starting catfishing, for big and small fish.

I wonder if we can get something for him to show our appreciation??? Maybe a shirt with his accomplishments on it? Scratch that, he has added too many since the last shirt, couldn't afford the embroidery bill now! emoLaugh emoWorthy

 

[josh.schreiber]

I agree--He is one of the most gracious men I've ever met. MY wife and I literally SUNK HIS BOAT, and he still invited us to fish with him again! Not too many folks would do that.

 

[Biofisher I]

I am glad you found your way. Eric is a good one to come across when one is in need od knowledge. There are others that are equally blessed in that area. Mr.Drumking the Crappie Guru and last but not least the first person to carry me out on the lake in this areaDr.Polo. Yes we have a few great and kind souls. Thanks for joining and now you too can pass along the love. Wecome

 

[heath j]

EricM - 4/19/2009 11:08 AM

I appreciate the thoughts and words. There are a number of folks on this forum who donate a considerable amount of their time and knowledge to help others, and I am very honored to be counted amoung them! emoGrouphug

Thanks for everything Eric. emoThanks

 

[m17glock]

i just have to ad to this as well, it has been an absolute blessing to
know and fish with eric both in his boat and mine, as well as others
like polodog (havnt had the chance to fish with the great DK yet) .

this forum is chock full of people like them and THAT is what makes this THE best fishing forum ANYWHERE !

not long after joining the forum and going back and forth with eric with pm's and such we set a day to go fishing . now my wife did get VERY upset with me for this ( with all of the internet horror stories and all) but i assured her it would be ok.

like heath i showed up very early at the ramp and waited. then when he showed up he gets out of his truck wearing a button down shirt and a cardigan sweater
emoScratch emoQuestion to go CATFISHING emoQuestion

my first thought was this ol' boy aint from the south!

but it was nothing but fun from that point on .

it is people like erik , polo , drumking and those like them that i
want my sons to look up to for role models not most of these so called sport stars.

thank you all for the knowledge i needed to teach my sons.
i am indeed in you debt emoWorthy

 

[polo-dog]

We are all so blessed to have the great fishery that we all share here so close to us. Eric is a fine one to share his boat with so many and he can catch those cats better than anyone that I have ever met. I have been blessed to be able to share my boat with many that I have met on the CFF! All of us are surrounded by a wealth of knowledge and that wealth continues to grow as we share how we hunt and catch the fish of the TN river valley. I have learned most of what I know about fishing the waters here from guys like drumking and EricM who have graciously shared information and techniques with me that I have been able to share with others. I am thankful to be a part of this great group that we have here.