BPF Pro-Staffer Ben Grumbles is ready with the net as BPFA attendee, 16-year-old Ollie Greene of McMinnville, Tenn. takes care to boat a healthy black-nose crappie on Dale Hollow Lake. Although black-nose crappie are rare, it’s not uncommon to boat several in one trip while fishing on Dale Hollow. (Photo: Madalyn Roberts)
Fishing, Fellowship, & Fun at Brushpile Fishing Academy
by Madalyn Roberts
For avid anglers eager to deepen their crappie fishing skills, the Brushpile Fishing Academy offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience—where learning the ins and outs of crappie fishing is only the beginning. As Crappie King Kent Driscoll puts it, “It’s an environment where fishing meets fellowship, food, and fun.”
With five academies already completed, the Brushpile Family continues to grow. That growth will reach a new milestone in March 2026, when Brushpile Fishing hosts its first academy tailored specifically for women and young adults (ages 14+). Scheduled for March 26–28 at Holmes Bend Marina on Green River Lake in Columbia, Kentucky, the event will also mark the first fishing academy sponsored by the Ron Wong Legacy Foundation.
Over three days, participants enjoy immersive on- and off-water instruction from some of the most respected names in the crappie world. Tuition covers meals, lodging, and an astronomical amount of hands-on learning—not to mention an abundance of top-quality gear from the sponsors who help make each academy possible.
Registration is available on the Brushpile Academy website now.
Learning from Legends
Academy instructors take the time to break down their signature techniques—refined through years of fishing on lakes across the country. Each day blends classroom learning with practical experience on the water. The first two days are split between classroom and on-the-water fishing sessions, while the final day is a full day on the water from sunrise to late afternoon. Every participant rotates among instructors, giving them quality time with four different experts in just three days—something you simply won’t find anywhere else. It’s like four guided fishing trips with the best in the business. The primary goal is to share the techniques they’ve learned in their decades on the water.
But the learning doesn’t stop when the boats dock. Instructors also walk students through proper fish-cleaning techniques, leading up to the much-anticipated community fish fry. There, attendees enjoy the day’s catch—paired with the famous Ron Wong hush puppies—and, if the harvest is generous, a bag of fillets to take home for their own family fish fry.
More Than Fishing
While most participants sign up to become better anglers, nearly everyone leaves with something deeper. The camaraderie forged among classmates and instructors is what keeps alumni coming back year after year. Beyond rubbing shoulders with some of the sport’s finest, students often leave with lifelong friendships and a renewed sense of purpose.
The Who’s Who of Crappie Fishing
What sets a Brushpile Fishing Academy apart, according to Kent Driscoll, is the caliber of its instructors.
“They’re the ‘who’s who’ of crappie fishing,” he said. “You’ve got professional guides, seasoned tournament anglers, and legends like Steve Coleman, an eight-time national champion with career earnings of more than a million dollars after fishing nearly every lake in the country. Then there are guys like me—I’ve guided, I’ve fished tournaments, but my favorite role is being an educator and mentor.”
Driscoll added, “There’s nothing more rewarding than giving someone a few pointers and watching them apply what they’ve learned to start catching fish. To me, that’s like winning a trophy.”
Hooked for Life
For those unsure about signing up, the story of 16-year-old Ollie Greene, a recent graduate of the Fall 2025 Brushpile Fishing Academy at Dale Hollow Lake, might help. Ollie arrived as an enthusiastic multi-species angler with little crappie experience. But in just a few days, his passion—and skill—exploded.
By Saturday morning, Brushpile Pro-Staffer Ben Grumbles and I watched in awe as Ollie reeled in one crappie after another using forward-facing sonar. Catching a black-nose crappie is a rare feat, yet Ollie landed half a dozen before lunch. On the ride back to Cedar Hill Marina, I asked if he was hooked on crappie fishing yet. His grin said it all. Ben and I just shared a quiet smile—knowing moments like that are what the academy is all about.
When I caught up with Ollie later, he described his experience as unforgettable. I told him that what keeps me returning to Brushpile academies isn’t just learning new fishing skills—it’s the personal growth that comes with them.
“Fishing is how I’ve learned to take care of my human experience,” I told him. “The support I’ve received in the Brushpile community has helped me move past self-doubt and gain the confidence to go out and fish on my own.”
Ollie agreed. His advice for newcomers?
“Be open to new techniques—and be ready to make friends.”
He admitted he was surprised by how easily he connected with people of all ages. That’s the beauty of the Brushpile Fishing Academy: age and gender don’t matter. It’s all about fishing, fellowship, and fun.
Madalyn Roberts is from Kansas City, Missouri although she considers herself a southern transplant having lived in Kentucky for 16 years. She serves her Louisville community by working for a non-profit organization facilitating free home repairs for elderly and disabled homeowners. In her spare time, she enjoys being in the outdoors in all capacities most especially fishing, hiking, & camping.
