You know you’re fishing in the deep South when Spanish moss adorns the trees
as Tony Adams shows off a pair of Eufaula Lake crappie. (Photo: Richard Simms)
Going to “The Bank” with Tony Adams on Eufaula Lake
by Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor
As a popular destination for major bass tournaments, obviously I knew that Lake Eufaula in Alabama was a productive reservoir for bass anglers. What I did not realize, however, was that it is also FULL of crappie – full to the point that some call it overpopulated. If that is the case, fishing guide Tony Adams is doing his best to reduce the population.
Adams has thousands of waypoints but just some of them show up on his Humminbird electronics mapping as small buildings that resemble a bank. As we approached the first such waypoint he smiled and said, “These are the places I go when it’s time to make a ‘crappie’ withdrawal.”
I met Adams on an AGLOW outdoor writers trip, hosted by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures group. The non-profit tourism organization covers 23-counties in the South-Central part of the state containing some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities in the South.
Adams first began guiding on Lake Eufaula in 1993. He’s never looked back. And with no size limit on crappie and a 30-fish-per-person daily creel limit, his clients are almost guaranteed to fill their freezers.
“It’s unusual if we can’t put 60 crappie in the boat in four or five hours,” said Adams.
Enough words, meet Tony Adams on video.
Just because there is no size limit, doesn’t meant there aren’t plenty of quality 10-to-14-inch crappie to be had. Adams preferred technique is using B’n’M Poles, vertical fishing minnows over structure, but he also keeps a boat full of Big Bite crappie jigs for folks, like me, who prefer “fishing for the thump.”
While in Eufaula we also got to behind-the-scenes tour the Motherland of Humminbird electronics, where nearly all of your favorite Humminbird products are manufactured. Some say the name “Humminbird” came about because the early “flasher” units made a distinct buzzing sound that sounds like a hummingbird’s wings.
But why isn’t there a “g” in Humminbird?
Some say it’s because the man who started it all, Tom Mann, had a thick southern drawl and he didn’t ever pronounce the “g” in “humminbird.” Mann said at one time he didn’t even know the word had a “g” in it.
Others say the “g” was left out because they couldn’t copyright a common name such as “hummingbird,” but by dropping the “g,” the copyrighted name was approved.
Whichever story is correct – or maybe some of both – it was fascinating to get a glimpse behind the curtain and see where Humminbird products are born.
There are 240 employees dedicated to manufacturing, assembly, support along with research and development. Located literally on the shore of Eufaula, they have easy access to an awesome fishery to test Humminbird products.
Nearby Lakepoint State Park, on the shore of Eufaula Lake, is a great place to stay. A lodge, cabins, campground, restaurant, bar and excellent marina provide everything you need to take advantage of the great fishing and other fun things to do in the Eufaula area for the entire family. It’s a great destination to add to your Southern travel Bucket List.
More information on visiting Lake Eufaula:
– Lakepoint State Park & Lodge
– Eufaula, Alabama Chamber & Tourism
– Alabama Black Belt Hunting & Fishing
– Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW)
Capt. Richard Simms is the Editor of CrappieNOW magazine as well as owner of Scenic City Fishing Charters. Formerly he was a game warden for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency before becoming a photographer and PR guy for TWRA. That lead to a 30-year career as a broadcast journalist and freelance outdoor writer. Follow Capt. Simms other writings on his “Richard’s Ramblings” Facebook page.
