Kyle Homra is a 4th generation guide on Tennessee’s Reelfoot Lake,
a place known for its exceptional crappie fishing, duck hunting and
a unique outdoor legacy. (Photo: Rob Somerville)
Outdoor Writers Gather at Southeast Crappie Mecca
by Rob Somerville
Whenever I visit Reelfoot Lake I am in awe of the landscape, a perfect blend of nature that the Master Artist has blessed us with.
As your boat eases out through the calm, sunrise-lit water a blue heron screeches and takes off from a nest, high in a cypress tree – it is almost as if you have gone back in time.
On this visit, we were in for a special kind of treat as the owners of Blue Bank Resort opened its doors and hearts once again to the Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association’s (TOWA) Annual Conference. Blue Bank has always been one of the greatest business supporters of the outdoor community from all across the nation. Most of the movers and shakers in the outdoor industry have enjoyed their hospitality at least once.
The members of TOWA have become an extended family to me in the 30 years I have belonged to this historic organization. Our gatherings routinely involve something outdoors – generating stories about opportunities other outdoorsmen and women should enjoy.
Blue Bank Resort is nestled right in the heart of the hottest fishing and waterfowl action to be found in the Southeast. For this October gathering I was lucky enough to draw Kyle Homra, co-owner of Homra’s Guide Service – a fourth generation, family-owned guide service since the 1950’s. Kyle and his brother fish Reelfoot Lake nearly every day – except when they are shooting ducks from one of their time-proven duck blinds. Kyle shared, in his own words, how his family’s business came to be.
“My family has been at Reelfoot Lake for generations. Everyone, including our men, women and kids loved living off the land, both hunting and fishing. My grandad on my mother’s side was even known to the locals as “Gigger” because of his frogging abilities.
“He raised seven kids as a commercial fisherman on Reelfoot Lake. One of his kids was the famous Tommy Alexander, who mastered the art of metal reed duck calls under Johnny Morris. My father’s grandfather was George Dickey, owner of Dickey’s resort in Samburg – on the lake. Our father taught us to trap fur and prepare it to sell, commercial fish for catfish, duck hunt, and guide fishing. In our world, nothing goes to waste, as we eat what we hunt off the land and from the waters.
“You might think that having to work so hard to support our families might make us get tired of Reelfoot Lake life. On the contrary, we love every minute of it and that trait is what has made our family become successful guides. My brother and I are fourth generation to make a living or supplement our income in some way from the waters of Reelfoot Lake. Our father taught us to trap fur and prepare it to sell, commercial fish for catfish, duck hunt, and guide fishing.
“We thoroughly enjoy introducing new clients to the beauty and plentiful bounties that Reelfoot Lake has to offer sportsmen and women and would love for those reading this article to give us a call and visit our website. We offer deluxe lodging, in a modern cabin and thoroughly enjoy meeting new people.”
Meeting and sharing stories from people like Kyle Homra is one of the greatest joys on belonging to the outdoor writing community. TOWA meets every year to conduct business and share seminars that will improve our craft and improve all the ways we serve our readers.
If you would like to join the ranks of the Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association – you don’t have to live in Tennessee – visit our web page or call Executive Director, Tony Dolle at 615-870-7700. Perhaps you may want to join the ranks of writers for CrappieNOW Magazine as well.
Rob Somerville, from Dyersburg, Tenn., is the Owner/Editor of Southern Traditions Outdoors Magazine. He is also a longtime member and officer of the Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association.
