We introduced Jim to our Peacock Bass program in January 2020. Little did we know how quickly he would fit in. From the time he stepped off the plane in Manaus we could tell Jim was one of us. We already have big plans for Jim to be a part of our future as a host and who knows what else. We hope you will enjoy the story of a man who grew up in America’s heartland in a blue-collar world and became an absolute fly-fishing nut. 

Born in 1970 in Canton Ohio, Jim grew up in a house full of kids (6 to be exact) and his mom, Martha and Dad John who not long ago celebrated their 50th anniversary. Dad was a welder and mechanic until he took a job in the area oil fields and ended his working career driving trucks. 

Growing up was an adventure. The family did not own a T.V. and the house was crowded so Jim spent a lot of his time outside. Pretty much normal stuff like, playing with army men in the dirt, catching lizards, tire swings, riding bikes and hide and seek. As he got older more organized chaos took over in the form of team sports like soccer, baseball and basketball. Jim learned to fish with his dad as a lot of kids do in that part of the country, in farm ponds catching bluegill and small bass. When he was 12, not only did he go on his first deer hunting trip but finally got the green light to start riding his bike to a few area ponds to fish. Now with a routine, he would get out of school, ride his bike to the local watering hole and fill his stringer with bluegill. On the way home, with his stringer of fish hanging off his handlebars, Jim would stop by Grandad’s house to get his fish cleaned. This went on for a couple of years until one day the stop at the fish cleaning station, grandad had a brand new Rapala filet knife waiting for Jim’s first lesson. This was one of the coolest things he had ever seen. The rest is history, Jim could now clean his own fish.  

In high school there was not much time for the great outdoors. Jim was a three sports letterman and spent all his time playing whatever sport was in season. 4 years of high school sports turned into several offers to play in college. He however hated college girls and instead thought working in the oil fields with his father would be a better idea. Making good money and living at home, Jim in his own words didn’t know what to do with all his cash. Coming from a religious childhood with high family morals Jim had the idea to give back. So, in 1989 He quit his job and headed for Honduras for a year to work at a children’s orphanage. Jim worked at a facility that housed around 150 kids, most of which were abandoned in some way. He did maintenance and spent time fixing everything. It is here that he also learned to play the guitar.