Ode to the Fisherman

RIP Ray Scott 1933-2022 ~ Mark River Blog

Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 879
"Voice of the Lower Mississippi River" 
Clarksdale, MS ~ Memphis, TN ~ Vicksburg, MS

Want to go paddling? Mississippi River style? A few seats are still open for Community Canoe tomorrow, Saturday Sept 3rd, from 1-5pm (meet at Quapaw Landing). A few seats are also open for the 3-day Mississippi River Yoga Retreat with yogi Erin Mulligan (Sept 9-11).

Mark River Peoples fishing back channel of the Mississippi River

Ode to the Fisherman by Mark River

  When I was a young boy growing up I was fortunate to experience both sides of the Mississippi River. Born in East St. Louis and later moving to North St. Louis County, I grew up fishing the banks of both sides of the River. We used to time the buffalo runs along with white bass, striped bass, and yellow perch.

  My Father, who hated babysitting, would drag us down to the river in our old station-wagon, battling with mosquitos until they were unbearable. We would forage the floodplain for stranded fish while chasing rabbits through the bottom-land forests. We used to dig for green river worms, native to the Mississippi River floodplains and wetlands, which fish are very fond of. Still to this day, the fish prefer these wetland worms over the Walmart worms.

Mark River Peoples showing client a big head carp, which jumped in our canoe near the mouth of the Arkansas River.

  We eventually moved to the suburbs on the Missouri side of the river, and it was the first time I had cable TV. It was a luxury, but difficult to watch, because of the pecking order of siblings and lack of TVs in the house. I realized that the only time I could watch cable was late night or early morning.

  One particular day, being a morning person, I turned on the TV to ESPN. It was 5am and a bunch of people in fishing boats were waiting for the sun to rise to go fishing. Competition fishing was a first for me and I was hooked. I watched these fisherman tying interesting contraptions to their lines, reeling them through the water and catching fish. I couldn't believe it, but I was only six years old.

  The next fishing adventure, I noticed some of these "contraptions" in a old tackle box. I grabbed one and my Dad said, "you won't catch anything with that out here", but my mind told me I could. I walked out of sight to experiment, found a creek inlet and started casting. I watched the lure move in the water. I was amazed at how it maneuvered and glided. It was a small lure called a "rooster tail.” Suddenly, I felt a strange "thump" on my line, intently setting the hook, and the fight was on. I thought I had a whale, but more like a 2 pound bass. I ran to my Father to show my catch, and he snickered, looked at my brother, and said, "he got lucky." I marched down the bank of the river showing off my catch, then instinctively released the bass unharmed.

  The next week at 5am I watched another tournament " B.A.S.S masters." and this man in a cowboy hat and a charismatic voice sounded the horn to launch the boats. Later to find out his name was Ray Scott, the mastermind behind these tournaments. He spoke about the "thump" I felt when the bass engaged with my lure. I've been a fisherman and a fan ever since.

RIP Ray Scott 1933-2022

  Ray Scott started the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society in 1967. As the tournaments became more popular he started to see signs of neglect to the waterways he competed in. He sued over 200 companies for polluting waterways and rivers, and his efforts spearheaded the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, which eventually formalized the Clean Water Act of 1972. He made history in the state of Mississippi at a tournament on Ross Barnett Reservoir by implementing a “catch-and-release” rule in his tournaments to preserve the fisheries for future tournaments.

  Unfortunately, Ray Scott passed away in May of 2022. His vision of conservation and environmentalism is unmatched. Without his efforts, our waterways would be depleted and polluted to no return.

Thanks Ray Scott for all you've done, and "May the River Be With You!"

by Mark River Peoples

Mark River Peoples

Author: Mark River Peoples

About Mark River:

Mark River Peoples is chief guide and youth leader for the Quapaw Canoe Company. He produces and narrates an ongoing podcast called "May the River be With You." He is southern leader of the 1Mississippi Program, which connects people who care about rivers with the people who make decisions about rivers. He is self-isolating during pandemic in the canoe shop for construction of the next big canoe, and in very limited river trips with discrete groups of clients. His blog writing is inspired by his work on the Mississippi River -- and its many tributaries such as the Yazoo, the Big Sunflower and the Arkansas Rivers.  

Mark River grew up hunting and fishing along the river with his father near St. Louis, MO. After attending Central Missouri State University, and becoming defensive back with the New York Giants, Mark left a career in professional football for the river. Mark is a writer for the Lower Mississippi River Dispatch and shares his intimate & nature-filled musings about river life in presentations and online platforms. When not on the water, Mark mentors Mississippi Delta youth and educates them on the importance of the protection and preservation of our national treasure for generations to come. He himself is a tributary to his community, like the stream is to the big river.  Mark works hard on changing the perception of our great River and its tributaries. Through river trips, cleanups, and workshops, Mark’s goal is overall systemic health of the Mississippi River.

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May the River be With You by Mark River Podcast #8 Climate Change

Climate Change is affecting the flooding, ecology and commerce along the Mississippi River. Learn how it is changing everything from the migration of monarchs (butterflies!) hatching season of mayflies to the growth of invasive plantsand the patterns of snow geesewhile also disrupting the flow of barges and their cargo along the waterway.

May the River be With You!

Jump on board the big muddy with your guide Mark "River" Peoples and feel the powerful, storied currents of the Mighty Mississippi River pull at your feet and open your imagination. "May The River Be With You" focuses on how the largest river in North America influences and impacts our culture, from arts and education to ecology and commerce. In each episode, we discuss how the river affects us all in unexpected ways while also featuring music, poetry, tales and myths inspired by the river itself.

Podcast presented by the Quapaw Canoe Company with support from 1Mississippi, and the Mississippi River Network. Hosted by Mark River Peoples. Produced by Coop Cooper. Artwork, music, and narratives by Johnnie “Driftwood” Ruskey.

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Podcast made possible by 1Mississippi:

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Dear Friends, Family, and Fellow Adventurers & River-Rats: Welcome Aboard the Big Canoe for some “River Time!”

Mark River Peoples