PCM: The Early Guides

You can't talk about Pontiac Boat Dock in the sixties without talking about fishing. Of course, most everyone knows the current state record Largemouth Bass was caught on Bull Shoals near Pontiac Cove. It weighed 13 pounds, 14 ounces and was caught by Marvin Bushong on April 21, 1961. We had the fish on display at the marina for many years on loan from the Bushong family and showed it off at numerous boat shows around the Midwest. The big fish made the rounds. It went from Shorty Wallace's Sport Spot in Gainesville to the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Missouri.

You likewise can't talk about fishing in those days without talking about the early fishing guides. I asked all the old timers (like me) still around the area if any of them had pictures of these guys, and I pretty much drew a blank. Here are the ones I can remember. I'm sure I've missed some, so please remind me. Clarence Shockey: His sons Joe and Marvin have been long-time dock customers. Jewell Hayes, George Shaw and Art Kosek: Art lived on Highway W about 4 miles from the marina. Clifford Sanders: Clifford lived on the corner across County Road 607 from Rod and Gun Resort. Hoy Shaw: Hoy owned Shaw's Tavern on the corner of Highway 5 and Highway W. Hoy always called me "Little Morgan." And Leo Vaughn. Many of the resort owners guided as well - like Bob Schultz (see previous post about Home Comfort Resort).

Left to right, Hoy Shaw, Art Mahan and unknown.

And, you can't talk about the early fishing guides without talking about Art Mahan. Art was the Doc Klayman or the Tony Allbright of the early years. I have many fond memories of Art. He was always friendly, and he always caught fish. In those days many of the guides had their own outboard motor, and they would rent a boat at the dock when they had a trip. Art had an 18 HP Johnson.

Art driving the boat and Frank Martinek in front.
I'm pretty sure this picture was taken before Frank owned Cactus Ridge Resort.

Often the guides would be loaded up and on their way out long before the dock opened. I can remember many times Art waking my brother and me, sometimes he needed some gas or bait, but he always wanted a pack of Juicy Fruit gum. He called it "his Beech-nut."

This is the old case that we kept the Juicy Fruit in. It displayed all the gum, candy and cigarettes we sold in those days. It now displays old fishing lures and memorabilia.

In those days they didn't run all over the lake hitting one spot and then another. If you were going to fish Music Creek, you left early, stayed there most of the day and came home late in the day.

Art and Verne Kelly.

Art even guided some celebrities. Harold Ensley was host of a television show called "The Sportsman's Friend." He always ended the show with this: "If you're looking for Harold, he'll be heading out in his Ford Station Wagon, Gone Fishin' instead of just a wishin'."

Art and Harold Ensley.

In those days NO ONE filleted fish. You would gut and gill and scale them. Art was left-handed, and my Mom always said she knew when Art had caught a bunch of fish. He would stand at the table with the lake to his left and clean his fish. Without looking up he would sling the guts toward the lake and sometimes he would miss the lake.

Art with a mess of fish that have been gutted and gilled and most likely scaled.

I got these pictures from Art's late son Dick. After Dick retired he built a house on a portion of the family farm and kept a pontoon at the dock. Dick stopped me one day to tell me how much he enjoyed reading the blog, particularly the stories about the history of the resorts. I told him I was going to do some stories about the fishing guides and asked him to find some old pictures of his dad for me. He came through. I'm just sad I was not able to post this story about his dad before Dick passed away. We lost him and his dad way too early.

Written by Cap'n T. Morgan