It was a hot and sultry summer day. My brother Matt didn't have any guide trips for the day, so he asked me, his older brother, to go fishing with him. We went out on Waconia in the bay in front of our house. We caught a couple of smaller large mouths working the weed line. Since it was so hot out and nothing big was hitting, Matt decided we should work the docks. He knew where every bass lived - everything from how big they where, what part of the dock they where under, what they liked to bight on. I think he even had personal names for them all.

As if this wasn't impressive enough, Matt said, "You see that boat lift?"

I said, "You mean the one without a boat on it?"

Matt replied, "Yah, there's a five-pounder that lives underneath the dock next to it."

Thinking to myself, “So what? There is no way anyone can cast over a boat lift and drop their bait into about a one foot space, and hook that fish. Even if the fish would bite there is no way to get it over the boat lift and into the boat.”

Matt said, "Watch this," and no sooner did I turn around that he flipped his bait caster, and the lure landed right in between the boat lift and the dock. As soon as the bait hit the water, Matt pulled back and said, "Gotcha!" He then proceeded to reel up what slack was left in the line, pulled on the rod as hard as he could, and a five pound bass went flying over a six foot boat lift. It was one of those things I would never have believed unless I saw it with my own two eyes. He reeled the fish up the rest of the way to the boat and said, "That's how a pro does it."

I've been fishing with Matt for over 15 years and I have never seen him pull anything like this off. Here's to Matt, and making me believe the impossible is always possible.

Eddie Peters

Matt,
Thanks or the special evening that we spent ice fishing just before the New Year. Having fished for over fifty-some years, you still taught me a few new tricks.Your assistance in helping my godson catch and release that big walleye - yah, you were right, it was "Moby Dick" - will always be remembered and cherished. Rest assured your passion, knowledge and techniques for the sport of fishing are second to none.

Feel free to use me as a reference source at any time. I look forward to more trips already.

Happy New Year and good fishing always,
Jim Nichols
Vice President, Manchester Companies, Inc.

"Matt knows Lake Waconia better than anyone. I once watched him catch six bass over 5 pounds each in less than four hours.

Want to catch a muskie? Matt took me to Lake Independence and we had a muskie on in less than 15 minutes.

My wife used to hate to fish...until I took her out with me on a guide trip with Matt."

Bill Miller
CEO, Red Sky Partners

Are you one of the lucky few who have fished with Matt and you are not his blood relative? We want to hear from you. Please submit your Matt fishing story, and we will add it to the site.