MATT EISENBACHER

Some of my earliest memories are of fishing. I was lucky enough to grow up a few miles from a lake in Minnesota.  My parents owned a small lake house on it. We visited the "cabin" nearly every weekend during the summer and countless hours were spent chasing bluegills and northern pike with my cousins. My father and uncles guided us on many trips on the lake with a small aluminum rig and their patience with the nieces and nephews who were learning fishing basics was outstanding. That was the basis for my fishing desire now.

My parents moved to Montana when I was 11. This was an entirely new realm of fishing. I quickly learned to fly fish for trout and my science teacher took me under his wing by showing me the art of fly tying. Part of my spending money came from selling trout flies to the local tackle shop and to an area guide. Then college came and for a couple years, fishing was all but forgotten. "Other" recreational activities were higher on the list during my free time.

(Left, Learning the "Grip n' Grin".)

I moved to Missouri in 1992 and for some reason my father made me strap a tiny aluminum boat to my truck. It included a 1951 2 ½ horse Atwater outboard. The pair sat for about a year until a friend took me crappie fishing out on Fellows Lake, just north of Springfield. That whet my appetite for fishing again and more than just a few crappie were jerked from that lake. As with anything, small isn’t good enough and bigger is better. I bought another aluminum with a 35 horse Johnson in October 1994. It was gutted so I built it myself with ¾" plywood. Lets say it was just a little heavy but I had carpet and pumps, the whole 9 yards!

(Left - 1st Bass Boat)

That boat was the beginning of bass fishing for me. I was able to try other lakes in the area and explore. Crappie was the main goal but my buddy went to the boat show in January 1995 and he ran into a BASS Federation club booth. He went to a tournament and had a great time. The next month, March 1995, I fished my first bass tournament. That summer I hit the big time, I bought my first fiberglass boat, a 1986 Cajun. I could go anywhere and fish anything! That boat lasted me until August 2001 when she was traded in on a 1996 Ranger. It was truly a sad day to see her go. I have finally made the last step by moving into a new boat, a 2003 Tracker Avalanche. This boat is the most innovative aluminum bass boat on the market and I can’t say enough good things about it.

Along the way I have bought a house in Springfield, married a wonderful woman, Sara, and we have two of the brightest children one could ever ask for, Emily and Ryan. Those things didn’t necessarily come in that order! I made it through graduate school at SMSU and work as a Project Manager for a private environmental consulting firm, Leigh Environmental, LLC of Nixa, Missouri.

My other hobbies include a vegetable garden in my back yard and making my own lures. Jigs are one of my favorites.

My future goals include becoming a successful regional fisherman and promoting my sponsors. Without their help I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. Maybe some day, far off in the future, I may be able to give a go at a higher level but until the kids are out of the house, that’s merely a dream. I hope to pass on my desire to fish on to my children and watch the spark grow in them.

Tight lines and enjoy the sunny days,

Matt Eisenbacher

Grandpa and the Kids