Cole Morgan: Energetic, Focused, Goal Oriented
Cole Morgan
Cole… is on the move. Born in south Alabama and currently living in Jasper, TN, he is 13 years of pure energy, drive, and determination. From the first hello on the phone, to the goodbyes, he had plenty to say and share, to which I have great admiration for. This is a young man that knows who he is and what he wants and is willing to share with everyone what it takes to get where you want to go.
Cole started fishing just as a way to get out of the house to relax. He shared, “I just thought about fishing one day, and I went.” Starting only bank fishing, he was quickly hooked (see what we did there) and has quickly become ingrained in the fishing community. He was fortunate enough to have been able to purchase his first boat, an old Javelin, in April of 2021. He is proud of that old boat and told me, “I just needed something that floats to get me out on the water.” Before being a proud owner of his own boat, Cole’s father’s friend, Billy, first took him out Large Mouth fishing. It was this relationship that lit a fire in Cole around Large Mouth Bass fishing.
Not too long after that he was able to go on his first guided tour with “Talking Tackle.” Dillion Falardeau went to school was roommates with Dylan Anderson. Dylan Anderson had this to say of the Talking Tackle guys:
“Those guys [at Talking Tackle] are hard core fishermen. They have everything you would need in a tackle shop and are incredibly friendly. They’re the kind of guys that make you feel comfortable walking in there not knowing anything, but also really know their stuff and can assist even a seasoned fisherman.”
They took Cole on a frog fishing guided trip. Cole remembered it vividly recounting they went on a Champion boat and got their first “blow-up” around noon that day, but it was only a 1.5lb Largemouth. They continued to fish. BAM another “blow-up” 15 mins later, another 1.5lber. They tossed it back. Another 15mins go by and Cole catches what could be a fish of a lifetime, 7 pound Largemouth. No wonder Cole remembers every detail of this unforgettable guide trip.
Since then, Cole has fished every single weekend. The dedication and drive this young angler shows is something that should be taken notice of. I got to see Cole’s dedication firsthand as he recounted 10 of his past fishing tournaments starting as far back as September of 2021. He fished Pickwick, then Percy Priest and placed 3rd, and on to Nickajack, Dale Hollow was next, then can Douglas Lake. He remembered the following tournament he had to fish himself because his partner didn’t wake up, rookie mistake, but Cole didn’t care. He still placed 6th. Next up, Normandy Lake… you see the pattern here. This was all off the cuff which shows me that he eats, sleeps, and breathes fishing.
I asked Cole to give some of his fellow anglers some tips from Cole, and this what he had to say:
“If you’re trying to get into tournament fishing and you’re my age (13) and younger discuss with [your] mom and dad that you should be prepared to pay a lot of money to get into fishing. Buy a boat that is 2006 and older. Make sure mom and dad understand what they’re getting into and how expensive it is to get into the sport.”
“If you’re fishing with a partner only bring 2-3 rods on a boat. Use your own tackle unless your partner says you can share.”
“Always help out with the gas money for the boat.”
“Listen to the boat captain, because they are looking out for you and your gear.”
“Just be prepared to be cold and wet. You’re not gonna be a pretty boy. You’re gonna get dirty.”
“See If you can’t try out a whole bunch of rods before you buy, and then stick with a rod that fits you the best.”
“Get a reel that you trust and like. Find a reel that can cast far, and pair it with a rod that you love.”
“Get different gear ratios on reels based on the type of fishing you want to do.
“7.3:1 gear ratio when I’m jig fishing, gotta get them out of the structure so you need a faster reel.”
“[When you are] Rattle trap fishing throw a 7.3:1 because when you’re fishing anything that is heavy and you gotta get them out quickly then you need to throw a 7.3:1 cause it handles so much better.”
“If you’re 13, fish with a partner that is younger or the same age to stay in the junior league”
“[The] key is to be patient when fishing”
“When it’s cold, use a slower bait. Shaky head, 2.8 and jig. Cause fish are moving slower.”
Keep your eye on Cole. He’s going places.
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