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Class. Intelligence. Bold honesty. Passion. Maybe that’s why my Mom has always called Gary Klein one of her absolute favorite pro anglers. Indeed, he’s a living legend.

As a college kid, my dorm room was decorated with wisdom-rich letters from Ken Cook, and a poster featuring Rick Clunn and Gary Klein. I think it was a promotional poster that Skeeter Boats or Mercury Marine produced. I’m not sure, because that was 26 years ago.

But I am certain those three men were hugely enormous inspirations. And all three helped shape my life.

When I took my first job in the fishing industry at Lowrance in 1995, Gary Klein was one of the very first pros to always go out of his way to treat my wet-behind-the-ears, 25-year-old self, with respect – as well as a feeling of friendship.

I remember sitting next to him on a plane ride to Illinois six months into my career, sharing a taxi once on the ground, and talking about liquid crystal sonar screens versus his beloved ‘flasher’ technology nearly the entire time. I’ll admit – as I exited the taxi I was in awe.

The first time she fed him cookies was when she and Dad visited me at a Bassmaster Elite on Bull Shoals, Arkansas a few years ago.

Fast forward to an Elite Series tournament in Florida two months ago, when Klein sent her a video message stating he missed her cookies.

So, yesterday on a dock at Toledo Bend, I carried a camera worth thousands, and a plastic container full of homemade chocolate chip cookies – that was in a sense – priceless.

It was part of a care package that was waiting on me at the hotel desk when I checked-in. She wanted to make sure it arrived Wednesday just in time for the tournament. She spent $18.75 to get it here. Return address: “Mom and Dad.”

Taped to the top of the plastic container inside the cardboard box was a note in her always perfectly written blue ink with no scratch-outs. She had purposely purchased stationary featuring a boat – and largemouth bass stickers added further heart-driven detail.

“Hello Gary, I finally made you some cookies. Hope you enjoy, and maybe they’ll bring you good luck catching those big ones. Congratulations on your most recent Elite tournament. Great job. Sincerely, Mom Guck.”

Day 2 is underway here at Toledo Bend, changing conditions are expected today but you can bet these guys are going to catch them. Here are a few videos from this mornings takeoff.

Kevin VanDam crushed them at Toledo Bend today after weighing in 29-5lbs. Here are a few videos from just after the weigh in.

It was still very dark prior to morning launch at Toledo Bend’s Cypress Bend Park boat ramp, but Shaw Grigsby was shining his polarized sunglasses.

He was also showing off cell phone photos of the 60^th birthday cake that friends Paul Elias, Don Barone, and bass fishing legend Tommy Martin, shared with him last night.

The great thing about Toledo Bend is that winning stringers can be caught from 3 to 30-feet deep, with just about any technique you favor most. For Shaw Grigsby, that’s sight fishing. And the day after his 60^th birthday, he’s still one of the best in the world at it.

“My first stop of the day will be to try and catch a spawner, and I’ll fish for bedding fish as far as it’ll carry me throughout the tournament,” says Grigsby.

“The three best fish I spotted on beds in practice probably totaled 17 pounds, and that may or may not be the kinda daily weight you need to make Sunday’s Top 12 cut here,” speculates Grigsby.

“I’d love to stay shallow and ‘look for them’ for three days, but more than likely, I’ll have to move out deeper and pitch a heavy Texas rig around in the vegetation,” says the super likeable Florida resident who has been away from his loved ones for many of his 60 birthdays.

“My daughter Amy and my favorite fishing buddy Bryce (his grandson), called and sang “Happy Birthday” – that was special. And so was that cake that Tommy Martin’s wife had made for me. I still can’t believe how clear my photo was on the cake. That was so cool!” added the always upbeat Grigsby.

After 60 years, if we’re all as rich with enthusiasm as Shaw Grigsby, we should feel super fortunate. “I heard somebody caught a 13-pounder here in practice, so I’m pretty stoked this morning, and when I get back to Florida I’m going after giant tarpon with a fly rod – I can’t wait!” he exclaimed before pushing away from the bank for another treasured day of doing what he loves – looking for fat largemouth on spawning beds.