“Showed me many different roads…”
Dateline: Winyah Bay
“One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
Howard W Hunter
True story of exactly how this interview began:
It is the “eats” period of Elite Registration, all of the rules and what-nots have been addressed, all the pairings of Elites and Marshals have been made, it’s the time of the gig where the host city feeds all the folks.
I’m sitting at a round table about to do an interview with Quentin Cappo, new Elite dude from Louisiana, when an older guy walks by and says something to him.
Me: “Who’s that.”
Quentin who will now be known as “Q”: “That’s my dad.”
“Really, invite him over to sit with us during the interview, that’s fine.”
“Q” then motions his dad over to our table, he gets up and sits down with his plate and looks directly at me and says this, “Who are you and what’s your name.”
“Don, just call me db.”
“Well Don, listen, my son did an interview once and when the story came out they talked about me and Quentin and never said a word about his mother.”
Next to me “Q,” who by the way calls me “db” not Don, starts shifting around in his seat in the same manner as when a son brings home Dad’s car late, “so Don this is what I would like you to put in this story of yours,” now “Q” has suddenly developed a cough in his throat.
I turn to look at dad and I say this…nothing, fold or show your cards time dad.
“Don, please say in your story he has a wonderful beautiful smart mother.”
“I’ll do you one better “Q” dad, I’ll make the whole top of the story about her, you okay with that.”
“That would be great…db.”
And so it goes, this true story open is for you Jill Cappo…God Bless.
“…showed me ways and means and motions…”
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Frederick Douglas
“Q’s” dad’s name is Rusty, that’s him sitting next to “Q” in the B.A.S.S. meeting, I’m told dad was/is somewhat of a stick (talented angler) in their home state of Louisiana, he’s retired now and is “Q’s” sidekick and driver.
“I took the boy fishing when he was 5 years old, I used get a big white 5 gallon plastic bucket fill it with water, catch a minnow or something and put it in it and sit it at the back of my boat and the boy would play with it all day, I could fish for hours, no problem.”
“Q” smiles then, “He has probably 20 or so local wins on our waters back home, he’s taught me so much, taught me how to see water, what to look for, I enjoy it a bunch he is out with me, he talks a lot, pretty much from when he opens his eyes in the morning, but it’s great to have him out here with me, he never has a bad day and that really helps me get through things.”
Rusty: “I do all the driving, put him into the water, take him out, wash all the clothes, fold all the clothes, but don’t do socks, no socks.”
Frankly, to that I just look at Rusty, and smile, you know.
“…showed me what it’s like to be…”
“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.”
Charles Kettering
“Q” is 33 years old, been married 10 years to his wife Lauren, they have a very cute 3 year old daughter, Ella.
They own together, “my wife pretty much runs it since I’m on the road so much now,” a restaurant…
…in their hometown of Prairieville, Louisiana.
“When I’m not on the road I cook there some, I learned to cook from a great Chef we had who unfortunately passed away. We serve mainly seafood and steaks, lots of regulars, it’s our hometown.”
Both “Q” and his wife also own a fitness gym in town, “It’s called SNAP, is open 24 hours, we have about 900 members or so.” To be honest I’m happy to know he has a solid business background, here’s why, and it was something I told him flat up face to face, as we sat at the table he was in 66th place in AOY (out of 75), “I checked AOY before we talked, not looking good, huh.”
After saying that I gave a quick glance over my shoulder to see where Rusty was, just saying, then I put down my pen and waited for the young man’s answer, it’s fish or cut bait time in the cafeteria.
“I know it’s frankly been a huge learning curve but I’ll tell you what, whether I come in 1st place or last my goal is always the same, learn something from it, learn something to do or not to do, but learn something.”
And with that answer both Rusty and I smile.
“…gave me dreams that never end…”
“A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.”
— Mark Twain
Here’s the truth in my 12 years following these guys I’ve seen the wheels come off for many in their first year out here be it this year or the past 11.
It’s not just about catching fish, it’s also about all the other stuff for the newbies like where to stay, where to shop, where’s the ramp and the easy way to get there, all the things that guys who have been doing it for awhile know but to new anglers who haven’t been to a location three, four or more times, it’s all a mystery and every mystery effects performance.
“Everything is so fast-tracked, it’s like 100mph from day one, I’m seeing water I’ve never seen before, our water back home it’s the color of this cookie…”
A very fine snooker doodle brown that also tasted great.
“…it is a huge learning curve, I’m only 3 tournaments in, I learned to fish one way in Louisiana because that’s what works there, but out here, all these different places, wow, I mean I have no idea how to sight fish because where I grew up fishing you can’t even see the fish.”
Or to be honest he can’t even see that snooker doodle he pointed to anymore either.
“…showed me light out of the tunnel…”
“You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.”
Walter M. Schirra, Sr.
Over the years I’ve heard all sorts of theory’s on what it takes to be an Elite, but take that word, “Elite” out of it and insert this, “Success,” instead.
What does it take to be successful no matter what you do:
It takes stability…be it with family, with loved ones, whatever, the more stable the ground you stand on the better it is you can weather the ups and downs certain to come your way.
It takes courage…to admit you may be getting a good ol’ butt whoopin because if you survive it you’ll be stronger for it because life and careers are full of butt whoopin’s.
It takes time…to learn what you don’t know then to learn how to apply what you’ve learned. Admitting you need some educating and then LISTENING to those you can learn from, is key.
I don’t care who you are, you come to play this game, or any professional sport, YOU ARE GOING TO GET SCHOOLED, you will see things you’ve never seen before, you will have to do things you’ve never done before, you will have your butt kicked and your head handed to you.
And that is how it has always been and how it will always be, as it should.
Remember this, when you are first called up to the “Show,” don’t expect to be on center stage until you learn the ropes, until then take notes from the balcony seats.
“Trust me db, next year once I learn this game, next year you’ll see I’ll be really able to compete, just got to learn the game at this level.”
And once again both dad, and I, smiled.
db
“…when there was darkness all around instead.”
Tore Down A La Rimbaud
Van Morrison
“I’m still learning.”
Michelangelo
(quoted at age 86)