HEBRON, OH—When a friend lives over a thousand miles away, making a connection can be a rare occasion. That is the case with Shaw Grigsby, the recently retired professional bass fisherman from Gainesville, Florida.
We usually cross paths at a national fishing event or an angling expo somewhere he is a featured speaker for the day or weekend. Our friendship originated during my Crooksville K-8 teaching days when my middle school classroom had a curriculum called Fishing 181. On a class field trip at the Veterans Memorial building in Columbus, the outdoor store known as Galyan’s (now Dick’s Sporting Goods) sponsored a tremendous fishing show every January.
Not only did we meet Shaw there after months of corresponding with him, he took the lead role in the assignment my students had to complete. Each small group of two or three students had a clipboard with a list of fishing products. The assignment was to find the price of each item. Shaw led those kids all over that expo.
Galyan’s manager was extremely irate because none of his subordinates could locate Shaw so he could shake hands and converse with the important guests. Just as he yelled “Where the h*!! (again) is Shaw Grigsby!”, I spotted Shaw at the far end of the auditorium with my entire class following him like the school lunch bell was ringing in his back pocket.
I caught up with Shaw at the recent annual fishing show at Vance Outdoors in Hebron, Ohio. He was one of the featured speakers on Saturday March 7, 2026. Prior to his presentation, several fans asked him to pose for a quick photo. No other professional angler is more accommodating for these kinds of requests, especially when kids are involved. Shaw was his usual gracious self on Saturday.
For those of you who have followed Shaw’s career on the Bassmaster Elite Trail and then the Major League Fishing venue, you will be interested in what retirement means for the former pro angler. Shaw, along with his grandson, has started a nuisance alligator removal service in Florida. He shared one of his gator adventures that he had recorded on his phone. Shaw explained in great detail how to lasso, wrestle, and then tape the gator’s mouth shut.
Obviously, shuffleboard is not on his agenda. From getting together at sports shows or riding in his Triton bass boat in a pair of Bassmaster Classics, one more time with Shaw Grigsby is always worth the drive.
Posing at Vance Outdoors in Hebron, Ohio with pro angler Shaw Grigsby is the Camden family from Johnstown, Ohio. (L-R) Cohen Camden; Gabe Camden; Shaw; and Craig Camden, the boys’ father.