Keeping It Reel
By Katie Turner
When I first contacted Doug Morgan to interview him about his fishing, he is so modest that I think I’ve contacted the wrong man. After stepping into his office, I know otherwise.
Amid a sprawling sea of white spreadsheets and office supplies, my eyes quickly come to rest on a wall of plaques positioned around a goliath ten-pound Large Mouth Bass, and I know I’m in the right place.
Effingham native Doug Morgan is Senior Associate for EMC Engineering Services, Inc.
But it’s what he does in his off time that makes him happiest. When he’s not busy working as a civil engineer, he takes to the great outdoors – usually the Savannah River- where he competes as a tournament bass fisherman.
He has won first place in the 20th Annual Coastal Bass Anglers Open tournament in 2008, first place in the Savannah River Division of the Southern Anglers Challenge in 2008 and 2009, Savannah River Bass Anglers Big Bass of the Year in 2004, and Coastal Bass Anglers first place Angler of the Year in 2000. And that’s only a few of the plaques in his office!
Doug Morgan has been a tournament bass fisherman for eighteen years, but he says his first memory of fishing was in Effingham County when he was six or seven years old.
“We have a fish camp in Clyo, Georgia,” he says. “Growing up, me and my daddy and my uncles- we used to go up there and stay and brim fish and catfish and run trot lines and bush lines, and that’s probably my first memory of fishing.”
When I ask Morgan about the tournaments he has won, he is humble in his response.
“I’ve won- I wouldn’t say numerous- but I’ve won a bunch of tournaments on the river,” he says. And after seeing the awards in his office alone, I think “numerous” is an adequate description, if not an understatement. Morgan’s competitive nature has always driven him to succeed. After graduating from Effingham County High School, he went to Georgia Southern University, where he played football on the 1989 and 1990 National Championship Teams. “My first year was Erk Russell’s last year. We were 10 and 0. We were called Erk’s last Eagles,” he recalls. “I have always considered myself very fortunate to have been able to play for Coach Bob Griffith (ECHS) and for Coach Erk Russell (GSU). Both of them were great motivators and just great men, and both of them instilled in me that 1) you have to always be prepared both mentally and physically, 2) you have to have a game plan, and 3) you have to execute that game plan,” Morgan notes. “I use this same thought process when I am preparing for a tournament.”
It is this combination of preparation and passion for the sport that makes Morgan such a successful angler. “Most all of my preparation takes place the weeks before the tournament even begins,” he says. “I pride myself on being prepared and
organized when it comes to fishing.”
He researches the body of water by studying maps; he takes into account the weather and the water level; he prepares his boat’s gas, oil, batteries, and electronics; he meticulously organizes his rods, reels, and tackle; and he even inspects the quantity, quality, and colors of certain baits. It may seem like a lot of work for something he finds so entertaining, but Morgan seems to enjoy the challenge as much as he enjoys winning tournaments.
“Fishing is unlike any other sport. There’s a lot of factors you have to consider,” Morgan says. “When you go out and you catch twenty pounds of fish, you’ve figured ‘em out. It’s really rewarding.”
He recalls one tournament in which he and his fishing partner, Tim Weredyk, “figured ‘em out” on the Savannah River. The two fishermen’s five bass stringer weighed in at over twenty pounds, which is an impressive four-pound average for each bass. “That was probably one of the coolest days, ‘cause we caught ‘em in less than an hour,” he says. “We were on ‘em and they were eatin’ and we caught 22 lbs 4 oz and won that tournament.”
When I ask Morgan about the biggest fish he’s ever caught, he tells me it’s the monstrous bass I saw when I first entered his office. At ten pounds and two ounces, the mounted bass is certainly a trophy in itself. I then ask when he caught it, and with no pause whatsoever, he replies, “December 5th, 1999!” We both laugh at his infectious enthusiasm for the sport. Morgan’s enthusiasm and hard work has awarded him the opportunity to fish with some of the nation’s best anglers. “Back in 2003 I qualified through the EverStart, and got to go do what they call the EverStart Challenge,” he says. “That one was televised on ESPN.”
Morgan competed as a co-angler in the EverStart Challenge, which pairs the anglers with professional fishermen. He says one of the best fishermen with whom he’s had the opportunity to fish is Gerald Swindle, aka “G-Man.” Swindle is one of the nation’s most popular fishing personalities, and Morgan says fishing with Swindle was a great learning opportunity.
“That was really neat because you got to spend the whole day fishing with him and seeing how he approached the lake and how his boat was set up, and I got to talk to him and learn things,” Morgan says of his time with Swindle. “It was really fun and educational.”
He also realizes that his sport is a unique one, in which he can interact with the professionals. “I’ve had the opportunity to fish with these professionals that are the best in the world,” Morgan says. “We can’t just go and play baseball with Chipper Jones or race against Kurt Busch…but in this sport you have the opportunity to participate, compete, and be close to and interact with the people
that do it for a living.” And this aspect of fishing is what Morgan finds most appealing and unique.
Other than the competitive aspect of tournament fishing, Morgan loves being outdoors. “Growing up in Effingham, we were always active in sports. We were always hunting. We were always fishing. We were always outside, and I think it’s important for young people to grow up and be outdoors and learn about the outdoors,” Morgan says.
His wife, Caroline, and their two children, Nicholas and Olivia, share Morgan’s love of the outdoors. “My kids are at the age now where I enjoy taking them fishing and going to the pond and fishing with them, because they enjoy fishing.”
Even though Morgan is a talented angler, he has no desire to do it professionally. “It’s not something I aspire to do, “ Morgan says of going pro. “I enjoy what I do. I enjoy fishing local. I enjoy fishing the southeast.” He seems more passionate about fishing for the challenge and for the fun of it. And who could argue with that?
Morgan is a family man who is extremely active, and he likes to take part in his children’s activities as well. “My boy’s been playing baseball for three years, and I help coach every year with him, “ he says. “I’m slowly transitioning into a coach!” His pride is evident as he talks about his family.
When it comes to giving advice to prospective anglers, Morgan suggests getting involved in a local bass club. The Coastal Bass Anglers Club was the first club Morgan ever joined, and he says it was a great experience. “You don’t have to have a boat to join a bass club,” he says. “And nobody gets left on the hill.” He says fishing with people who are older and more knowledgeable gives new anglers the opportunity to learn a lot.
Morgan’s main goal now is to win the points championship for the Southern Anglers Challenge Trail. “I think I finished second in it three times!” he shakes his head and laughs. To win that tournament, one has to accumulate the most points in a series of tournaments throughout the whole year. “The year before last, me and my partner lost it by one point. We finished second by one point!” Morgan reiterates with a sense of humor.
To win the points championship is to be the best and most consistent team for the whole year. “I’d just really like to win that one,” Morgan says.
Whether he wins or not, Doug Morgan’s enthusiasm for tournament bass fishing will remain as intense as his passion for the great outdoors: “Whether I catch ‘em or not, the whole experience of tournament bass fishing is something that I thoroughly enjoy and hope to continue participating in for many years to come.”
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