Grandma got... Well you know the rest

Christmas in the South is a singular event. There are people everywhere in the South who wait all year for the chance to out decorate, out shop and out "Christmas" each other. It's not uncommon to see frames of out side of house that are littered with small lights of various sizes and colors. The frames are built to resemble Santa's sleigh, Nativity Scenes, snowmen and any number of things considered "Christmasy." The other side of this is the tradition of riding all over creation looking at the displays. The children gasping in delight at the colors and the parents discussing the power bill and what the neighbors of these house must think at 2 on the morning when the midnight sun is lighting up the yards for houses around.



Second only to this is the decoration competitions on the inside of homes. Houses will ooze Christmas cheer from every light, corner, hallway and table. Visitors will discuss in hushed tones the class and divinity with which these decorations are placed throughout. At least until the ride home where the words, "gawdy" and "tacky" are often spoken.



However, in all actuality Southerners celebrate Christmas like no others. With gusto are wreaths thrown up. With flair are small Santa's and elves placed in every cubby hole and nook. Candles big and small are brought out, placed in holders and a sconces.... And we love it! The family gathers and smiles are seen every where. Children are aglow with reindeer food made of glitter and oatmeal that is strewn on front steps, sidewalks, and drive ways. Loved ones who have passed are remembered with tears, tales and laughter. This is our Christmas. It's the best. We wouldn't trade our traditions for all the toys in the bag.



To our Southern Hook family, you are all special to us and we are truly grateful for your support and kindness. Merry Christmas, Y'all!



Stay Southern, Hooks



- JD

Mango Duck Quesadilla

'Tis the season. The season for DUCK!
Try this on for size! Mango Duck Quesadillas!!

1 duck breast
1/2 cup mango cut up
1 tbsp minced green onion
1 tbsp sliced, seeded jalapeño
4 oz shredded cheddar, pepper jack cheese
6" flour tortillas


Cook the duck breast in a pan skin side down on medium heat. After 8-10 minutes turn and cook for 3-5 more minutes. Remove from the pan and remove the skin from the duck. After this, shred the duck.


Spread the cheese over the tortillas and put the other ingredients on the cheese.
Fold each tortilla in half and press down. Then lightly oil them with... You guessed it. Peanut oil. Now pan grill them for 2-3 minutes. They should be light golden in color.
Cut them in half and serve!!! For added kick squeeze just a little lime over them.


Dang!!! That's good duck!!!


- JD

Welcome to the Team!

Big news, Hooks! We have had the good fortune of adding our very own professional bass angler to our team - Mr. Chris Stokes!

Aside from being a true Southern Hook, Chris has a lengthy record of great bass fishing! A run down of the organizations he has participated in includes:

The Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL), B.A.S.S. Opens (Central Divisions), The McNider Marine Tournament Trail, Team Tournament Trails, Dixie Bass Anglers, Collinsville Bass Club, The East Central Bass Club.


Chris' professional highlights include:  Three time qualifier for BFL regionals, Three time qualifier for Team Trail regionals, Two time qualifier for the Dixie Bass Regionals, Numerous local wins, and "Angler of the Year" D&N Tournament Trail

We can't begin to relate how excited we are about adding Chris to our team! We will keep you all updated on the events he his participating in so that if he's in your area, you can go out and root a fellow Southern Hook on- especially at the weigh ins!



- JD

Southern Hook Humor

We in the South have a great sense of humor. We have the innate ability to turn tragedy to comedy. Hence the picture above. Some Southern Hook somewhere saw this no longer moving armadillo ( or 'possum on the half shell) and thought, "why not?" So as only a Southern Hook would do, they added a cup of coke to the deceased and took a this picture thereby turning tragedy to comedy.

It's a gift that we possess. An innate ability all Southern Hooks have. Kind of our own super power. This humor is woven into our daily lives with elegance and flair. If you don't believe me, just have a conversation with any Southern Hook. Our lives are made up of laughter and smiles. And we freely share these with our friends and family, and more often times than not complete strangers.

So as you walk through your day, take the opportunity to share a smile and a laugh with another. Give them a gift that can't be bought. It's what we do. It's part of being a Southern Hook!

- JD

Southern Hooks Creme Brûlée

Time for a Southern Hooks favorite!! With the fall coming on, nothing better than a Creme Brûlée!!!


You need:


2 cups of heavy cream

5 egg yolks (fresh eggs rule!!!)

1/2 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

1/2 cup of light brown sugar

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Then whisk the cream, egg yolks, vanilla, and sugar together. Whisk it up until its all creamy and good looking.

Take this concoction and pour it into 4 of those little ceramic bowls. Okay so I don't know the names of them but at least I know what the are.

Place the bowls in a Pyrex casserole (like your momma uses) and add hot water to about half way up the sides of the bowls. Place the Pyrex dish in the oven for oh, lets say 45 minutes-ish to maybe an hour-ish. After the first 45 check them with a knife. If the knife is clean, you have achieved creamy goodness!!!

Take they Pyrex out, remove the bowls and let them cool for 15-20 minutes. Then sprinkle them with the light brown sugar. Make it a then layer. But cover the whole thing.
Now the fun part!!! Get creative!!! Give the tops some heat! I've seen everything from long neck lighters to those handheld torches used. The idea is to heat the brown sugar until it caramelizes on the top. I usually just broil them in the oven for a second or two.
Now..... Dig in!!!

- JD

Bubba Jones Locker Part 2

When we last saw our Heroes, they were fishing in the Bayou of Doom and having a great day! Let's see how they're doing now...


Captain Jack and I were having a great day fishing. We'd had some promising bites and a few lip outs, but our spirits were high. Suddenly however, things went sour. I started snagging on hidden logs. We'd ease the boat over and my snagged bait was magically hanging limp in the water. Captain Jack began getting wind knots in his braided line with no wind blowing. Our once perfect casts were now catching limbs, getting caught in the stems of lilly pads and rigging into Spanish moss causing them to clump into the water and being brought to the boat on our retrieves. This went on for hours.
Captain Jack looked at me and stated flatly that he was done. He'd just pilot our craft and enjoy the boat ride. This shook my soul to the core. Captain Jack hanging up the hook for the day? His internal warning alarm had obviously gone off and he picked up on it. Me? Nope. Not one sound, alarm, bell or whistle. I held up my best fishing weapon, squared my shoulders and defiantly cried out, "Not me!" Yep. I've never been the sharpest saw in the shed.


Captain Jack positioned the boat further back into the bayou and I became a fiend. I was casting at every stump, clump, and log I saw. I was on a mission! I could not or would not be defeated! How wrong I was.  The next few minutes are chiseled into my heart. A horror I will never forget. Captain Jack was standing on the fore deck watching me and making supportive comments. At one of these I looked at him to reply something. As I was opening my mouth I was also making an off hand cast. I'd done this a million times. No big deal. Then as if pulled or rather being snatched from my hand, my best and most prized fishing weapon launched itself into the air! It flew 5 or 6 feet from the boat! I froze. I couldn't speak or think. The rod landed on top of the water and hung there a second, a minute, a lifetime. But I was powerless to move.


After staring at the dark murky water for 5 minutes without saying a word, I sat down. I'd been defeated. Whooped. My fishing heart laid open for the world to poke at. Captain Jack started the boat, eased back to the channel and we began the ride out. Bouncing on the water I looked back over my shoulder into the bayou and for a moment, just a brief glimmer of time, I saw a ragged arm cold and dead holding my rod high in the air. I whispered to myself, "Bubba Jones."

- JD

Bubba Jones' Locker Part 1

In years past when men traversed the oceans using sails and oars, there was the tail of Davy Jones' locker. When a ship or its crew went down, it was said they became prisoners in Jones' locker along with all the treasure the vessels carried. This tale is nothing new. However, very few have heard of Davy Jones's brother, Bubba Jones.
Bubba resides in lakes, rivers, and streams. He is not as wealthy as his brother, however he is just as viscous and cold blooded. This is a tale of my latest run in with Bubba.


I recently took a trip back to Oil City to fish on Caddo lake. I'd lain out the tackle I needed. I had changed the line out on my best fishing weapon. I had even planned the area I would fish and how I was to fish. Captain Jack was to be my fishing partner as usual and he'd done the same. Even his wife, Cheryl (one of the best cooks in the area) had prepared our typical fishing meal which consisted of hard boiled eggs, sliced pepperoni, cubed cheddar cheese and a sleeve of crackers. Captain Jack and I were ready for battle! I just didn't realize who we'd be battling.


Captain Jack and I hit the water around 6 am. We motored over the lake to a bayou hidden in the darkest recesses of Caddo Lake. The area we were going to fish was laden with lilly pads and cypress trees. The Spanish Moss hung from the branches of the tress like funeral shrouds on the faces of weathered old women. This was truly an amazingly eerie place. I had but one thought, "Let's fish!"


We began systematically casting at different areas. There were casts made into the heart of lilly pads. Casts made into clusters of cypress trees. Casts made skipping baits under the moss hanging. It was a great start to the day. Then it started.


Join us tomorrow fearless readers for the conclusion of "JD and Bubba Jones' Bayou!"


- JD