This report is dedicated to the Dr. W. O. (Spike) Williams annual Father and Son Fishing Trip.  We lost Dr. Spike to cancer last year, not long after the annual fishing trip.  We wanted to share a little about Doc. 

Dr. Williams , an avid fisherman and believer in the fellowship the great outdoors creates, started this trip 55 years ago.  A medical doctor from Macon who like most working fathers did not get to spend enough time with his son, started this annual fishing trip to help fathers and sons spend more time together.  This trip is always scheduled for the first weekend in May.

The trip first started with only a few doctors and their sons and has grown to sometimes having over 100 fisherman.  Many of the fathers and sons from the very beginning are still coming and bringing grandchildren, who are eager to fish.  As the years went by, Doc opened the trip to any man who wanted to fish and be a part of the group.

I'd like to tell you a little about this dedicated doctor and good friend.  Doc's hobbies were hunting and fishing.  When time permitted, he was doing one or the other.  Doc had a loving wife who fished with him every chance she had until she passed away.  He also had a son, Bill, who passed early in life.  Doc's boat is named after his son "the Barnacle Bill".  He has a daughter, Wanda, and three grandchildren.

The week prior to the trip, Doc would come down to fish with family and friends and to get everything in order for the arrival of the group.  Doc spent all year working on the trip to be sure it would be just right for all who came.  When the men and boys began showing up, Doc would greet them with a firm handshake or a hug.  It was like going to a family reunion.  He would tell us a story about each person as they arrived.

Here are a few of the people that have been coming for many years:  Dr. William Baxley and son and now grandsons, Dr. Sam Shaker and son and now son-in-laws and grandsons, Dr. Terry Pope ans sons, Dr. Trip Smission and sons, Dr. Billy Shipp and son-in-law and grandson, Guy Fried and sons and grandsons, brothers Jeff and Kevin Davis with Kevin's father-in-law, Bobby Wood, Bobby Kramer, Jimmy Cantrell, Larry Hoyal and sons, the Richardsons, and Sam Goolsby.  I wish I could name them all, but it's all of these people who keep Doc's dream of fellowship and good friends going forward (also they like to fish).  Thanks to each and everyone of you. 

A very special thank you to Colby Bond, Rick Lansford and Tom McEachern for organizing this years trip.  Without them the trip would have been impossible.

A special note on the late night activities around cabin #8 that will be talked about for a long time.  We wish we all knew the whole story, it's something to do with a fire extinguisher. (We might be glad we don't know all.)

We received this letter from Guy Fried and would like to share some of it with you.    

      Over the years, we have taken thousands of photos. Without telling a fish story, we probably have hundreds of photo albums in our home as well as a computer full.

      Of all these photos, some of the best ones that bring back the fun memories and biggest smiles were taken during Dr. Spike's father/son fishing trip at Shell Island Fish Camp.  My boy's first trout are mounted and hanging on the wall, their first beer, first jumps into the springs at Wakulla, many life lessons as well as lots of new and rekindled friendships.....boys being boys and men longing to be boys again.

      Yes, Dr. Spike took his love of fishing and outdoors and shared it with many.  You all stepped up in his shoes and kept has spirit alive.  It's amazing to me how many feet it takes to fill Dr. Spike's shoes, isn't it?

      I have planned enough trips for friends and family to know what he did for 53 years and what you all did this year.  It isn't easy and does not go unappreciated.  We show up and everything is planned and in place.  Things are ready and actually go very smoothly, everyone has a great time, fishing, socializing and depart with more great memories.

Again thank you to all who attend this father and son weekend and hope to see all of you next year.

Tight lines and good fishing,

Allen