Sister Michelle
The Scene: 5am, breakfast table at Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, hot coffee, eggs made to order. A seated woman looks up to a man bringing over his heaping plate of food.
“Brother Pete,” she says. “Do you have any more?”
You might think this is a Mexican drug deal going down, but Michelle Skelley Ashford is about as far from a drug addict as you can imagine. Instead, she’s asking my husband Pete for more watermelon Senkos. She’s used all of hers, and despite the fact that we’ve encouraged her to try crankbaits and topwaters and spinnerbaits, she’s a one-bait, one-color girl.
When I organized a ladies’ trip to El Salto in 2016, Lisa Skelley of Tennessee, a former Women’s Bass Tour angler, wanted to go, but she needed a partner. Enter her sister Michelle, a non-angler. She’s game for anything, and wanted to spend some time with Lisa, so she signed on. Now she’s been back with us several more times. Even though she usually catches the most and the biggest fish, she still considers herself a “non-angler” (and she’s still a watermelon Senko purist). Anglers Inn El Salto is of course a fishing vacation, but it’s also a chance to spend time with special people, and that’s the draw for her.
What I love about Michelle is that she’s one of the most positive people I’ve ever met. When we talk she can see your situation through a different, more positive light. She always has a smile on her face and the world’s most contagious laugh.
She is a speech language pathologist, a world traveler (fishing, business and pleasure), plays the French horn, is a member of the Dragon Thornes and attends Adult Nerd Camp. The list goes on and on.
In her free time (ha ha ha ha) she dabbles in the arts. Each time the girls travel to “fish camp,” Michelle brings us the most incredible shirts signifying the fishing species and location, always with her special touch.
The other day I came home to a surprise package. She had made me a one-of-a-kind crankbait tumbler with my own logo. It’s almost too pretty to use but each time I do I know I will be thinking positive thoughts and raising my glass to the next time I can fish or just spend time with my friend Michelle Skelley Ashford.
Michelle, when and where is our next fish camp vacation? Call me J
If you are interested in a one-of-a-kind tumbler please contact Michelle at michelleskelley711@gmail.com. They are $35 each, which includes shipping. Tell her I sent you.
