Reading it in the Trapper took me back instantly to 1984 and my first NTA convention in Cookeville, Tn. Jim Helfrich was the 'man' back then to all of us wild eyed want to be trapper's in our teen's. Id read his article's, bought his books/lures the whole nine yards now I was going to finally meet him in person and there I was in front of his booth and I couldn't think of a single thing to say other than stand there staring at him like an idiot, lol.

Like the kid in Jim's column though he had lit a fire inside of me and kept me hanging on when id got discouraged and wanted to find something else to do with my time. And like the kid in Jim's column, all these year's later im still stumbling around on a trapline.

You and I have very similar early trapping memories. I never met him but met some folks selling his lure at a convention that ACTUALLY knew him and I was about the same way.

I agree, reading that article brings back memories. I had the opportunity to eat dinner with Jim and his Wife Jill when I was on a bow hunting trip. I knew Jim resided in the area I went to hunt over the last couple years. I had thought maybe I should look him up. But my mind quickly went too, he’s probably too busy, no time for this Yooper. As luck would would have it, we literally met each other in the middle of the 1000’s of acres of public land. He was driving around checking out his trapping turf and one are was were our camp was set up. Long story short, I got to hang out with one of the best mink trappers, turkey hunters, Duck Hunters, catfish catcher and catfish cookers! Yup, I met one of my hero’s. Best hunting trip I ever had and I didn’t shoot anything but the breeze.

For me it was the Adirondack Mountain trappers from my area like E.J.Dailey and Johnny Thorpe.

I was there J... 2 things I remember... a guy sitting at a foot petaled 3' round grinding stone sharpening knives for a dollar... locking the keys in my wife's '80 Honda Accord and going to the local PD to get a slim jim after having "way too many"...

Meat Eater was my go to fox lure back in those days.

Same her Mudrat, remember also meeting you at rondezvous with you walking around with (PEPSI can)... LOL.... take care

The start of a trapper aka da Mudrat

First met Jim Helfrich at the '82 FTA convention in Union City, Tn...His fox and coon book along with Stanley Hawbaker's Trapping North American Furbearers were my first 3 method books.

Never used his lure, but he was an influence on me.

Really liked his column in The Trapper magazine also.

Although Helfrich came around a little earlier, I always felt like he paved the road for the early 80's rockstar trappers.

I miss talking with Johnny Thorpe at ours here in Maine.

In my opinion the magazine has really improved since they changed the name.

You were a teenager in 1984?
Thought you were older.

I was there! Were you one that was sitting around the campfire, while Helfrich and Blackie were telling story's on each other? It was hilarious. Mel Fluth and Keith Gregerson were there, Milligan and I rode down together. Couple guys from SD, and that was just about all that were there. Not very well attended as I remember!
Met Johnny Thorp at Rutland Vt at the NTA, what, in 82 maybe? He really had a good one going on there, buthe had some very nice totems there he was selling!
Was at Cookeville too. I was working in NH, welding at the paper mill there, and I called Russ Carmen and asked if he was going. He said he was, so I drove my welding rig to his house, and rode to the Pete Leggets house, and then convoyed on to the convention with Ray Petrunich and a few more that I can’t remember all the names! That was a fun rondy, with no booth or responsibilitys! lol

Bet theres a box of Lucky Charms in that Jeep for a snack !!

My "heroes" growing up were all these big time trappers. Not some ball player.

Used to dream about running traplines like those guys.

I recall meeting dad at a convention in Maryland in the 80s. I was stationed at Indian Head, MD at the time. After hours, we were sitting around talking, and Russ Carman came in and sat down with us. I couldn't believe I was lucky enough to be sitting with Russ Carman, who's lures I've been using for some time. I know just how y'all felt being in the presence of your heroes. And there I was with dad, who was a hero to so many others. Dad was a hero to me, but in a different way.

I was there J... 2 things I remember... a guy sitting at a foot petaled 3' round grinding stone sharpening knives for a dollar... locking the keys in my wife's '80 Honda Accord and going to the local PD to get a slim jim after having "way too many"..

That sounds more like my 'later' convention's, my first one i was pure as the wind driven snow, hahaha


, and then convoyed on to the convention with Ray Petrunich

Oh there's another name id forgot, can't recall the name of his supply company but i kept him busy with order's as well, he sold odd products i couldn't find anywhere else.


And there I was with dad, who was a hero to so many others. Dad was a hero to me, but in a different way.

And that was the funniest part of the whole convention as the years rolled by, I met him too but had no clue who he was or what he was about, hahaha. After standing till my legs went to sleep listening to him answer every question from muskrat's to bear's id become convinced he was God, hahahaha. Kept waiting for him to say i don't know but he never did, ended up watching a demo he did, it was in the air conditioned building so wasn't hard to get my buddy to go to it. After that i became a fixture at his booth and gave ol Jim a break from my staring, hahaha.

Willis Kent was there also, to this day ive still not met Russ Carmen or Milligan and me and Russ have been at the same convention's multiple times im sure.

Hi Lee, I missed the campfire with Helfrich and Blackie, but do remember it being a small convention, also remember talking to Ray Milligan, heck I may have talked with you! Lol....Got to talking with some fella at his booth about the .32 caliber flinter Tenneseee Mtn. Rifle I had just purchased at Dixie Gun Works on the way to the fair grounds.

This fella wanted to see it, so we went out to my truck to take a look and he gave me the best advice...He said to load it with close to 32 grains of FFF blackpowder, and the best load would be somewhere close to that measure.

He was right, with 30 grains of FFF blackpowder the old squirrel rifle will still shoot a squirrels eye out with amazing regularity, the fella who gave me the advice?...."Blackie"...Didn't even know who I was talking to at the time, bought his coon book later, and still use his TKO lure.

The 1982 FTA was my first convention, seems like it was just yesterday.

I remember going to an OSTA metting at Helfrich’s place of business and seeing 2 Mt lion cubs wandering around in the building not in a cage. They were fascinating.