• Starboard Choice Marine
  • Moore Boats
Michiana Outdoors News
Advertise with Us

What's New?

D&R Sports Center will host its annual Spring Fishing Show Friday and Saturday with a stellar lineup of seminar speakers.

Read more

If Matt Arey’s boat number at this year’s Bassmaster Classic is any indication of good things to come, then #22 might just lead to first place. Arey is the ultimate ‘girl dad’ and his two young daughters love Taylor Swift’s hit song “22”.

Read more

New Gear

Jacob Wheeler set out to develop a new swimbait with the product engineers at Rapala, but he didn’t want a situational tool – he wanted a soft swimbait that would catch fish from coast to coast, 12 months out of the year.

Read more
Clear H2O Tackle
KVD Answers Most Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Tip: How to Replace the Carpet on Your Boat Trailer Bunks
D&R Sports Center


Everyone called him Uncle Homer for a reason.

He treated strangers as family. There wasn’t a narcissistic bone in his body. When you spoke to him, he listened patiently and caringly to what you had to say.

That’s one of many reasons the outdoors world wears a heavy heart these days, learning of the passing of the great Homer Circle. He died at the age of 97 in Ocala, Fla. recently.

If you’re of my generation, you remember hanging on every word he wrote for Sports Afield in the days when outdoor writing was a blessed craft.

He not only shared his fishing tips, but taught us how to appreciate every moment we spend on the water.

Uncle Homer had a Michiana connection, too. He worked for Heddon Lures in Dowagiac, Mich. during its heydays, earning his way into a vice president’s role before resigning in 1964 to become full-time writer for Sports Afield and moving to Florida so he could “fish year-round.”

If you ever met him, like I did that gorgeous summer day on a small island at God’s Lake, Manitoba, you remember his warm smile and unassuming gentle voice.

Homer was fishing out of another camp and his fishing guide chose the same island as our guide for a shore lunch that day. I’ll never forget sitting with him as we enjoyed a plate of freshly caught pike and swapped fishing tales.

I truly believe things happen for a reason, as it was that day when Unc’ Homer encouraged me to pursue an outdoors writing career.

“If you have the passion and love for the outdoors, a strong work ethic, you can do it,” he offered with a reassuring smile.

I will never pretend to be an Unc’ Homer, but have always tried to embrace his values and professionalism.

As we mourn his passing, the Fisherman’s Prayer that he wrote and cited at many events I attended thereafter gives reason to smile.

It goes like this:

God grant that I may fish
until my dying day;
And when at last I come to rest,
I’ll then most humbly pray;
When in His landing net
I lie in final sleep;
That in His mercy I’ll be judged
As good enough to keep!

There’s no doubt that Uncle Homer was a keeper, and somewhere in heaven he’s fishing the hallowed waters of another God’s Lake.

And making new friends.

JBLP

Powered by Lake Drive Marine

  • Power Pole
  • Mercury Marine
  • Bass Boat Technologies
Loc-R-Bar Boat Security System

Advertise with Us!

Advertise with Michiana Outdoors News

Michiana Outdoors News provides advertisers a cost effective vehicle to target thousands of sportsmen across southern Michigan and northern Indiana.

Find out how here!