PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE
COURAGE & INSPIRATION
I knew Aaron since my rookie year in 2003 . There were only a few stars who went out of their way to make me feel welcome , and he was one of them . We were friends ever since , but over this last year after Aaron ’ s diagnosis , I really got to know him , and it changed my life forever . We talked about God and Heaven almost every day .
I tried to put myself in his shoes as we talked , but I just couldn ’ t . He was at peace with whatever the Lord ’ s will was , but also very confident in beating ( cancer ). I ’ ve never seen anyone as strong and as open as he was in the face of such a horrible physical situation . I wanted to help him , but it ended up that Aaron helped me instead . It ’ s ( just ) how he was .”
— Dave Lefebre , MLF pro
I got to spend time in Aaron ’ s beloved tackle and trophy rooms , and it showed me how the rest of us anglers were just playing checkers . Aaron had always been playing chess . I loved getting to see a more intimate side of his brilliance , where a lot of his magic happened , in that tackle room at home . Looking at his sketchbooks , you could see his tremendous knowledge of fishing – he was just at another level . He truly was 1,000 percent committed to bass fishing . I try to simplify things , and Aaron just kept expanding . How his mind worked was amazing . My mind would explode trying to keep track of his tackle . Things like that made him incredible .
— Brent Chapman , MLF pro
The voice on the phone was a familiar one , happy and mellow , with its recognizable Southern California drawl : “ Hey bro , how ’ s it going ?”
This was how Aaron greeted people more often than not , with a simple “ hey bro ” and an inquiry about their wellbeing . But as was sometimes the case in the months following Aaron ’ s diagnosis with glioblastoma – an especially aggressive form of brain cancer – that fact that he was even answering the phone was remarkable .
“ I ’ m getting chemo today . Say hello to the nice nurse who ’ s helping me ,” Aaron said . “ I think I ’ m on three different kinds of chemo now . I hear that ’ s a lot .”
He didn ’ t say it nonchalantly , but matter-of-factly , describing the effects of his treatment , and the regimen of diet , exercise , prayer and positive thinking that he adhered to throughout his illness . He was annoyed at the discomfort but accepting of it – about like the rest of us would accept the pain of a sprained ankle .
Aaron ’ s physical discomfort was much , much more severe , of course . Shortly after the conversation mentioned above , a photo appeared on social media of Aaron lying flat on his back on the front deck of his boat at Lake Chickamauga during a Bass Pro Tour event , a rod in his hand . Aaron was too sick and weak from chemo to stand , but he continued casting and reeling , refusing to stop fishing .
Two months later , Aaron finished 33rd at the Bass Pro Tour event on Lake Champlain . And , as was typical of Aaron , he was selfless that week in New York , choosing to share words of inspiration for other people instead of dwelling on his own condition .
“ Why be negative ? Why not be positive and just live life to the fullest ?” Aaron asked . “ With all these people pulling for me , it just makes me want to keep going more than ever . I ’ m still fighting the fight . If I can beat this , maybe I can show people some hope and be the inspiration that doctors tell me I am .”
Aaron showed unwavering faith . It was soothing and calming to me . He was steadfast ( in his faith ) and didn ’ t waver one bit . It was comforting to me to know that Aaron knew he was going to Heaven . As challenging as everything was for him him battling his cancer , he remained such a good , caring person . His faith allowed him to never give up , in fishing or in his life .
— Kevin VanDam , MLF pro
40 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2022