In 1953, Charley Wells and Mr. Catfish got a lease from my Grandmother to have a fish camp on our property. My Grandmother, known as Biggie, agreed and Mr. Wells started his development of roads, wells, septic tanks, electric hookups new to our rural country. Also included was a restaurant on the south side of the Ramp so you could eat catfish or whatever you caught. We would cook for you, you could have a cold beer, and watch for the big fish contest of the day.
This was a time in our past when it paid to know the names of Gus, Foots, Chicken George, or Catfish. These were our ramp men and in those days people owned motors and rented boats at the dock. These men were used to farm work, it was nothing to put a 50 lb. outboard motor on your shoulder walk it out to the dock and get their man ready to fish. They earned their money and worked hard for it. But they always came home with enough fish to feed the whole family.
Where farm hands lived on the place they had a house, hogs, chickens, a garden and some cows. We were self sufficient, a family and we all worked together. These men made this business, they were dependable, conscientious and always did well. Come Christmas all their stockings were full of money.
When my wife and I took over Poor's Camp 38 years ago. Our ramp man, Gus, came with the deal. There were four fish camps on Tunica Lake then, but I had Gus. He knew everyone and was a professional greeter. He would sit at the ramp box and all the money would pass through Gus's hand into the ramp box. I paid Gus 1/3 of the ramp box money to greet, give fishing reports, and share a joke or two. We both did good.
I raised two daughters, two Delta debutantes, two collage sorority sisters, and both graduated Ole Ms. Two brides at twenty one, paid for two Delta weddings, and my wife and I are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren. Through all that plus the 2011 flood and the Covid Pandemic we are still here and business is better than ever.
