Meet Charlie Pack
Charlie is almost never seen without his trademark fishing hat, but over the years he has worn many hats, from all walks of life.
Charlie was All American in basketball at Waco High School. In fact, Charlie still holds the record for most points scored in a
single game (49 points) and the highest free throw percentage (a whopping 92%). In 2005 Charlie was inducted into the Waco
ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.
Charlie made all conference at Baylor University in 1955. He attended on a basketball scholarship, majoring in Music Theory,
and was the only athlete to graduate as a music major.
The Fishin' Musician
Charlie has fronted his own band, Charlie Pack and the Originals, for over 30 years. The band has played Las Vegas with Kenny
Rogers and Willie Nelson, as well as many private parties at the Golden Nugget. Charlie has even performed with LeAnn Rimes.
"Sign or Swim"
Charlie was National Sales Leader for American General Life Insurance in 1985, with personal sales of 44 million and $385,000
of premiums. Most of his 35 years of sales successes were achieved by taking potential clients fishing.
Bass Champion & Crappie Guru
Charlie is a champion fisherman for both Bass and Crappie.
Texas Big Bass Champion, 1962
Texas Open Bass Champion, 1962
Central Texas Crappie Champion,
7 out of 11 years, and again in 1994
National Angler's Choice Classic Bass co-champion, 1993
Charlie's expertise as a crappie fisherman is legendary, but he is also an inventor! An avid crappie fisherman since childhood,
Charlie experimented and eventually created the Pack's Pole: an 11-foot telescoping fiberglass rod with a perfectly balanced
cork, weight and hook, that makes crappie fishing fun and easy for everyone. Charlie's experimental improvements on the
cane pole hang in his garage, but the perfected Pack's Pole is available exclusively at Wal-Mart.
Fishing Country with Charlie Pack
Charlie is best known as the host of a weekly television show, "Fishing Country with Charlie Pack," seen in Central Texas since
1989. The show is now seen on four stations, KCEN-TV channel 6 in the Waco area, KMAY-TV channel 23 in the Bryan/College
Station Area, KETK-TV channel 56 in the Tyler area, and KMSS-TV channel 33 in the Texarkana-Shreveport area.
In 1992, "Fishing Country" won the Telly Award. The program is popular with children and adults alike, and is frequently
watched by people who do not, or can not fish. "Fishing Country" is produced by Pack Productions, which also produces
instructional fishing videos, including Bass Class, and Crappie Class.
In The Limelight
Charlie makes frequent public appearances at schools, civic organizations, Boat Shows and Wal-Mart SuperCenters across
Texas. At many appearances, Charlie gives fishing demonstrations on "Fishermen's Dream," a 5,000 gallon fish tank, where
people can see live fish and fishing lure presentations in the water, and have their fishing questions answered.
The Tadpole Foundation
Charlie loves to take kids fishing, especially on his TV show. But the numerous personal requests he receives could never be
fulfilled. So in 1996, Charlie created The Tadpole Foundation, whose mission is to give every child the chance to go fishing. To
this end, The Tadpole Foundation maintains a fishing equipment lending library, and sponsors an annual free day of fishing.
The Tadpole Fishing Party is held each summer, on private lakes near Waco, Texas. The Tadpole Foundation's motto is "Off the
Streets and On the Creeks," a credo Charlie lives by.
"A judge once told me he never sentenced a kid who ever had a fishing pole in his hand," Charlie said.
The Tadpole Foundation is a 501c3 foundation, and contributions are tax-deductible.
On A Personal Note
Charlie has been married to Lynn Pack for more than 40 years, and together they have four daughters, and six grandchildren.
In 2008, Charlie was nominated to the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in
Athens, Texas.