About Jerry Adams
Jerry passed away on August 10, 2010.

One of three children, Jerry was born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He told the story about catching his first fish, a five pound drum. He was fishing with his father and grandfather below the dam at Lake Wappapello in southeast Missouri. “I thought I had a new world record. Matter of fact, at that point in time, I wasn’t very big, and it almost pulled me in the water! Everything I know, everything I developed, everything I learned, I really learned from my dad. My dad was a great outdoorsman and a great fisherman, and he taught me everything that I know.”
Jerry was hooked and credits this experience as the beginning of his love affair with fish.

After playing college football and graduating from Southeast Missouri State University, Jerry hit the road traveling around the country singing and emceeing gospel music concerts. Nearly 25 years in the insurance business took him to Texas and Florida. It was his desire to be near family that drew Jerry back to Missouri, and finding a home at Lake of the Ozarks renewed his passion for fishing.

It didn’t take long for Jerry to find himself behind the wheel of a boat again and hosting Jerry Adams Outdoors. In addition to many of Missouri’s lakes and rivers, the host of this Emmy-nominated and award-winning program has ventured out and caught trout in Montana, crappie in Alabama, hybrids in Texas and salmon and halibut in Alaska. Kissing his catch and sharing his dinner plans is his signature, topped off with a gob of chocolate ice cream. While Jerry considers it a privilege to have fished with so many celebrities, country music stars, professional athletes and professional anglers, he cherishes his time spent with kids above all else. “Instead of taking your buddy, take your daughter, take your son, take your grandson - whether it be fishing or hunting or whatever - teach them about the outdoors.”

Memories
Adams says that his father taught him everything he knows about the outdoors, and that fishing was just one of those things. He has always said that his father could catch a Crappie in a bath tub, as he was the best he has ever seen. He remembers going across the Wappapello Lake Spillway with his father and grandfather when he was only 5 years old. They were using corn for bait and the first fish he ever caught was a 5 pound drum. Back then, he thought he was a super man.

When he lived in Florida, he used to guide. He recalls a startling experience on a day he and a guide party were on Lake Inverness. He was fishing a Bagley Bang - a lure top water bait - when the water seemed to explode in front of him, and after a short battle, a 15.6 largemouth came into the boat.

Adams says that his favorite place to fish is at a place called Stick Marsh in Felsmire, FL. He and about 10 other people were invited to fish this marsh before it was open to the public. He recalls catching 10 bass that day over 10 pounds, so he figures it had to be one of my best.

He recalls one hot afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico. He and his camera man, Ron Bigford, were coming back into the dock. As they were cruising along, they saw what he believed to be a capsized boat, se they put their own boat in high gear, trying to save whoever was in the capsized boat. However, when they got closer, they discovered it wasn't a boat at all, but two loving sea turtles, making new sea turtles. One was a monster and the male was a little buger, so they had a great laugh over it.

Adams recalls one of his spookiest experiences being when he was doing a Tarpon Show in the Gulf. Storms come up there fast, and if you're catching fish, you can find yourself putting off stopping and going in until it's too late. As they were finally coming back in, the waves were 7 to 8 feet high, and they had almost made it when a wave turned them around and filled the talon boat with sea water. Fortunately, his monkey-like cameraman jumped up on the seat with the camera, so it was saved, but they lost 10 camera batteries at 100 dollars apiece.

Adams says that shooting shows over the years has been a lot of fun, and he has met some really nice people. He knows he will enjoy every show in the future, and dreams of someday fishing for Peacock Bass in Brazil.