BayouOutdoors
A G O O D C AT C H article by Dan Chason
hen you first meet Jep Robertson, he comes across as a quiet, unassuming man with a sharp wit and a somewhat introverted personality. His given name is Jules Jeptha Robertson. What gave me a chuckle was when I asked him if he had a pet name. He laughed and said, "My wife calls me Jules when she gets mad at me." I guess being the son of Phil Robertson has its affects and as the youngest son of Kay and Phil, Jep still has the demeanor of a youngest child. That was further reinforced as he spent many a year out of the spotlight and behind the camera filming both the Duck Commander video series but also the Duck Commander television show on Outdoor Channel that brought about the force now known as A&E’s Duck Dynasty. The "beards" were discovered on Outdoor Channel’s television show and one man behind the camera for many years was
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none other than Jep. He would never say it, but in my opinion, he can take partial credit for a good portion of what drew Hollywood to West Monroe. True to form, Jep credits Greg Eppinette (one of the original camera men for the series) with honing his interests and skills behind the camera. What is not well known about Jep is that he is a highly competitive golfer, gifted hunter and according to my latest trip with him, a salty fisherman. When we decided to take a trip after bass, I assumed that I would hear about his fishing lessons from Phil or his older brothers but was amazed to hear how he learned to fish. Her name was Merritt Robertson, or Granny Robertson to Jep. Phil's mother warmed up to Jep as he showed to be not only a loving grandson but was quite skilled at "skulling." Only a kid raised on the river can fully develop this talent. To put it in modern day terms, Jep was
Granny's trolling motor. Granny loved to fish and 10-year-old Jep was right behind her on their outings up Cypress Creek. Granny would tell Jep to get the boat ready and off they would go. She would tell Jep to "pull me up to that tree to the left" and after catching the fish, Jep would take the fish off re-bait her hook and he would paddle her to the next tree. She taught him how barometric pressure affected the fish, which areas to fish at various times of the day and all of the variables to make a good angler. This went on for quite some time until Jep asked her one day when he would be able to fish with her. He says she smiled at him and said, "When you learn HOW to catch them, you can fish." Jep is actually the first man I have ever met who learned to fish from a grandmother. It made me think of my Granny's and how I got in trouble with my Grandpa for helping