By Shawn Larson
TYLER, When Caleb Hensley steps into the classroom at Peete Elementary, his students know him as “Coach Hensley,” the physical education teacher with a whistle around his neck and a love for sports. But when he steps onto the water, tens of thousands know him simply as the man behind 903 Fishing. For Hensley at the heart is something deeper, a desire to share his faith through something he loves.
Hensley, originally from New Boston, has been casting lines since he was 4 years old. A former college baseball player at Texas College, he now balances teaching, being a newlywed, raising his 13-year-old son, Jaiden, and running one of the most successful crappie fishing channels on YouTube.
What started in May 2020 with a GoPro camera and a jon boat during the COVID-19 shutdown has since grown into a brand with more than 120,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 275,000 followers across Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. “I now have 2 boats and 2 kayaks,” said Hensley.
“I never would have thought it would have grown this big, and spread nationwide,” Hensley said. “I started the channel in hopes of helping people catch more fish and to educate people on fishing in general.”
Old-School Approach
In a world where many anglers rely on Livescope and forward-facing sonar to find fish, Hensley has taken a different route. His “old-school” methods use simpler electronics, making his approach more relatable to the average fisherman.
Viewers of 903 Fishing can expect crappie tips year-round, along with videos on catching giant bluegill and white bass. From the bank to a kayak, Hensley demonstrates dock shooting, slip corking and even wading techniques during the spring spawn.
“I fish everywhere in the 903-area code. Specifically, Lake Tyler and Lake Palestine, but I have videos from over a dozen lakes in or around East Texas. I also have content from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. I like to show people how to go to new lakes, creeks and how I find and catch my crappie, so they will be able to do that in their area. I love nothing more than to get a message saying someone caught their first crappie, or a mess of crappie from a technique/setup they learned from on the 903 Fishing channel. That’s how I know I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing and it’s working.”
Community and Faith
The channel is more than just fishing tutorials. For Hensley, it is also a ministry. His favorite Bible verse, Matthew 4:19, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” is displayed on his boat and T-shirts.
“I firmly believe this is how God wants me to spread his word, through the love of fishing,” he said.
That message resonates with families across East Texas and beyond. Hensley has hosted three local crappie tournaments in the past 18 months, drawing fishermen to Lake Tyler and Lake Palestine. He says creating opportunities for kids and newcomers to connect with fishing is one of his biggest priorities.
“So taking the time to do this is very important to me. I have also hosted 3 crappie fishing tournaments in the past year and a half, 1 on Lake Palestine and 2 on lake Tyler. Nobody is having local tournaments around here, it is a good way to get fishermen together and to make new connections. I try anyway to be involved with the local community, especially children,” said Hensley
Staying Grounded
Despite his success, Hensley remains committed to teaching. He says he has considered making fishing a full-time career but doesn’t want to step away from his students just yet.
“I would love to fish full time, but I don’t think I could leave my students and my career as a schoolteacher,” he said. “I’ll let God control that. If it’s in his will, it will happen.”
Until then, Hensley continues to teach during the day and build his fishing brand after hours. His current goal is to reach 150,000 YouTube subscribers by the end of the year.
And whether it’s signing an autograph at a tournament, answering a follower’s question online, or celebrating a fan’s first catch inspired by one of his videos, Hensley says he knows he’s right where he’s supposed to be.
