I’ve been obsessed with competitive bass fishing for as long as I can remember. I remember writing letters to Kevin VanDam as a child, completely enamored by his professionalism and raw talent. Like many others it’s always been my dream to compete on that level, and I’ve since tried my hand at climbing the competitive ranks. Over the last four years I’ve competed on Auburn University’s Bass Fishing Team, famously known for producing professional fisherman such as Jordan and Matt Lee, Steve Kennedy and a number of others.
I had a fairly successful college career, never winning any major events, but scoring numerous top 10 and top 5 finishes. Upon my graduation from Auburn University I knew I wanted to continue fishing, and I decided to sign up for all nine Bassmaster Opens. I just recently completed this tournament series, and it was one of the most challenging yet enjoyable years of my life. This season was full of ups and downs, and It taught me a ton about what it takes to compete on a national level.
CHANGE IN PACE
Fishing the Opens was a major change of pace from college fishing. This year the Bassmaster Opens consisted of four and a half days of practice followed by a three day tournament. This was significantly longer than most tournaments I was used to, and I had to really learn how to practice for such a long period of time. I really enjoyed having a longer practice period, however it took some adjusting when it came to being efficient on the water for nearly five straight days.
Not only were the tournaments longer, but the field was larger as well. While I’m used to fishing 150-250 boat fields, I wasn’t used to all 250 anglers being extremely talented fishermen. This takes a toll on the fishing after nearly five days of practice, and it causes the majority of well-known areas to dry up by tournament day. This caused me to really focus on off the wall locations, something I didn’t have to do in college fishing.
KNOWING YOUR ELECTRONICS
I spent the majority of my college career fishing shallow, primarily targeting fish around the spawn. Going from a four tournament college series to a nine tournament series forced me to be far more versatile, not just leaning on my strengths. This caused electronics to play a major role throughout the season. I used electronics throughout my college career, however I wasn’t as versatile with this technology as other anglers.
I had lots of experience using electronics around the house, however I wasn’t aware of how applicable it was to nearly every fishing scenario. I spent a lot of time this year using forward-facing sonar, side scan, and various other fish catching technologies in situations where I wouldn’t typically use them. This can be anything from bed fishing in 2 feet of water to targeting bass that are 60 feet deep. There were numerous tournaments won this year using forward facing sonar in less than 3 feet of water, and I really learned a ton about all the different ways this technology can be used. This is something I’ve put a lot of energy into improving on, and I’m really looking forward to testing my new skills next season.
MANAGING LOGISTICS
Another major change for me was managing the logistics of traveling across the country. In college all of my rooms were booked and paid for in advance, making the process of traveling much easier. This year however I had to pay out of my own pocket for housing, with significantly longer drives to tournaments than I’m typically used to. This process was challenging at first, however I grew to appreciate the process of scheduling my own trips. I also learned that traveling with a group of close friends is a great way to cut costs and share fishing knowledge. I traveled with the same two friends for all nine tournaments, and it was really nice having a familiar face at the house when you get off the water.
Managing expenses is another logistical challenge that comes along with fishing the Opens. It’s no secret that fishing is expensive already, but when you add tournament entry fees and tons of travel costs things can get out of hand quickly. Setting up a structured budget was one of the biggest things that helped me this year. I had a designated amount of money I knew I could spend on gas, housing, food and other expenses at each event. This helped me prolong what money I did have throughout the entire tournament season, using tournament checks as nothing but a bonus. This takes a lot of discipline over the course of the year, however it really helps with money management.
SPONSORS
Obviously anglers come from different financial backgrounds, but partnering with companies you align with is something that all anglers can benefit from. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some fantastic companies and people throughout my time in the fishing industry, and I can confidently say I wouldn’t have been able to compete this year without them. My title sponsor this year was Impulse Lithium, and they provided me with rock solid batteries that performed flawlessly all season long. Other companies such as Under Armour, Transducer Shield and Saver, and Stateline Marine all provided me with the tools and customer support I needed to keep me on the water.
When aligning yourself with a company however, it’s important to only work with ones who have a product you believe in. Your job as a professional fisherman isn’t just to fish, but it’s also selling products. You’ll have a much easier time marketing products and finding new sponsors if you pursue companies you truly believe in as opposed to chasing the biggest paycheck.
CHASING YOUR PASSION
This season came with no shortage of challenges, however it was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my life. Fishing all of the Bassmaster Opens require lots of time, money and sacrifice, however the friendships and experiences I’ve gained are invaluable. Taking a risk and jumping into something you may not be ready for is scary, but it’s the only way I’ve found to progress as both an angler and a person. I’m going to continue fishing the Bassmater Opens with the hopes of making the Bassmater Elite Series, and I urge all of you to chase whatever passion it is that you may have. The process may be challenging, but the satisfaction of pursuing your passion far outweighs the struggles.
