Former Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship winner and BASS Masters Classic champion Davy Hite vividly recalls his first visit to a big-time tournament- as a fan.
“I dreamed about becoming a professional fisherman when I was 13 or 14,” the South Carolina pro says. “I mean, Roland Martin and people like that were my heroes. Then I went to the Classic that Charlie Reed won in 1986 in Chattanooga, and that really got me fired up. I was getting every autograph that I could on my hat and dreaming that one day I’d be able to make it as a professional fisherman.”
Considering the popularity of tournament fishing, in general, and the high-profile of the FLW Tour Championship, in particular, it is safe to assume that there are thousands of young anglers who – like Hite – dream of turning their hobby into their occupation. They fantasize of a career as a bass pro.
Today’s touring pros are constantly asked questions with a common theme: How do I become a professional fisherman?
Fishing for a living on the $4.4 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour can be lucrative and is no doubt more glamorous than ever. But a fishing career can be a difficult occupation to achieve and, more likely than not, less than lucrative for those who depend solely on their tournament earnings.
“Being a bass pro involves so much more than just catching fish,” emphasizes top Texas pro Jay Yelas. “Sure, you have to be able to catch bass consistently to do well in these tournaments and gain enough recognition to attract sponsors.
“But that’s just the beginning. A professional fisherman today has to be part businessman, part public speaker and educator, and part salesman for his sponsors. You have to work at all facets of those things to be successful today.”
All of the top FLW Tour touring pros stress the importance of getting a college education before attempting a career that involves casting for cash.
“That’s exactly what I told my son to do – get your college degree and then I’ll help you get started in tournaments,” says Missouri’s Denny Brauer, a former FLW Angler of the Year and the first fisherman to grace the cover of the Wheaties Cereal box. “I knew that Chad was a good fisherman and a kid who worked hard at his fishing.
“But it is so important to get that education because it makes you more well-rounded. To be successful today, you have to have good communication skills and present a good image to the public. Plus, it gives you something to fall back on if fishing doesn’t work out for you.”
Short of pursuing a college education, recent FLW Tour tournament finalist Ken Cook suggests taking adult education courses in public speaking and even writing.
In terms of a fishing education, champion angler Larry Nixon recommends that aspiring tournament pros first spend a few years guiding customers on their local lakes and rivers. “That’s the fastest way I know to really improve as a fisherman,” Nixon said. “There is no substitute for time spent on the water, and as a guide you will experience just about everything that fishing can throw at you. Plus, you’ll learn how to produce under pressure.”
The usual route up the professional fishing ladder begins with no-pressure club tournaments, followed by local one-day contests. Regional tournaments like the Red Man circuit and multi-day events are a natural progression before giving the national EverStart Batteries Series and FLW circuits a try. Most of today’s top pros came up through the Red Man ranks.