Lone Star rising

Texas Tournament Trail Angler of the Year aims for the top, sets sights on FLW Tour

Randy Hibler is living proof that good things come to those who wait. After a decade of toiling in amateur and regional bass-fishing circuits, Hibler turned in one of the best performances of his life in 2001, capturing the inaugural Texas Tournament Trail Angler of the Year title in remarkable fashion. Hibler, a native of Marble Falls, Texas, registered 719 out of a possible 800 points to snatch the title away from second-place competitor George Clark (692 points) and third-place rival Jerrel Pringle (668 points).

While the award was cause for celebration in-and-of-itself, Hibler, 32, acknowledged that the years of hard work, determination and occasional setbacks made the title that much more satisfying.

“It’s pretty overwhelming given the caliber of fishermen I was competing against,” said Hibler on winning the title. “When you bring a big tournament circuit like this to Texas, you’re bringing some of the best anglers in the country to our state. And that’s what makes this award so special for me. It’s a great feeling.”

Like many anglers on the professional circuit today, Hibler got hooked on fishing at a very early age. And not surprisingly, the Texas native never really could get the idea of becoming a professional angler out of his head.

“I caught my first 5-pound bass when I was 5 years old,” said Hibler. “The fish fought so hard that my dad had to hold onto me to keep me from being dragged into the water. From that day forward, I wanted to become a professional fishermen.”

Plenty of promise, progress

By the time he was 8 years old, Hibler was already fishing competitively in local youth tournaments. As a teenager, Hibler moved up to the “open” tournament circuit where he continued to learn the intricacies of the sport. Again, Hibler turned in a series strong performances that only further enhanced his career aspirations.

“At the time, I was so excited about fishing that I wound up buying a boat before I bought my first vehicle,” said Hibler. “That’s how much I loved fishing.”

After a brief hiatus from the sport in the late 1980s, Hibler returned to fishing at the beginning of the next decade as dedicated as ever. A string of successful regional tournament showings, including his first-ever selection to the Angler’s Choice Championship in 1995, convinced Hibler that his career goal of becoming a professional angler was within reach.

“I was sort of the rookie of the year on that circuit,” said Hibler, who had been participating in a variety of regional team tournaments as well. “It was one of my biggest accomplishments at the time and it felt great. I really thought I was on the road to a professional career in fishing.”

New hurdles to overcome

However, just when everything seemed to be going well, Hibler faced a daunting personal setback.

“In 1995 I got divorced from my wife. It was a very difficult period in my life,” he said. “It took me two full years to get over it. Over that time period, I didn’t quit the sport completely, but I definitely took some time off.”

Although his fishing career was put on hold for quite some time, Hibler managed to rebound a few years later, both personally and professionally, after marrying his second wife, Valerie.

“Eventually, I remarried,” said Hibler, who also has two sons, Randall, 9, and Dusty, 8. “From the start, Valerie was behind me 100 percent as far as fishing was concerned. She told me she wanted our family to grow into the sport. And she really encouraged me to go for it.”

And go for it he did. After participating in a variety of tournament trails including the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Hibler decided to try and hone his skills on the EverStart Series circuit. Ever convinced that there was no such thing as a shortcut to greatness, Hibler continued to pay his dues – traveling to as many tournaments as he could and putting in as many hours of fishing as possible.

“I knew it would take time to learn all the things I needed to learn and do it right,” said Hibler, who currently works as construction superintendent for Texas-based DPR Construction when he’s not fishing. “You don’t start out as a pro. You have to work for it. And that’s the thing I’ve always kept in the back of my mind.”

With his career once again on the rise, Hibler finally heard the news that a major tournament circuit was coming to Texas in 2001 – the Texas Tournament Trail (TTT). Without hesitation, Hibler signed up for the inaugural season.

“When the Texas Tournament Trail came along, I thought, `This is my chance to go out there and show people what I can do,'” said Hibler. “The tournament was new, it was exciting and the money was really good. I was really looking forward to it.”

But there was another bonus as well.

“Most of the tournaments in my state, up to that point, had been taking place in eastern Texas,” he said. “There really weren’t many opportunities for those of us who lived in central and western Texas until the TTT came along. Now, suddenly, there were tournaments only a few hours away from my home. It kind of leveled the playing field for the rest of us.”

Payoff

Over the course of the year, Hibler improved after almost every TTT tournament. He finished in 35th place at Sam Rayburn in February, took home 33rd place at Lake O.H. Ivie in March, grabbed seventh place at Lake Travis in April and finished a respectable 10th place at Lake Richland Chambers in May. Based on his steady, consistent and determined performance, Hibler captured the 2001 TTT Angler of the Year competition in decisive fashion.

“It was just a great year. It was a dream come true,” said Hibler. “I had a lot of fun, I had great travel partners and I really learned a lot. With the experience I’ve gained, I think I’m finally ready to take that next step.”

And what is that next step?

“The FLW Tour,” he said. “I know it’s going to be difficult. But I believe everything I’ve learned over the years in Texas will help me once I reach the FLW Tour. It’s going to take a lot of work. But I think I can do it.”

With continued hard work and dedication, it appears to be only a matter of time until Hibler fulfills his dream of competing in the nation’s premier bass-fishing circuit.

“Like I’ve said all along, you have to pay your dues in order to be truly successful,” said Hibler. “It’s been a progression for me over the years. I went from bass clubs, to regional tournaments to the Texas Tournament Trail. And now my goal is to progress to the highest level. It’s going to be tough, but hopefully I can gear myself up for it.”

For Hibler, it looks like full throttle ahead.