Q: Was there one tournament that kind of put you over that hump where you realized you could make a living bass fishing for the rest of your life?
A: I won a big tournament when I was 15 years old (with) the Chattanooga Bass Association. There were 290 folks in it. It really gave me a pretty good boost. I was a freshman in high school, and it gave me money in my pocket. I thought, “Oh, man. I’m rich!” I guess that pushed me forward at a young age. Then in 2003 I won the Everstart Tournament right out of the gate in January at Lake Okeechobee. From 2003 until now, that is all I have ever done is bass fish.
Q: How much has being in Tennessee helped you and your career?
A: I have always said that where we live right there in east Tennessee is very diverse. I mean you got all kinds of really good fish, like smoking largemouth fishing on Chickamauga, Nickajack, Guntersville… it’s all right there under your thumb. You’ve got great largemouth fishing at Watts Bar, Dale Hollow, Norris, Douglas, Cherokee… all that diversity, and then you go to the east of the house and all the lakes where you can get spotted bass. We’re 180 miles from Lake Hartwell, Lanier, 130 miles from Allatoona. You have all that stuff within less than 200 miles… We have seen a lot of pros come out of this area. Absolutely, it creates a lot of good fishermen.
Q: Obviously winning the FLW Angler of the Year again makes it easy to get sponsors. For high school kids and kids coming up through the college programs, what are the keys big sponsors are looking for?
A: They are not going to come right out of the gate and get sponsors. This is a relationship business. In fishing, you meet a lot of good people and contacts that you have something in common with. The more people you know, the more chances you have to do well in life. Fishing is no different. Get to know people, learn how to talk to them, be courteous, kind, and sportsmanship goes a long way with sponsors. Keep your nose clean, keep in school, keep your grades up, graduate, then worry about fishing. I fished every afternoon and didn’t play any sports. I could have played basketball, football… I was good at it, but I was going to make it fishing, and that’s how I made it to where I am today.
Q: What is your plan going in the FLW Cup on Lake Murray in August?
A: I know it’s going to be tough. I know it’s going to be a grind. The Classic and the Cup give you the easiest chance to win. You have 50, 55 guys. Standard tournaments, you have 75 guys or over 100 in the elite. I’m pretty confident going in… It’s going to be hot and (it’s) going to be miserable. It’s going to be a grind and that’s what I really like… staying after it.
Josh Garrison is the publisher of The Angler Magazine Eastern Tennessee as well as a guide on many lakes throughout the Southeast. Visit him at www.eastTNangler.com for more information.
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