If fishing for bass is your idea of heaven, then becoming a professional bass fisherman has to be the dream job. Bass pros earn a living through lucrative bass fishing competitions, professional guide work, sharing their knowledge with others through books and videos, and marketing bass fishing equipment. Becoming a pro bass angler takes a tremendous commitment to honing the skills and knowledge about fishing for bass.
Step 1
Learn your craft inside and out. Most professional bass anglers, like Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) founder Ray Scott, started fishing at a young age and invested a great deal of time and effort learning about bass. They are the unquestionable experts in the field. If you want to become a pro, learn the art and science of bass angling from personal experience, other veteran fishermen, or books and articles about the species. Professional bass fishermen are studying fishing for bass constantly, asking questions, trying new techniques and learning more about how species behave.
Step 2
Practice fishing nearly daily. Bass anglers looking to turn pro go fishing nearly every day. They are constantly practicing their skills under various conditions of water, weather, equipment and species, according to bass superstars like Roland Martin and Kevin VanDam in his book "Secrets of a Champion." Expect to travel frequently to famous lakes in the United States and Canada throughout the year to test your skills in competition-level waters.
Step 3
Acquire the best in equipment. Just as the best tools make the carpenter, the best angling equipment makes the bass pro. An excellent bass fishing boat kitted out with the latest in effective technology is a necessity today, as is an assortment of different kinds of high-quality rods, reels, tackle and hard baits. Research and experimentation is vital to the pro, says champion Roland Martin in his book "Roland Martin's 101 Bass-Catching Secrets." While good fish can certainly be caught on mediocre equipment, professionals know great tools make all the difference between those who catch big fish consistently and make money at it, and those who don't.
Step 4
Enter and win competitions to gain exposure. Join the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and start working the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. Fish in local competitions and then take larger tests farther away from home waters, says tournament pro Rick Clunn. Use tournament wins and high placements to attract sponsors and develop a name for yourself on the tour. Gain exposure on ESPN and Fox Sports and garner invitations to fish with pros who host their own network bass-fishing shows.
Step 5
Market yourself relentlessly and "build a brand." Get on television. Join a Bass Pro Shops trade fair circuit as a speaker and demonstrator. Start your own fishing blog. Publish articles in fishing magazines. Promote your name and record to the bass fishing public--and to major equipment sponsors--so you are perceived to be a pro other hobby fishermen should follow.
Step 6
Start a Pro Guide business. Locate your home near a major bass lake or reservoir---such as Bull Shoals in Arkansas---and become an expert in fishing on that lake. Learn all the "secret" places bass are likely to be hiding during any time of day or type of weather and be able to zero in on those fish. Start advertising your services as a guide to visiting fishermen who want help catching lots of fish, and big fish, during their stay at the lake. Many Pro Guides also open their own tackle and bait shops and fishing resorts to subsidize and support their guide activities.
Step 7
Break a record. One of the fastest tracks to becoming a successful pro bass fisherman is to break a current record. Breaking a record is big news in the bass sporting world and makes the angler an overnight sensation. That's what happened to Japan's Manabu Kurita in 2009. Kurita tied the world record for largemouth bass--22 lbs., 4.97 oz.--a record that stood unchallenged for more than 77 years, according to ESPN.
References
- "Roland Martin's 101 Bass-Catching Secrets"; Roland Martin; 2008
- "Secrets of a Champion: Bass Superstar Reveals His Winning Tips"; Kevin VanDam; 2002
- ESPN: Japan's Kurita Ties World Record Bass
Member Comments