PROFILE:
MARK
DAVIS
MOUNT IDA, AR
Mark Davis is well-deserving of his
membership in the Bass Fishing Hall of
Fame. He’s been fishing professionally on
the national trails since his early 20s, but
really broke out in 1995, when Davis won
the Bassmaster Classic and B.A.S.S. AOY
(his first of three) in the same season.
Since then, he’s enjoyed a consistent, successful
career in which he’s more recently
transitioned into the role of mentor for his
son, Fisher, an aspiring tournament pro.
Here’s what the Mount Ida, Ark., pro
had to say about where he’s been, and
what’s coming next.
QA
By Curtis Niedermier
PHOTO BY JOSH GASSMANN
Thirteen years ago, I called you for a
preview of the 2007 Forrest Wood
Cup on Lake Ouachita, and I totally
butchered the pronunciation of
“Ouachita.” You were polite and corrected
me. That was one of my first
assignments with FLW. I was thinking
about that, and I got to wondering
if you made any major gaffs when
you first started your career.
I can’t even remember it, buddy, but
you’re not the first one that’s had a
hard time pronouncing Ouachita. Or
spelling it.
I’ve made every kind of screw-up
you can make. I remember when I
started, I think the first big event I
fished was up in New York. What a
nightmare that was driving to the tournament.
I was 22 years old, I think. I
went and bought a new truck, but I
bought one of those little, small V8s,
and I was trying to run with (George)
Cochran and some of those guys. They
all run off and left me. My truck
wouldn’t keep up with them.
When I got up there, they said we
were going to the Hudson River, and I
was wanting to find a boat ramp. So, I
drive down to this boat ramp, and I can’t
see across the thing. I thought, Well, I
went the wrong way. This can’t be a river.
But it was. I’d never seen a river that big.
80
FLWFISHING.COM | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING.COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020