Costa FLW Series event on Lake of the Ozarks. In the fall of 2017, he joined seven other teammates in a trip to South Africa to fish for the U. S. against other international teams in the Black Bass World Championships on the Vaal River. The event was an offshoot of the ongoing effort to transform tournament fishing into an Olympic sport.
“[ FLW Tour pro ] Charlie Evans was one of the promoters of the tournament in this country. At the Lake Cumberland tournament he asked me if I wanted to be on the American team. He also told me I shouldn’ t take much time thinking about my answer. I said‘ heck yes’ right then and there. I went for it without hesitation and was glad I did – what an adventure.”
“ Adventure” being the operative word for Watson. It’ s the ride, and not necessarily the results, that motivates him in the bass tournament game.
A Typical Start
Growing up in central Missouri as he did, Watson developed a love of fishing early in his life. His first tournament forays were with his father, Bill, and assorted friends. He developed a taste for the sport through the old Red Man circuit, which eventually gave rise to FLW. Even at the local level, however, Watson’ s tournament track record in his early years could hardly be labeled meteoric.
“ Heck, one reason why I got in the Army was because I went broke fishing tournaments,” says Watson, whose favorite fishing partner nowadays is his fiancée, Sheri.“ That’ s a true story, and I tell kids that when they ask me about tournament fishing: If you want to fish tournaments all the time you better know that you’ re not going to cut a check every time and be prepared for that with other revenue sources. Your principal responsibilities are to pay the bills and support your family – if you have one.”
Watson served in the Army for most of the’ 90s, starting in the Corps of Engineers and finishing as a sergeant in basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood. Along the way, Watson discovered a couple of things about himself: He was a hustler in the best sense of the word, and he had a way with people. Once he was transferred back to his home state, Watson started a lawn maintenance business on the side. It thrived, but Watson decided it wasn’ t a long-term proposition for him. A local real estate broker that utilized Watson’ s lawn care service suggested that, with his personality and disposition, he shouldn’ t have any trouble selling houses to soldiers mustering out. Watson didn’ t need much coaxing; soon afterward, he acquired a realtor’ s license and opened his own business.
“ My first commission check was for $ 5,800,” remembers Watson.“ I thought‘ man, that was easy,’ and I didn’ t look back. And here I am today; I gave up at least a quarter of a million dollars a year in real estate commissions to be a fulltime fisherman. I finished No. 1 in the world in my [ Realty Executives ] franchise in 2005 and 2006, and no realty agent in the world closed more units than I did in those two years. But no regrets; I wouldn’ t change anything – except maybe win more tournaments.”
Never at a loss for a wisecrack, Watson’ s self-effacing humor is one of the traits that has made him popular among his fellow pros. It’ s not just words, but deeds as well. Prior to a
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