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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