Seems you’ve gotten pretty good at
it then?
I mean, I guess. People ask me all
the time about it. I don’t really like it all
that much. I just do it because you
have to in order to compete around
here. Plus, I usually try and get away
from everyone, and I’ve learned to look
for off-the-wall places.
To be honest, I’d rather fish shallow.
Though, most of the tournaments I’ve
done well in I fished offshore.
So what brought you down to
Tennessee?
College. I always wanted to do
College Fishing and be on a team.
My dad, Steve, had always taken us
down to fish Kentucky Lake my whole
life. So we came down to check out
Bethel University, because I knew they
had a good team. It worked out. My
parents actually bought a house down
here, and that’s where I’m staying.
So what’s your degree in?
Uh … business management.
That sounded confident ...
I know. It’s one of those things when
people ask I’m always like, “Oh, shoot …”
Well, can’t wait to ask this then:
When are you graduating?
I couldn’t tell you. Hopefully soon,
because I’m already in my fifth year.
You’re very diligent with your stud-
ies, I take it.
I just miss so much dang school
because of fishing. Doing the College
Fishing, the BFLs, Series; it’s hard to
keep up.
So if I asked the question of which
you study for more, a tournament or a
test, the answer would clearly be … ?
You already know. It’s a no-brainer.
To be honest, if it wasn’t for College
Fishing, I probably would have never
gone to college. I’m surprised I’ve even
made it this far. I’m glad I have, though,
because College Fishing has helped
me out a lot, getting my name out
there and allowing me to communicate
with people across the industry.
Well that’s good, at least. So how are
you going to finish that degree now
being on the Pro Circuit?
I’m going to take a lot of online class-
es. Even thinking of doing some summer
stuff. I need to get it finished up because
my mom, Nikki, said I have to get it.
Not bad. Much warmer than being in
Ohio.
Yeah, we’re not fishing back home.
I’ve never been there before. I’ve
been to Toledo Bend, and I think they’re
similar. They’re both friggin’ gigantic,
though. So I figure I need to go.
Plus, that’s one heck of a drive.
Might as well get acclimated to the
less-glamourous side of being a pro
fisherman right off the bat.
Yeah, it’s like 14 hours from Ohio to
Sam Rayburn.
How are you passing the time?
Fortunately, I’ve got my brother,
Wyatt, and my buddy from Ohio, Jeremy
Potts, with me so I have someone to
talk to. Otherwise, I’d be really bored.
Any extra pressure driving down to
pre-practice for your first major tour-
nament?
Yeah. Kind of. There’s a lot of money
on the line now. So it’s more like a job.
I really just want to start my season
off good. I don’t want to bomb and get
all worked up and stuff. I want to get
the ball rolling and keep it rolling.
How much does having a supportive,
fishing dad like yours help with your
chosen career?
Helps a lot.
Now, be honest, who is the better
fisherman?
Oh, that’s tough. I think it depends
on the lake and time of year.
My dad grew up fishing the Ohio
River, and he used to kick butt there. He’s
also the type who doesn’t care about
sonar. If he can’t touch the bottom with
his rod tip, you can count him out. But up
shallow, I’m going to give it to him.
Take him away from the bank,
though, and I’ve got him on that.
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2020 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING.COM | FLWFISHING.COM
Looking at the schedule, any tourna-
ments stick out as ones you’re really
excited for?
Hopefully, this one [Sam Rayburn].
I’ve never been, but I’ve always under-
stood offshore grass fishing with traps
[lipless crankbaits]. We won a college
event on Seminole doing that one time
where we had 28 pounds.
I’m hoping this tournament sets up
like that — then I’ll feel comfortable.
Any others?
I’m kind of looking forward to
Cherokee, because I’ve been there a
couple times and caught both small-
mouth and largemouth there.
Then you look at the last two events
on the Detroit River and St. Lawrence;
those will just be fun fish-catching
tournaments. You look at the whole
schedule, and it’s all exciting.
OK. So it’s pretty clear fishing domi-
nates your present and future. Do
you do anything other than fish?
I picked up golf a couple years ago.
I’m not any good, but I enjoy it.
I’m also ate up with deer hunting.
Like, as bad as with fishing?
Yeah, kind of. I drive up [to Ohio]
every Thursday, hunt Friday through
Sunday, and then drive back on Monday.
I actually got my biggest deer this
year. Scored 178 3/8.
If you had to pick fishing or hunting,
you’d go with …?
I don’t know if I could pick.
You have to. The article demands it.
It really depends on the time of
year. Right now, it’s hunting season. So
that’s my focus, but come February I’ll
get the itch to go fishing again. And
then around September I’ll be back
focused on hunting, though I usually
have plenty of fishing left too.
Unfortunately? You sound like Andy
Morgan – only fishing because you
can’t make a living hunting.
To be honest, if I could make a liv-
ing hunting, I may never fish again. I
just love it.
73