PROFILE:
DUSTIN
CONNELL
CLANTON, AL
While it used to seem like “breaking
out” at the professional level of bass fishing
took years to accomplish, pros in
Dustin Connell’s “college fishing generation”
have shown that it’s possible to not
only make it to the top in a relatively
short time, but to learn to thrive despite a
comparative lack of high-level tournament
experience. Then again, it’s not surprising
for Connell. At just 30 years old,
the hard-working Alabama pro has a long
and well-travelled road of local and
regional competition behind him, with
signs pointing toward a lengthy tenure on
the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
We recently took the time to learn
more about how he fished his way to BPT
stardom.
QA
By Sean Ostruszka
PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE
You seemingly came out of nowhere
a couple years ago, and now you’re
one of the young stars of the sport.
How does that happen?
Well, I’d probably have to start at
the beginning.
Fair enough. How did you get started?
Honestly, dude, I came from the
bottom.
Bottom, as in?
I came from a low-income family in
Alabama. I mean, we just barely got by,
so I never had anybody hand me anything.
Not even money for gas.
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FLWFISHING.COM | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING.COM | JUNE-JULY 2020