BACKLASH
Q & A
ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL IDZERDA
JAY KENDRICK Grant , Ala .
By Sean Ostruszka
104
How do you go from being a nurse anesthetist to a professional angler ?
Actually , I ’ m both . I ’ d say half my year is spent doing anesthesia , and the other half is spent fishing or doing things for sponsors . It ’ s a dual career , really , and each suits the other well .
They do ?
Oh , yeah . I didn ’ t get into anesthesia by accident . I knew a long time ago that I was going to be a professional fisherman . So I needed a career that would allow me the freedom and financial wherewithal to do that . Anesthesia was it .
How long ago are we talking ? Over 30 years . I was probably 14 or 15 .
I have this image of you in high school breaking down spreadsheets of potential careers instead of doing homework . that ’ s not that far off . I did a lot of research , and I couldn ’ t find another profession that interested me , had the earning potential and had the freedom to work my schedule around fishing .
Ever regret that decision when you were taking those medical exams ?
Not at all . It was a lot of schooling , but it ’ s paid off . Some think my road to being a pro fisherman has been easy , but that couldn ’ t be further from the truth . I ’ ve scratched and clawed and had a dogged determination to stick with my plan . I ’ ll admit there was some frustration with how long it took , but I took the best road I knew of .
What can you take from an operating room that ’ s applicable to a fishing tournament ?
Preparation . Before a patient comes into an operating room , I spend 15 minutes setting up my tools , the medicines . I don ’ t want to waste time . My boat is the same way . everything is strategically positioned . this way if I need a spinnerbait , I know exactly where it is , how many I have available onboard , and in what weights and colors .
So , you dreamed your entire life of being a professional fisherman . What was that first tournament at the professional level like ?
I don ’ t want to come off cocky or overconfident , but I don ’ t remember having that feeling like I ’ d made it or anything . I never doubted I would . It was just a matter of time . Just like I have no doubt I ’ ll win an FLW tour event . It ’ s just a matter of time , though I think that ’ s close .
You certainly looked like you might win at Guntersville . You had the lead on the first day , but it kind of fell apart on day two . I have to ask , what happened ?
I ’ d predetermined before the event I was solely going to fish for big fish . So I knew day two was going to make or break everything . I had a 3-pound lead , and if I got five big bites , I ’ d have a 10- pound lead . No one was going to catch me then . It just didn ’ t happen .
Have you second-guessed yourself since ?
I haven ’ t , but I ’ ve had so many buddies call me up and say , “ Why didn ’ t you just go to the grass , catch a limit and make the cut ?” I told them I wasn ’ t concerned about making the cut . I was just focused on winning .
Was it because it was Guntersville – a lake you ’ d won on before – or do you always fish that way ?
I used to fish more conservatively , but the older I ’ ve gotten , the more I ’ ve been willing to fish for the win . You don ’ t win fishing conservatively . Besides , I tell my buddies there ’ s not much difference in money between finishing fifth or 50th . So you might as well fish to win . there ’ s a big difference there .
FLWFISHING . COM I MAY-JUNE 2017