SINCE THE INCEPTION of the Bass Pro Tour in 2019 , Texas pros Alton Jones and Alton Jones Jr . have been the most dominant father / son duo in professional bass fishing . And , some could argue , the most successful in tournament fishing history .
In the four years since that first BPT event on Florida ’ s Kissimmee Chain in early February of 2019 , the tandem has reeled off an astounding run of success that includes nearly $ 1 million in combined tournament winnings , two Heavy Hitters belts and frequent residence in the Top 10 of the league ’ s Angler of the Year standings .
To borrow a phrase , it ’ s been difficult keeping up with the Joneses .
PHOTOS BY PHOENIX MOORE
The father / son relationship between 60-year-old Wendell Alton Jones and 31-year-old Wendell Alton Jones Jr . is multi-sided : It ’ s grounded in strong family values – respect for a parent , love for a child , etc . – but it also represents a high-level working rapport where each is both partner and competitor .
Alton and Alton Jr . have been competing with and against each other at the highest levels of tournament bass fishing since early February 2017 , when “ Junior ” ( as he ’ s commonly called by friends and family ) fished his first Bassmaster Elite Series tournament , on Cherokee Lake in Tennessee . Alton Sr . finished 19th at that event ; Junior finished 25th , just 2 pounds behind his dad .
In the 50-plus tour-level events they ’ ve fished together since , each of the Joneses has learned from the other , elevating their game to a higher level . Within the Jones family blood runs a deep understanding of the intricacies of successful tournament fishing , an understanding made even more profound by the giveand-take between a veteran teacher and a gifted student .
Growing up in bass tournament life
A quick look at simple statistics shows that Alton Jones Jr . is one of the top competitors on the Bass Pro Tour . He blew away the final-day competition to claim the General Tire Heavy Hitters title belt on Bussey Brake , Louisiana , this past April ; he won Stage Two at Lake Fork in 2022 ; and he racked up $ 150,000 in bigbass bonuses at Heavy Hitters on Lake Palestine in 2022 .
“ I couldn ’ t be more proud .”
As of this writing , Junior is the leader in the Bally Bet Angler of the Year standings with one event remaining and a strong bet to claim his first career AOY .
Junior was deeply embedded in the world of professional bass fishing through an upbringing in the sport . “ Senior ” competed in the Bassmaster Top 100s the year Junior was born ( 1992 ) and fished the Top 150s , FLW Tour , Bassmaster Tour and Elite Series throughout his childhood .
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2023 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 29