COLUMN : BALOG ON BASS FISHING
“ I didn ’ t have a girlfriend , I didn ’ t have a dog , no kids ; everything I made went back into fishing , and I was still sleeping in my truck ,” Ebare said . “ I was doing whatever I could to get down the road .”
making the most of what he has
Ebare had been building credit with a local bank since the age of 16 , which allowed him to purchase his first new boat and improve his equipment .
“ I focused everything on making ( bass fishing ) a business since day one , I knew I was going to have to be fully dedicated to make it work ,” he said .
Ebare put 750 hours on his new outboard in two years . He fished every event he could logistically get to , regardless of his level of experience at the venue .
“ I ’ d have no help , and I ’ d get my butt kicked – but I learned ,” Ebare said .
That experience was the building block of Ebare ’ s success ; putting himself in the competitive arena and starting from scratch , over and over .
“ If you go somewhere new and get help , you don ’ t learn anything , you just go and catch some fish ,” Ebare said . “ But I ’ m confident that I ’ ve been to more big tournaments than anyone in the world in the last five years . That ’ s the reason I ’ m now having as much success as I am .”
Ebare still continues to work on all aspects of his game , and he fishes to win . “ I ’ m getting better each day . Now , I find that decision-making is the top variable between struggling and having success , so I ’ m consciously working on that more . With more financial freedom now , I ’ m freed up to focus on winning instead of getting checks .”
That freedom came as a result of 100 % dedication to a goal . Ebare ’ s hard work paid off . Or did he just get lucky ?
“ Every time my path was blocked , something else opened up ,” Ebare confirmed .
Those windows of opportunity , however , don ’ t open themselves .
PHOTO BY ROB MATSUURA
22 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2023