Dream of fishing as a pro.

I know it is everybodys dream to fish for a living. I want to, I know it is tough, expensive and not as easy as it looks. Any tips, I am 16 and going to buy a boat this summer. I know one thing is that you need to catch many fish and know almost everything about structure, temp etc. Any tips besides being a really good fisherman.

Sounds like you are off to a good start by having a positive attitude. Read and listen to the articles and tips here and fish as much as you can. Try to put what you hear in practice and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Bottom line is being out there and experiencing it. “In Fisherman” magazine is an excellent reference to learn Location and Presentation. Good Luck Gimpy!

Hey Gimpy it is cool to here another person who wants to be a proffesional fisherman. I like you am still in high school and once I graduate I am going to try to start my own fishing show. I got a camerawomen already and a real good friend who is a genious on computers that can edit for me all i need is, oh just a few minor things like a SPONSER AND A TV STATION TO PUT IT ON.

Great to see you younger guys going for your dream. I wish I would have got an early start on my fishing endeavors. One thing I would like to mention, is believe in yourself and your abilities. Also as mentioned in another post, listen to what others are saying. Regardless of expierence or ability I always feel I can learn from someone.
Good luck.

A big round of applause for the young guns who are already man enough to follow a dream! Don’t let anyone talk you out of it and stay dedicated and determined, even if it looks like hope’s light is but a dim flicker. Don’t be irresponsible, but be true to the vision!

People tend to want big results in a big hurry. Don’t let it distract you. Just look at the “last time” and continuously try to improve. A consistant improvement will land you in the top slot eventually. And trust me, the world will applaud you when you get there. Let the mistakes and struggles be valuable lessons and look forward to learning from them. They’re actually your greatest and most effective teacher. Every “oops” will lead you closer to the next “way2go!”.

Now, how to get it done.

Success is success is success. It won’t matter if you want to fish or be a dentist. Here’s a simple formula to help you along.

1. You already know what you want to do so hang pictures of things that trigger your dream vision, everywhere!

2. Find people (eventually you’ll look to one most of the time) who are EXACTLY where you wish to be. Not just in the doing, but in the results. Chase them, pursue them, befriend them, and learn all you can from them. Use their experience to help you map out your plan of “Success: How to go from start to finish”. Hang this plan and it’s reminders in as many places possible. That way it’s always close to you, encouraging you, challanging you, and reminding you. The more it’s on the brain, the more you will master it.

3. START DOING! If you need money, learn to create the money. If you need time, learn to create the time. Never stop expanding your knowledge base. Fit it in! All things that effect your goal, address them seriously and be tenacious about overcoming those obtacles or challenges.

4. Make it fun and KEEP it fun! When the fun stops, the desire will fade. If you’re frustrated beyond belief, take an evaluation break but free the mind with some fun. You’ll think much clearer without any pressures or mindstrains. Many times when you return to the challenge, you’ll actually wonder what the problem was!

5. Pass it on. Once you’ve arrived, keep a humble spirit, and open mind, and a giving heart. Out there somewhere is another person with the same aspirations you have. Maybe not in your field, but the success formula is consistant regardless of interest. Help them just as someone helped you.

I’d wish you good luck but luck has little to do with it. What passes for luck is simply having the preparation and readiness so that when opportunity finally gives you a shot, you’ll be ready to capitalize on it. Just as Tom mentioned, put the time on that water and experience some mileage.

We’ll all be cheering for you!

Gimpy. The first step to becoming a pro angler is to get a college degree. Major in Marine Biology or Fisheries. Then Minor in Marketing. You will need to sell yourself. Which ever you choose, just make sure you finish school. It also helps to have loads of money.

I am in college and at a big stand still at what I want to do for a career. I would love to be a professional fisherman or a guide. I really want to get a degree before I persue my dream. I was thinking about majoring in marketing. I am don’t really like biology and things like that, but I really like selling things and thinking up new things.
A few questions for the pros:
What degrees do you have? What do you do during the winter months? How many days a year are you traveling? Where does most of your income come from?

Some of this questions might sound dumb, but I want to know if I could actually make a career out of fishing.

Question for Derek. I was reading your post and wondering what exactly Fisheries? I know it is some kind of College class system but what do you study? I asume of course fish but what about fish.

Bigfife/ I have a degree in HVAC and a minor in marketing/sales. During the winter months i do the same thing as I do in the summer. Work a real job with benefits,pension and stable income. You can make a career out of fishing, just not in guiding or fishing tournaments.

Wal: Fisheries is just the same is aquatic biology. Some of the best anglers on the PWT have this degree. But they too have a real job with DNR and private companies.

Bottom line is, don’t pursue a life of fulltime guiding or fishing tournaments.
Some negitives of guiding:
Unstable income, bad weather and people not showing will hit the pocket book.
Expensive guide insurance
Time- Make sure you tell your future wife on your first date that you want to be a guide. That will save you from a divorce.
Making non-feeding fish bite. There alot of pressure on you to make the fish bite, which is impossible, but some of your customers dont understand that.
Then your day is over, time to clean fish, clean out the boat. Take a shower and get up and do it all over again at 6am.

Hope this helps

Thanks for all your replys, what exactly is a degree in fisheries all about, and how will it help me

It deals with marine biology and the management of lakes,rivers and streams.You will learn everything there is to know about fish and thier ecosystem. Have you ever read a gillnet or trapnet report on a lake from the DNR? Jobs these fields are hard to come by. But there are jobs in the private sector as well. Its best to check with a guidence counselor.

Lots of good advice above…

The best advice I can give you is to stay in school, graduate from college with a marketing degree while still maintaining a high level of fishing knowledge. Also pay attention to where the fishing industry is going and specifically what has worked with bass fishing – tournaments, tackle trends, boats, sponsorship, etc. as this is the best indicator where the walleye market and opportunites are headed. Many more individuals are making a comfortable living bass fishing right now than walleye fishing. Hopefully that will change and I plan to personally benefit from it.

Finally, an excellent walleye pro – Rich Mellon told me one tournament day “the secret to making a million dollars fishing walleyes is two-fold: first, start out with two million dollars and the second (and most important) know when to quit!”

Good luck and follow your dreams!

Ted Merdan
[email protected]
#858

Thanks allot hopfully you guys can help me on the long road ahead.

Thanks for all of the great information and advice. I am looking forward to getting a good job somewhere in the fishing industry and eventually fishing as a pro or just guiding or fishing tournaments.

I’ll see you guys atop the leaderboard some day.

Thanks