Dream of being a pro fisherman

I know everybody wants to fish for a living. This is my dream to. Any tips beside money and being able to know almost everything about how to catch fish?

Adam,
I know I am young too and have the dream to become a professional as well. The one thing that I have been told and plan on doing is getting an education. This is something that you can and will need if your dream falls short, or if it only amounts to fishing tournaments on the weekend. Good luck and good fishin.

I know plenty of happy people who pump gas. We want whats best for our children so we make up these stories to keep you from running out and trying to be a professional bass fisherman…. -grin-
jc

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. Put the time on that water and experience some mileage.

We’ll all be cheering for you!

All I can say is education is important follow your dreams and never give strive for gold . I am young too and my dream is the same as yours and alot of us fishermen have the same dream with a little hard work in the end it all pays off for the best remember that any bad day of fishing is better than any good day of work. When I go out fishing the one goal that I have is to learn something that I didnt know the day before . Right now Im at a fork in the road I am going to be graduating in May and then college and Im unsure what I want to do I am looking for a Career that I can make desent money and that wont cut into my fishing time. Ive been thinking about going into Industrial electrician Im interested in what people think what the best career is for someone that is tring to work towards becoming a pro
Keep a tight line Buzzer

This will probably sound difficult because no one teaches us this kind of stuff but I’d concentrate on something that will tie in well with what you want to do but be in business for yourself. Self-employed is nice but will only get you so far. Strive for something replicatable that will allow the business to continue in your absence. Read books that document success principles and document a successful path. Robert Kiyosaki is one of the strongest names going. Read up on him, Gates, Getty, Ford………….the list is long and may seem unattached to the idea of fishing but being a pro fisherman is a business………….so treat it like one.

My experience is in music (another parental nightmare). I’ve since moved on but music was a business and I ran it for 10 years before “the corporation” dissolved. Priceless experience. I had a plan, worked the plan, and reaped all the success and more from that plan. And yes, I had a mentor. That helps a LOT!

Again, it sounds backwards but to be the best as a pro, you’ve got to think differently from the pack and do what the others won’t do. Getting into business for yourself is far and above one of your biggest assets in securing your future. Work toward cashflow, not time exchange. With cashflow you will find your freedom (over time) to live with a much larger freedom than most experience in their lives. Learn how money works, and then works for you. You want to work for time, not money. When money works for you, it won’t matter if you’re fishing, working, playing, eating, sleeping……………it works 24/7.

#1 piece of advice? If YOU want to control YOUR life, get into business for yourself. Anything less will subject you goals outside of your own and consume your time. You can’t get your time back so be very wise in it’s use. You don’t know how much you have, yet it’s spent everyday. Turn your “spend” into “invested”.

There’s way too much to keep going on here but I can refer some books for you that should at least help you understand more of what I’m saying. Just shoot me a private mesage and I’ll send you a book list.

i don’t no about the pay part, but if you want a job that won’t interfere with your fishing, be a TEACHER. think about the possibilties. all summer off, including spring break and any other district days there might be. you can’t beat that kind of work schedule. ask D.A., i bet he’ll tell ya. teach 9 monthes out of the year and be a fishing guide for the other 3.

and its not like being a teachers hard or anything.

Adam,

I like your dream and just like you it is mine also. I read some of the other replies and education is something that cannot be taken very lightly. Here is my plan and this might shed some light unto your subject. I am a college senior and soon enough I will be a teacher. Teacher’s have the best life, in my opinion of course, they get three months off in the summer, weekends off, etc. That will give me plenty of time to work on my angling and hopefully future guide service. But the important thing that I think is that it is a back-up plan in-case the professional fishing ranks are never achieved. No one can take away from your education and a college degree is a perfect starting point for a career. Focussing on another area of education, when I was 16 I thought all you needed to catch walleyes was live baits, lindy rigs and jigs. I thought you just went out to some rock bars and sand flats and trolled all day. Well as you can probably tell my success was either hit or miss. Then I started to educate myself in the art of walleye patterns and presentations. For two years I gathered every piece of walleye fishing knowledge I could and I still do today. You name it I have probably watched it or read it, magazine articles, videos, website articles, etc. All of this information has truly helped me to become a better angler and in a short period of time. Babe Winkleman’s book on Walleye Patterns is a great book for any Walleye nut, Babe employs a pattern approach to Walleye fishing and his book is not only easy to read but fun to read. Plus it has some awesome tips in it for every angler whether novice or professional. So like I said before go get that education so that you can have a back-up plan and never give up on your dreams. Look at it this way maybe one day you and I will be competing on the Professional Walleye Trial aganist each other. Good Fishing,

Brian Amundson

I wasn’t going to say much to this because I made choices a long time ago that will keep me from a career in fishing. I do however get a ton of enjoyment from fishing and dreaming. The advise so far has been right on the mark. Every interview I have seen with the BASS pros they mention education and the ability to continue learning. As far as jobs, being a teacher is good, but I can’t fish the fall tournaments because as a teacher we have time off, but it is set time off. In some ways my sister that works for 3M with 4 weeks vacation is better off than I am because she can take off when SHE wants to. Last year I drew an at large invite to fish in a tournament in November that there was no way that I could get off to fish. Also it sucked pretty bad last week when 15 of my coworkers received pink slips. With the economy the way it is and most smaller schools having fewer students this might not be the best time to become a teacher. That being said I never complain about how I get paid or when I work. I went back to college in my late 20’s and worked as a cheesemaker for 7 years so I know what working 60 hours weeks year round is like. I also grew up on a farm and as tough as teaching can be it does have great benefits.

Hats off to the teachers! Making a difference with your life is very rewarding. But, you’ve hit the nail on the head mentioning pink slips and time availability. Small business is the backbone of the nation. Get the education, yes………it’s important, but that doesn’t mean just college either. The greatest business leaders in modern history are strongly college drop outs so keep in mind that there’s more to education than a classroom. But, to everyone who reads this, the only true freedom we have left to excercise is economic freedom. When you own a business, there’s no one who can tell you where to be or when to be there. Even if you started at 18 with your venture and it took 10 years to put it together, you’d have from age 28 until dead to LIVE YOUR LIFE! You can also spend your time making a difference for others by creating jobs, greater charity ability, and teaching others to do as you have done. Notice all the big tycoons write books.

We need teachers, doctors, lawyers, volunteers, as well as cooks, drivers, janitors, and politicians. There are roles but the main ingredient of my message is to do what you love. There are plenty of business owners who still teach, practice medicine, and run the country. They like their work and contribution to their fellow man but some learn not to depend on it. In this shaky economy, these are words of encouragement.

I’d better run…………..I’ve got to teach tonight myself!

Guy’s

I also have a dream, I’m waiting for the GERITOL Circuit to start.

Gimpy,

Take a close look at the people making a career today in the fishing industry today. They are successful fishermen, but most of all the are very good communicators.

The first part of “Pro” Fisherman stands for “Promotion”! You are going to have to sell yourself and the industry products you support. All of the people who make a full time living in the fishing industry today fall into this definition. Look at an education that can put you in this position.

Most of the people I know who fish pro tournaments make their money working in another occupation. Being a business owner where you make your own hours (and money) is the biggest reason why these guys can do what they do!

Good Luck,

Jon J.

HEY BUZZER YOU COULD GET A JOB LIKE MINE?????

Hey basstracker people would kill to have your job should we tell the board what you do for aliving besides sleeping 4days a week LOL Keep a tight line Buzzer

My god that was funny… i suppose you are looking forward to
55 and that free sample of viagra…. lmao
jc

Gimpy… young buddie, you are well on your way!
God Bless.
Dave Hoggard

HEY I FISH THOSE 4 DAYS JUST NOT WHEN THERES 15″ OF ICE!

Excellent points Jon!

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]

Jon is correct. You will get the sponsors attention with some nice consistant places in tournaments, which will mean doing alot of research both on and off the water and includes alot of time on the water, but you have to be a real good communicator and salesman as you will need to sell yourself and the products you use and promote. Its not what your sponsors can do for you, its what you can do for them. Good Luck and follow your dream. Thanks, Bill

Just a few ideas for you. I’m not sure how old you are, but if there is a bait shop near by, try getting a job. People love to come in and tell you stories about when, how and where they got their best fish. Many times when they see your enthusiasm they will invite you out for a day of fishing.. Another place to learn is join a fishing group or club.. We have an area Bass Wranglers club and they have regular events to constantly challenge and learn from each other…

Good Luck..
Before you know it you’ll be driving the next Snickers or Field & Stream boat and taking home a purse of $500,000.. FLW

Go Get em

Kriss & Rand Donker

If you are really looking for a flexible job look into insurance or financial services. I graduated from college with a marketing and finance degree hoping to accomplish the same as yourself, good money and a lot of free time. So far the insurance industry has been great, set your own hours, nobody telling you when you can or can’t fish except for the wife.

This business also hones your selling and promotional skills because that is how you make money, this may be a job that would help you to get on track with your dreams.

Be careful what you wish for. Some times we take the things we love the most and turn them into our jobs.

Great point Kevin,even though I would not give it up for the world!!!!!

I am looking to be a paremedic. E.M.T lots of free time, but thats NOT why i want to be one. Thanks for all your replys and hopfully with your help you can help me for the long road ahead.

Adam,
I got your Lake Pepin Open entree today you are boat # 31. Congratulations

Cant wait