A friend of mine told me something recently that hit me hard. He said a buddy of his has spent the past 30 years working in a prison. If there’s a more thankless job, I can’t think of it. Anyway, this guy loves bass fishing – he said when he gets off work, all he wants to do is watch fishing or go fishing.
Well, he told my friend that it’s getting hard for him to watch the pros because all they seem to do is complain. They’re living a dream life, he said, and it seems like they’re constantly griping about forward-facing sonar or tournament rules or payouts or something else.
That really struck me, because I see myself in that guy. Before fishing full-time, I was working as a high-line lineman for the Tennessee Valley Authority, climbing up towers every day to fix transformers and power lines no matter the weather conditions. All I really wanted to do was fish. I was lucky enough to turn that passion into my career, and I try never to forget how blessed I am for that.
I think myself and my fellow pros could use a dose of that fan’s perspective. We are living a dream. Yes, sometimes it can be challenging to make ends and keep living this dream, and it requires sacrifice – the travel and time away from family aren’t easy. But when those tough times arise, we need to remember that there are a million people out there dealing with much bigger problems who would trade places with us in a heartbeat.
Instead, I too often see anglers making mountains out of molehills or tearing one another down. I’m not saying your frustrations aren’t valid, but before you attack another angler, try to remember that we’re all just guys who love to fish chasing the same dream. As for those who are looking for clicks on social media, negative comments or content might get attention in the moment, but it’s alienating the people we actually want as our fans – hard-working people who love fishing and just want to live their dream through us, like my friend’s buddy.
Of course, the anglers aren’t the only ones guilty of being negative. These days, keyboard warriors seem to come out of the woodwork to bash us and complain about anything and everything. I try my best never to engage with those people. I’m not naive enough to think we can end negativity on the internet, but I think if we pros set an example of being positive, of lifting each other up, of showing how much joy fishing brings us instead of focusing on the negatives, then we can attract more of the fans who love our sport and fewer of those people who are just looking for a fight.
My challenge for my fellow anglers is this: Treat each other like you would want to be treated. Yes, that might sound childish, but there’s a reason they teach the Golden Rule in kindergarten. Even if you think you were wronged by another angler or even a sponsor or tournament organization, if you consistently strive to treat others with kindness and integrity, that will eventually come back around. Try to be that person no one can say a bad word about.
Lastly, don’t forget where you come from and why you do this. Toward the end of my days as a lineman, I had three separate close calls where I could have easily died. After that, I prayed to God and said, “Lord, if you just provide a means for me to make a living doing what I love, that’s all I ask of you.” I still thank Him every day for answering that prayer with a yes.
Entering the 2026 season, I’m freshly reminded of how lucky I am, and I’m committed to showing and spreading the joy that fishing brings me. I hope anyone who reads this, fan or fellow angler, will join me in doing the same.