It really hit Mercury pro Dakota Ebare the morning of the Knockout Round of Bass Pro Tour Stage Two on Lake Fork, Texas, when he arrived early to pick up his MLF official for the day.
There he was, sitting in his truck in the parking lot of the Neon Moon in Yantis, Texas, when Mercury Pro Team veterans Kevin VanDam and Skeet Reese pulled in. Right then, Ebare knew that his years of hard work to get to this level of fishing had paid off.
Ebare was not just thankful that he had qualified for the Bass Pro Tour – lining up to fish against the likes of VanDam and Reese confirmed that he had the skills to compete against Hall-of-Famers, multi-time Angler of the Year winners, Forrest Wood Cup and Bassmaster Classic winners, and the most stacked field of tournament pros ever assembled.
Ebare went on a tear that morning in the Knockout Round (just as he had done in the Qualifying Rounds) and held the lead for much of the morning before finishing the day in second place. That performance came in his second event fishing against his childhood heroes.
The Texas pro claimed a spot in the Championship Round, ultimately finishing second, just 10 ounces behind Alton Jones, Jr.
Ebare’s finish was rewarding on many levels: it boosted his confidence and his bank account, and reassured him that the time and effort he’s put into his job was worth it.
Full of Thanks
Ebare frequently spoke throughout the event on MLF NOW! about how grateful he was for his opportunity to compete on the Bass Pro Tour. He also thanked multiple people who helped him reach his goal of fishing at the highest level of the sport.
“I didn’t come from money and getting to this point was a work in progress for a very long time,” Ebare admitted. “Lining up and fishing against the guys that I’ve looked up to all my life is awesome. I’ve had some phenomenal people in my life that have helped me get to this point, and I wouldn’t be here without them. I can’t express that enough.”
Growing up in Louisiana, Ebare was bitten by the bass bug early on, mowing lawns to have enough cash to enter weeknight derbies.
“Cutting grass and entering every tournament I could was what sparked my interest in tournament fishing,” he said. “I went to college in central Texas at Tarleton State University for Ranch Management and got into rodeo, which helped me pay my way through college. I started riding bulls but wasn’t very good and decided to switch to being a bullfighter; getting the bulls’ attention and protecting the cowboys. That was a good move because I got paid no matter what at each event.”
College Fishing Paved the Way
Finances had prevented Ebare from rebuilding the 90-horsepower engine on his mom’s boat, and by the time he arrived at Tarleton State, Ebare had essentially given up on the idea of fishing for a living. However, a chance encounter with a member the Tarleton fishing team sparked his interest again and Ebare started fishing tournaments at the college level.
“We placed fifth on that first tournament on the Red River,” he said. “I was there in a white t-shirt and everyone was making fun of me cause I didn’t have a jersey on, but that got me excited about fishing again. I had a jersey on for the next one.”
Ebare has moved up the MLF circuit ranks since college, tasting success throughout the country in Phoenix Boats BFLs, Toyota Series and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit.
He credits his Abu Garcia College Fishing experience for putting him on the right track.
“I was fishing right around the time when Jordan Lee won his first Bassmaster Classic and everyone was talking about how college fishing prepared him for the pros,” he said. “I realized right then that I could use college fishing to get to where I want to be, just like Jordan did. Now, I’m fishing against him. It’s surreal.”
If Ebare’s start on the Bass Pro Tour is any indication, he’ll be one to watch the rest of the season and beyond.