For the past several months I have received many emails from potential bass anglers from all over the world asking me what kind of steps are needed to take in becoming a professional bass angler. The average age that sends me these emails normally ranges anywhere from 17 years old to around 50 years young with even some of them being younger than 17 and older than 50. Just what really is considered as being a Bass Pro? If you were to look into the Webster’s Dictionary a “pro” is described as 1. Engaged in, or worthy of the standards of, a profession 2. Or, engaging in some sport or in a specified occupation for pay, a professional.

A professional bass angler can mean different things to different people depending on the level of the profession the person wishes to achieve. I wouldn’t consider an angler that may watch the pro bass tour on television, getting the idea in his or her head that he or she can compete with the best, joins the “pro” association to get his or her pro patch or card and puts it on their shirt or in their wallet thinking that now he or she’s a pro, a true one, would you? There are many different “pro” categories one can strive for in the field of bass angling such as tournament fishing, charters (guides), teaching, lecturing, seminar instructions, product promotions, and much more.

Now, I’m sure that most of the emails I receive from the potential anglers with the questions on how to become a bass pro are primarily meant in terms of what it really takes to become a bass pro such as Shaw Grisby Jr., Bill Dance, David Dudley, etc. just to name a few. Pros like these guys have more than proven themselves and have earned their right for the title of the pro status that they hold (these fellows mentioned are a rare breed, and a greater bunch of guys you’ll never find.) But I can say that these fellows have all set goals and worked to get where they are today.

The first thing you have to remember when it comes to fishing is that you can be assured that just about anybody that wishes to become a “professional” in the field of bass fishing can if they try hard enough, but you have to work for it! One of the greatest things I personally feel about the sport of bass fishing is that it doesn’t matter if you are a male or female, you don’t even have to be athletic in nature or muscular to become a bass pro to compete with the best. A bass pro can be a person who may be small, large, big, little, rough & tough, weak & meek, clean cut, long haired, rich, poor, black, white, brown, young or old, and yes! There are even anglers that are handicapped or disabled that are considered bass pros…. get the point? Just about anyone can become a bass pro if they set their mind to it. It’s like anything else in life, it takes focus, hard work, dedication, setting goals, personal drive and ambition to become whatever you want to become in life even when it comes to the classification of being a “bass pro.”

There are several different methods to get started on the right track for the ones who wish to become bass pros and hopefully I can help to steer you in the right direction. First, you must keep in mind that the bass fishing industry over the past few years has grown to be a multi billion industry which means more and more competition everyday. Now, keeping that in mind, this means that there are also many companies that manufacture enormous amounts of product designed especially for fishing, and like many different trades you need the right tools for the job. So the equipment you will need and how much one wants to spend on certain items to either get started or to get more serious all depends on how you set your goals. For example, yes, it would be nice to have a $40,000 high performance boat all decked out with the top of the line equipment that will go 80 mph (yea man!) but now stop and ask yourself, will the boat catch the fish? Will the boat tell you where to go and what technique to use to catch bass? Or, can you even set a hook in a bass going 80 mph? Of course not!

Many of my former students that have attended my 3-Day Bass Fishing School have started out with small boats with 10 hp, 25 hp, 75hp motors on them (and even some without any motors at all) and they have learned that they can catch bass just about anywhere they can get their small affordable boats to the areas they want to fish, and by using the proper equipment, baits, and understanding the right techniques to use based on water conditions, daily conditions, areas fished, water clarity, season, structured areas, and on and on.. Knowledge and understanding is the key.

Now, just a word of wise when it comes to boat sizes and horse power, I will always, always, stress SAFETY FIRST!, especially for the un-experienced boaters. I have seen over the past years several unfortunate accidents with anglers that have lacked the experience needed in different situations while on the water which has caused some of them either getting