How to Become a Pro Fisherman (25 Easy Ways & Tips)

Love fishing and want to become a pro fisherman?

Then this article is absolutely a must-read for you, as it contains very powerful yet easy ways and tips for becoming a successful pro fisherman.

 

Importance

There is something to be said about floating on a lazy river in a boat, during the early morning hours of the day, listening to the sounds of nature, the sounds of the water lapping up against the boat, and having a fishing rod in one’s hand.

For many, this is the epitome of a perfect day and not only fishing but catching fresh fish to be baked or fried for supper later on that day.

For many one of the most critical signs to be placed in the window or the door of a retail shop is announcing one’s bliss by stating in two words the focus of their lives work.

Those two words are “Gone Fishing.”

If this is the epitome of living for many individuals, then how much more appealing and satisfying is the focus of becoming a pro fisherman.

With this in mind let us cast our fishing line into the water and find out how to become a pro fishermen.

 

25 Easy Ways & Tips to Becoming a Pro Fisherman

 

1. Know all about What a Pro Fisherman Is

A pro fisherman is an individual, male or female, who has the fishing skills to be competitive at the tournament level.

A pro fisherman is more than an individual who owns a rod and a reel and can cast their line and catch fish.

To be a pro angler requires that you have the necessary financial support to enter tournaments on the pro level and win or place in these tournaments to earn money and continue in the circuit.

Another definition of a pro fisherman is an individual who has no other source of income other than what he or she earns as a result of their fishing expertise and involvement in moneymaking tournaments.

 

2. Know You Need Money

As with anything else, money is required to earn a living and to cover one’s living expenses as well as earn a profit from what you do.

Being a pro angler or fisherman is no exception.

It takes money to continue in this profession.

 

3. Have a Budget

An important tip for any household and being a professional fisherman is to have a working budget.

For a pro fisherman, there should be the income side of the budget that reflects tournament winnings, sponsorships, guest appearances, teachings, etc.

The expense side of the ledger would include entrance fees, equipment, travel to and from tournaments, etc.

 

4. Start as a Co-Angler

As one of the first steppingstones toward your pro fisherman career, you can start as a co-angler.

A co-angler is defined as a fisherman that does not utilize a boat to go on the water looking to catch fish.

By being a co-angler you are just at the basic stage and enjoying your fishing equipment and your passion for fishing and honing your skills.

A co-angler can also be defined as an individual who shares another fisherman’s boat when involved in a competition.

 

5. Have the right Equipment

As with any other trade, the importance of getting the job done is by utilizing the right tools or equipment.

Being a pro fisherman is no exception.

Part of the equipment would be a variety of rods and reels.

The fishing rods can be of different weights and made of different materials.

One popular type of material that is used for a fishing rod is carbonlite.

Also, the reels that are used can be a spinning tackle as well as bait casting tackle.

Additionally, the equipment for a pro includes a variety of lures that are used as well as categorizing those lures in a fishing gear box.

Additionally, at some point in time, a professional fisherman will need to invest in a fishing boat.

 

6. Obtain Sponsors

Another important component of being a pro fisherman is by obtaining sponsors.

There are a variety of companies that sponsor various tournaments as well as individual fishermen.

Examples of companies could include:

• Automobile
• Beer
• Sports shops
• Sports television shows
• And so forth

Endeavoring to gain a sponsor is a critical component of going pro as it can be a major source of your income.

This is due to the reality that your clothing and caps will be a marketing billboard for these companies.

 

7. Grassroot Levels

It is important to note that one does not automatically go from their hometown fishing on a river or a lake into a tournament setting.

There are several critical steps in between.

One of those steps is to enter tournaments or competitions at the local or grassroots level.

The local tournaments award the competitors based on various sizes and weights of the fish and can pay anywhere from $200-$300 per winner.

 

8. Join a Club

Eventually, you’re going to want to join a club as your significant first step in working towards being a pro.

You can join a local club in your area and clubs can be found by searching on the web utilizing your favorite search engine.

Just plug into the search bar the keywords of the fishing club and your screen will be populated with many clubs that you can consider joining.

Often these clubs will have tournaments and this is a good way to begin the tournament process and make a name for yourself as a pro fisherman.

 

9. It Takes Time

It is important to remember that just as it takes patience when trying to land that fish that you’ve been pursuing so it takes time and patience to turn pro as an angler.

The process could take anywhere from 3 to 4 years upwards to 15 to 20 years to reach the pro level.

 

10. Tournaments

As part of your learning experience and understanding of the tournament process, you must compete in as many tournaments as you possibly can afford.

Often, there is an entrance fee and certain rules and policies need to be adhered to.

However, with your angling skills and your perseverance, you can begin to win some of these tournaments begin to build your resume, and distinguish yourself as an up-and-coming fisherman of note.

 

11. Complete Training Courses

In addition, it is important to realize that no one has all of the answers as it relates to fishing.

To increase your knowledge and build on your basic skill level of fishing you can take training courses.

These training courses can be provided through online websites, attending in person or you could utilize the skills and talents of a professional mentor to teach you added dimensions of fishing.

 

12. Learn Fishing Technology 

Another critical component of fishing today is the use of technology.

Specifically, sonar is now part of the fishing world as this technology it will help you to locate that special fish that you are looking for and in hopes of landing.

It is important to do your research on what technology is best given your current equipment and practice learning the technology to hone your fishing skills.

 

13. Let’s Go Fishing

As with anything the more practice you can take advantage of the better your skills will become.

Becoming a pro fisherman is no exception and therefore any chance that you get to go out on the water and go fishing is a plus that will give you a better edge during competitions and tournaments.

 

14. Entry Fees

Being a pro fisherman is an expensive venture.

Part of the expenses associated with participating in tournaments include:

• Entry fees – $50,000
• Traveling expenses – $30,000
• Equipment – $20,000
• Buying tackle

 

15. Attitude

Having the right attitude as it relates to being successful in anything that you endeavor to succeed at is paramount.

For the individual wishing to become a pro fisherman attitude will help you to succeed along the way and help you to achieve your goals and dreams.

A good way to maintain a good attitude is to learn from every situation, continue to read, be around individuals with winning attitudes, etc.

Another important aspect of a quality attitude is a good work ethic.

That work ethic should be one in which you are driven to be the best that you can be as it relates to being a pro fisherman.

This includes working hard, learning at every possible opportunity, and practicing.

 

16. Practice on Water Before Tournament

When participating in a competition or a tournament it is a good idea to go out on the water the day before the competition and practice,

The practicing would entail your casting, utilizing your sonar technology on the water to locate fish, looking for particular areas of the water where you know the fish swims, etc.

 

17. B.A.S.S.

A fishing club that you may wish to consider as you work towards your pro career is joining B.A.S.S.

This is one of the largest bass fishing organizations in the world.

To be a member you can email the staff at bn@bassmaster.com and you will then be put in touch with the local leadership in your state.

After connecting with your local club, you can start fishing after attending your first meeting and submitting your dues.

Membership includes a year’s subscription to their magazine as well as qualifying to fish in any national qualifying tournaments.

 

18. FLW

FLW stands for Fishing League Worldwide.

This organization is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization and runs several tournament circuits as well as providing a path to the tournament in professional bass fishing.

Subsequently, FLW has been fully incorporated into the major league fishing brand.

The pro circuit that is sponsored features a fishing field of 150 fishermen and the top prize of $125,000 is competed for.

As a professional fisherman, you may wish to consider being part of this association.

Additionally, the various species of fish that are part of a variety of competitions include walleye, kingfish, redfish, and striped bass.

Also See: How to Get Paid and Earn a Lot of Money from Fishing.

 

19. Working With Potential Sponsors

Companies are always looking for individuals that have the potential of not only being a good representative of their company but who have demonstrated a fishing skill set and talent that will bring about recognition for you and their brand as the sponsor.

The search and involvement for sponsors should begin at an early stage within your pro fisherman journey.

By meeting with these potential sponsors, you must learn how to work with them, what are the expectations, and present yourself as a quality representative of their company

 

20. Saltwater Fishing

As part of turning pro, you may have a preference as to what type of water you wish to fish in.

The obvious two types of water would be freshwater and saltwater.

If you enjoy saltwater fishing, then two particular leagues or associations that you could pursue membership with are Elite Fishing League or Fishing League Worldwide.

 

21. Keep Your Day Job

While working towards turning pro, it is important to maintain your day job so that you have a revenue stream coming into your household.

Hopefully, at some point in time in the future, your tournament earnings and sponsorship will allow you to devote all of your time to this chosen vocation.

 

22. Tournament Timing

A fisherman knows full well the importance of timing.

Timing as it relates to when to go out on the water, timing as it relates to seasons, etc.

Another important aspect of turning pro is to time your decision to enter into that level of competition.

A good strategy is when you have regularly placed in local competitions and done well then, your confidence level and the timing may be right to enter into larger tournaments.

 

23. Study the Fish

You fully realize that to catch a fish you have to think like a fish.

Therefore, it is important to continually study and learn about the habits of the fish that you are pursuing to ensure that you are successful in reeling in the fish that you are going after.

 

24. Mentor

Another potential possibility of improving your fishing skills is by looking to the advice and teaching of a mentor.

Securing a mentor can be an educational activity that you pursue, and the mentor can go out on the water with you and study your technique and provide valuable insight as to your angling skills.

Or, you can research a variety of videos that can be purchased and professionally done to learn skills or you can look to public videos available on such sites as YouTube.

 

25 Blog

One other way that you can continue on your journey to becoming a pro fisherman is through blogging.

The blog is something that you can do and write about being a pro fisherman or you can follow someone else’s blog as they write about their fishing talents and skills and perhaps a connection can be made.

The connection might provide additional skills or insights to your fishing acumen to help you in particular areas that will help you with your focus on honing your fishing skills. 

 

Personal Story

The first time that I went fishing was when I was nine years old.

The whole story includes a paintbrush, a bucket of white paint, and a picket fence.

A member of our church offered to pay me for painting a fence that separated his yard from his neighbor’s yard.

The pay was to be $0.50 an hour with the additional reward of a trip to Wisconsin to go fishing on a river.

The anticipated trip to Wisconsin to fish on a river had us leaving on Friday night, staying at the friend’s trailer on the river bank, and then returning home Saturday afternoon.

I was excited and wanted to do a great job with all of this money coming my way along with the bonus of going on a fishing trip.

The weekend arrived and off we went.

Early Saturday morning we stepped foot into his little motorboat and began fishing on the river.

To my surprise, I did catch a smallmouth bass but we had to return the fish to the water because it was not the right size.

It was exciting and it was a first for me that I enjoyed and subsequently, many fishing trips followed.

 

Becoming a Pro Fisherman FAQs

 

Who Are the Richest Pro Fishermen?

The richest pro fishermen include:

• Kevin VanDam
• David Dudley
• Aaron Martens
• Skeet Reese
• Greg Hackney

 

Are There Women Pro Fishermen?

Yes, two of the most recognizable names of women pro fishermen include:

• Christie Bradley
• Michelle Jalaba

 

You Can Do It

You love fishing and you are willing to make the needed sacrifices and learn so that this dream title of being a pro fisherman can be realized.

For you, fishing is more than a pastime or a hobby.

It is a passion, and it is one that you wish to leverage to earn money by becoming a professional.

 

Conclusion

Being a pro fisherman is more than just casting a hook, line, and sinker into the water and expecting a fish to jump onto the hook.

Being a pro fisherman is significantly more involved and requires certain expertise to earn tournament money and other revenue associated with a pro fisherman.

Sometimes, you need to think like a fish, and know where the fish are to catch fish that could be considered tournament winners.