So You Want to Be a Professional Bass Fisherman?

So you think you want to be a professional bass fisherman? Love to fish? Live to fish? That better be the case. Professional fishing is much more difficult than it sounds, but if it's really what you want to do then there should be nothing stopping you. Here are some of the pros and cons...

Pro: You get to be outdoors a lot.
If you love the great outdoors then this certainly suits you. You'll be spending everyday in the great outdoors. Rain or shine, you fish. Cold or boiling hot, you fish. In other words, for better or worse, you're out on the water in the great outdoors where anything can happen.

Con: You're outdoors a lot.
You are outdoors everyday. That means you are prone to bug bites, sun burns and anything you might catch illness-wise from the environment. If you easily get cold or sick this might not be the best choice. You'll need to protect yourself with lots of sunblock and other protective skin precautions such as hats and long sleeves.

Pro: It's relaxing.
Out on the water, not very many people around, it's tranquil. Fishing is a low stress job.

Con: It's not stable.
Your income will depend upon your winnings. If you can't seem to catch fish on tournament days for some reason, you're out of luck. You have to know every lake you fish like the back of your hand to ensure a check.

Pro: There's a chance for a great deal of fame and sponsorship.
If you become really good at what you do and win a couple big tournaments you'll likely be offered sponsorship. This means they'll pay for you to fish, give you tackle and possibly even pay you to make personal appearances. You become a celebrity of your trade.

Con: A lot of people want to do it.
Every boy growing up fishing thinks about the possibilities. And a lot of men, young and old, try each year to be the lucky ones to win the bug tournaments and start their careers. It's tough to make a living on fishing alone until you've become a "somebody" in the fishing world.

While bass fishing might not be the most lucrative career in terms of financial stability, it can be quite rewarding because of its low stress and peaceful outdoor environment. There are several local tournaments throughout the year that most lakes hold where you can get started at. Once you're ready you might try out some of the larger circuits such as the WON Bass tournaments and FLW Outdoors series. Whatever you choose to do, good luck and happy fishing.