Bass Tournament Tycoon - Cool People










 







Mark Sexton (Berkley)
Mark Sexton is a life-long outdoorsman with a passion for bass fishing. His entire academic and professional career has been centered on fish and fishing. He did his undergraduate and graduate work at Iowa State University earning degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Professionally he started with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in the Fisheries Research Department. He accepted a position with Outdoor Technologies Group (Berkley) as the Bait Analyst in 1999.
Mark's position at Berkley is a dream job for anyone who loves fishing and the science behind it. His main role is to design and test fishing lures for both freshwater and saltwater. This job keeps him on the water over 200 days a year and he loves everyone of them. He gets to work with pro anglers, guides, and other experts in many areas of the world. Inventing new lures that catch more fish is what drives him and he loves learning about different fisheries and fishing styles.






Jay Yelas (Berkley Pro)
www.jayyelas.com
I'll never forget the first bass I ever caught. I was 10 years old, standing on my grandparents dock at Sandy Pond, New York when a 12 inch lunker hit my black jitterbug. What a thrill! It was 6 years later, when I was a junior in high school, that I caught my second bass. It was on a crawdad Hellbender crankbait at Lake Cachuma, California. It was at this time, at 16 years of age, that I really got into bass fishing. A late start compared to all the youngsters I meet these days.
My first pro event was the 1987 U.S. Open at Lake Mead where I finished 6th.
I won $8,000, which helped bank roll me for a while.
I spent the next 3 years fishing everything I could get my hands on out West. I fished Red Man, U.S. Bass, WON Bass, Sun Country, All-Star, West Coast Bass and any other tournaments I could find. I hadn't met Jill (my
wife) yet, so I just traveled around from tournament to tournament. I pretty much lived out of my van those 3 years. I was so unbelievably focused back then. My life was simple. All I did was fish tournaments. I think I was fishing about 40 tournaments a year for those 3 years.
I always looked at that period of time as being similar to a minor league experience in baseball. I played everyday, got lots of experience, had plenty of success, and after 3 years felt like I was ready for the big leagues. In bass fishing, that means the Bassmaster Tournament Trail.
There are many things I will always remember about my Western days. One is the fact that I was able to win at least one tournament on every lake on the Colorado River chain. Those lakes are still my favorite places to bass fish, especially Powell.
But the best thing about living out West was meeting my sweetheart Jill. We met in Phoenix in January of 1989. Our first date was the Phoenix Open, and our second was a fishing trip to Bartlett Lake. She never lets me forget that trip to the lake. I put her in my boat, and proceeded to launch it by just backing down the ramp and stomping on my brakes. By the time I parked and made it back to the ramp, the wind had blown her 50 yards out into the middle of the lake. I yelled "come and get me." She yelled, "how?" I said "just put the trolling motor down." She said "what's a 'trolling motor?'" It turned into quite an event. The fact that there were about 5 other boats trying to use the same ramp didn't help matter. I didn't think she was ever going to talk to me again!
I fished my first Bassmaster tournament in April of 1989 at Lake Mead. I place 12th and caught the biggest fish of the whole event, a 5-12. She came out of the Virgin River, and ate a jig-n-pig.
In September of 1989 I drove from Phoenix to Clayton, New York, about 45 hours one way to fish my second Bassmaster tournament. This was the opener for the '89-'90 season I bombed in that one, and got to enjoy a 45 hour drive home to boot! That was when I first started seriously thinking about moving to Texas to get closer to all the tournaments. A big decision, to be sure.
By August of 1990, I was ready, Jill and I had decided to move to Texas to pursue my career as a professional bass fisherman. It was a tough decision, and proved to be a pivotal point in my fishing career. Jill and I packed up our van and boat with all of our belongings, and drove straight to Rayburn Country, near Jasper, Texas. We could have gone anywhere, but had really enjoyed the people and the fishing in east Texas during previous trips to the area. We initially chose to live at Rayburn Country because of it's proximity to Sam Rayburn Resevoir.
It was quite a transition from the desert to the East Texas piney woods, but we made it. No, we weren't born in Texas, but we got here as fast as we could! We both love Texas. After 8 great years in the Rayburn Country/Jasper area, we moved to Tyler in February 1998. Tyler is a fantastic little city that has just about everything you would find in a big city. Texas has been a good home base for my tournament career.
Looking back, I have to say the move to Texas was a must to accomplish what I have as a pro bass fisherman. It was the right decision. All the big tournaments in the country are in the eastern half of the nation, and you just can't fish them properly living west of the Rockies.
I have fished the Bassmaster tour for 10 years now, qualifying for the Bassmasters Classic every year but my first year. It's been a good living. I really enjoy the fishing, but the people I've met, and the friends I've made across the nation has truly been the best part of the job.
Jill and I have two precious daughters now, Hannah and Bethany. They bring us such joy. They travel with me to many of my tournaments, which really is nice. Hannah really enjoys fishing. I love taking her. I have quite a few fond memories of fishing with her already. Like the time last winter when a big catfish pulled her little snoopy pole right out of her gloved hands and we could only watch in awe as the pole went down the grassy bank and disappeared out of sight into the water. I didn't think she would ever stop crying! Or the time she bowed up on a big one in front of some teenage boys and yelled, "hey boys, look at me!"
Fishing is a wonderful sport.
People frequently ask me how long I plan on fishing tournaments as a career.
I always tell them the same thing. I still love it, and plan on doing it as long as the Good Lord lets me.







Luke Clausen (Berkley Pro)
Luke Clausen, of Spokane, Washington, is considered one of the best young anglers in the bass fishing profession. He has been fishing professionally for a short three years and has a tremendous number of accomplishments such as being the 2004 FLW Championship winner in his rookie season. Along with this feat he has qualified for three Bassmaster Classics, qualified for the coveted Elite 50 in his first year of eligibility and the upcoming 2006 Majors. Starting at a grass roots level in the state of Washington, Luke has experienced success at every level and continues to improve amongst the greatest anglers in the world.
Recently Luke won the nation's premier bass fishing event. the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic, on Florida's beautiful Kissimmee River Chain with a record weight of 56 pounds 2 ounces. The old record, held by veteran bass angler, Davey Hite totaled 55 pounds 10 ounces on the Louisiana Delta in
1999. His victory made him the first Western bass angler to win the crown
and his first day weight of 29 pounds 6 ounces broke the single day record of 21 pounds 8 ounces, set by Paul Elias on Lake Logan Martin back in 1993.
Luke is only the 7th angler in the 35 year history of the event to lead from start to finish. His final day weight of 11 pounds 13 ounces held off charges by veterans Kevin Van Dam, Rick Morris and Ron Shuffield.
Luke possesses more than the ability to consistently catch fish. He possesses an exceptional ability to convey his passion for the sport of fishing, related products, and angling techniques to an audience large or small. There is no doubt when you hear Luke talk he loves the sport of bass fishing.
Luke is a graduate of Eastern Washington University with majors in Business Management and Marketing, and a minor in Management Information Systems.
Luke also has extensive experience in the business side of the industry with many realms of sponsors within and outside of the industry. During this time, Luke has represented sponsors such as Chevy Trucks, Holiday Inn Express, and many endemic sponsors such as Berkley, Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Ranger boats, Yamaha Outboards, among many others
Luke has a very sociable and extroverted personality, which enables him to communicate with the current and next generation of anglers to convey the thrill and challenges that have captivated him. Luke is personable, outgoing and ambitious. His professional appearance and communication skills will be a valuable asset to any company, which desires to gain exposure in new and existing marketplaces.







John Crews (Berkley Pro)
www.johncrews.com
Career Highlights:
2 Time Bassmasters Classic qualifier (2005, 2006)
2 Time FLW Tour Championship qualifier - (2003, 2004)
9 Top 10 finishes in BASS and FLW trails
2 Time BASS Open Championship qualifier - (2003, 2004)
2 Time Everstart Championship qualifier - 2001, 2002
3 Time BFL Regional qualifier - Piedmont division - 1999, 2000, 2001
My Story:
(12/14/05) "It seems that I can't stop fishing both trails this coming year.
BASS and FLW are both making headway in many respects. I want to continue to be involved in both. I will admit my focus will be with the Elite Series. At this point in my career, BASS provides the best avenue to make a name for John Crews. FLW is improving every year at promoting anglers but they are just not where BASS is. This may sound selfish but making a name is the one intangible you can't get any other way for the business side of a professional bass fisherman. Having a name is essential for great sponsors.
Promoting yourself is expensive, time consuming, and challenging. I find it fun. With all the changes occurring in bass fishing, I will still fish BASS and FLW in 2006. Just look at my schedule and see all the great places I get to go. It should be a fun year!"
Not long after I was old enough to walk, I wanted to go down to the small pond in my backyard and fish. My dad still has the pictures. As I got older and fished more, my dad built a 6 to 7 acre pond on our land. It was heaven.
I fished it but only really got a kick out of the bass. Stocked with tons of small ones, it was a great place to learn new lures and try new techniques.
The next phase was trying my hand at the big public lakes. From reading Bassmaster magazine, I was ready to do it like the pros. Quickly I discovered it was harder than I thought. Those lakes were big so where do you start? Somehow I did not ever get discouraged and I loved being on the water. It was not until I was 15 that I fished my first tournament.
The pro level was waiting for me in the FLW Tour of 2002. In my first major tournament I finished 52nd on Lake Okeechobee. I was frustrated because I thought I was on the fish to make the cut. My dad and family were elated that I did so well in my first major league tournament. Looking back, the frustration I had was a sign that I have the competitiveness it takes to be a pro bass angler.
My next big step was qualifying for the 2003 Bassmasters Tour by finishing high enough in the prior year's BASS Open events. I kind of thought making it was enough. Boy, I was wrong. My first career BASS Tour event saw me throw up a double ZERO at the Harris Chain of Lakes. That year it was tough in BASS but I had a 3rd place finish in an FLW tournament and made the FLW Tour Championship. The Championship was on the James River, a river I grew up fishing. Being the only pro from Virginia to make it, I got a lot of press and finished 8th. By fishing the BASS Opens in the fall I re-qualified for the BASS Tour.
The 2004 season was almost a repeat of the 2003 year. I did well in the FLW Tour but stunk up the joint on the BASS Tour. What was the deal? I believe I focused my energy on the FLW events and did not put the same effort into the BASS Tour. Once again I made the FLW Championship and fished in the finals (12th). Also I had to re-qualify for the BASS Tour through the Opens.
Looking back I am proud to have qualified for the BASS Tour 3 straight year but I never should have been in that position.
During the 2005 season, my finishes were a flip-flop on the trails. I did well in the BASS Tour and made the 2005 Bassmasters Classic. It is part of my dream and career finally coming together. However, the FLW Tour went unbelievably horrible. I only made one check. Once again, I know it was my focus. I wanted that Classic so bad. Doing well in BASS does not pay like it does in FLW, at least before the Classic. The good part is that BASS can give you the exposure which sponsors want and that can lead to potential endorsements.
Currently I have a great group of sponsors and partners. In the future I may switch companies, lose companies, or gain companies that I am associated with. It is part of making a living in this industry. I have really tried to associate myself with companies which I believe in and can see myself with for a long time. Through time a person or company's paradigm can change.
Anyone that knows me well can tell you that I will only promote products that I believe in. Only those companies and products are worth spending time and effort to expose, sell, and use.
The future holds many new opportunities. The 2006 BASS Tour is expanded but the pay out is currently terrible. The 2006 FLW schedule is about the same but hello to the pay out. The PAA will hold events in the future and they will solely benefit the anglers. It will be interesting to see where I go and where the sport goes. Only time will tell.







Jonny Schultz
www.JonnySchultz.com
2006 BASS Junior Bassmaster Wisconsin State Champion . 2003 Bassmaster "Casting Kids" National Champion . Four-Time Wisconsin State Champion (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) . 10 Wins in local qualifying events
Hi, my name is Jonny Schultz, I'm 11-years old and I love to fish. I live in Wisconsin and I'm in the sixth grade. I work hard at school, but I also work hard at learning everything I can about fishing. I teach a fishing class for kids at summer camp. I also like to go to fishing shows. I love to fish.
Q and A with Jonny Schultz
Q: As a former National Bassmaster CastingKids Champion, why do you like to compete in CastingKids?
A: I Compete in CastingKids because I enjoy traveling to the different places, plus it helps me be a better fisherman by being a good caster. I also get to meet and hang out with a lot of other kids who love fishing. In casting competitions, we use Zebco 33 fishing reels. I like the Zebco 33 because it is easy to use. It is a good reel to learn with, and I have caught a lot of fish on my 33s.
Q: How do you practice for CastingKids?
A: If the weather is warm, I can practice outside. In the winter, it's really cold in Wisconsin, so I practice in a school gym. You can practice just about any place that has a high ceiling and plenty of room. Schools, YMCAs and other places might let you practice there. Just find out who is in charge of the building and ask them for permission. I set up a bulls-eye target like we use in CastingKids on the floor, and practice the three techniques we use in competition , flipping, pitching and casting. I try to go three to five times a week, even if it's only for 15 minutes. You have to practice to be good, plus it's a lot of fun
Q: You are so young, how have you learned so much about fishing already?
A: I like learning about fishing. I read fishing books and magazines, and watch TV fishing shows. When I go to boat or sport shows, I go to the fishing seminars. I'll talk to the fishing pros at the shows, and ask lots of questions. I fish the dam, the river, area ponds, and local lakes, so I experiment with different baits and techniques that I've heard or read about. I love to visit tackle stores and study all the baits. I really like finding new baits to try. You can't go fishing all the time, but you can always study about fishing. That's what I do, study.
Q: What is your number one tip for new anglers?
A: First thing, get a good rod and reel. Don't buy the cheapest, but you don't have to spend a lot. A spincast reel is the easiest to use. It is a push-button reel that anybody can use. Put it on a 5-1/2 or 6-foot, medium-action casting rod. A spincast reel works for all kinds of fishing.
Once you get good at casting, you might want to consider getting a spinning or baitcast reel. Once you have your rod and reel, the most important thing to do is practice with it. You must be able to cast, and the better caster you are, the more fish you can catch. Set up a bucket or hoop in the yard, and practice hitting it from different distances. Cast with a practice casting plug made of plastic or rubber, or take the hooks off of a real lure. A good practice weight is 3/8 or 1/2 ounces. When you go fishing, cast to "targets" like stumps, docks, rocks and bushes. Bass really like to hang around these kinds of "structure", so the closer you can get your cast, the better your luck. My best tip though, is "go fishing". It is sooooooo much fun!







Scott Martin (Berkley Pro)
www.ScottrMartin.com
Professional Tournament Angler, Fishing Guide and Outdoor
Television Host

LICENSES
U.S.C.G. Captain's License

Tournaments Highlights
F.L.W. Tour ChampionshipC Qualifier 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Dec. 2005 Redbone Pro-Celebrity Grand Champion - Islamorada, FL
Aug. 2004 F.L.W. Tour Championship -Birmingham , AL. - 2nd
place
June 2004 F.L.W. Tour Champion - Lake Champlain, NY
Dec. 2001 Redbone Pro-Celebrity Grand Champion - Islamorada, FL
Feb. 2000 F.L.W. Tour Champion - Pascagoula, M.S.
July 2000 ESPN Great Outdoor Games, Silver Medallist - Lake
Placid, NY
May 1999 F.L.W. Tour Co-Angler of the Year
Jan. 1999 F.L.W. Tour Co-Angler- Lake Okeechobee, FL - 2nd
place

Bass Tournament Statistics
Current F.L.W. Tour Ranking # 5
F.L.W. Tour Career earnings: $ 654,769
Number of tournaments won: 2 F.L.W. Tour Events Number of Top-10 tournament finishes: 14 Weight of largest day's catch: 21 lbs, 5 oz, (2003, Stren Series, Southeast, Lake Okeechobee, FL) Number of events fished: 62 since 1999

Media Highlights
Host of "The Scott Martin Challenge" Outdoor Television series 2005 to present - OLN, FSN Fishing feature on the CBS Early Show, June 13, 2006 Host of "Wal-Mart Great Outdoors" Outdoor Television series 2003 to 2005 -OLN Co-host for F.L.W. Outdoors Television series 2004 to present - OLN May 2004 F.LW. Outdoors Magazine - Full Page Cover February 2003 F.LW. Outdoors Magazine - Cover Minn Kota Genesis - National commercial-2000 to 2003- National Networks July 2001 ABC Wide World of Sports - ESPN Great Outdoor Games - ABC July 1998 Outdoor World Magazine - Full Page Cover

AWARDS "Top twenty finishes"
2006 - June - F.L.W. Tour Championship 16th place, Logan Martin, AL
2006 - June - F.L.W. Tour 4th place, Lake Champlain, NY
2006 - May - F.L.W. Tour 12th place, Kentucy Lake, KY
2005 - December - Redbone Pro-Celebrity Grand Champion, Islamorada, FL
2004 - August - F.L.W. Tour Championship - 2nd place- Birmingham , AL.
2004 - June - F.L.W. Tour Champion , Lake Champlain, NY
2004 - February - F.L.W. Tour,16th place, Louisiana Basin , LA
2004 - January - F.L.W. Tour 18th place, Lake Okeechobee,FL
2003 - Oct. - Clewiston City Championship, 1st. Place, Lake Okeechobee
2003 - June - F.L.W. Tour 5th place, Lake Wheeler
2003 - April - C.M.N. Champion Beaver Lake,AR
2003 - April - F.L.W. Tour 8th place, Beaver lake, AR
2003 - January - F.L.W. Tour 11th place, Lake Okeechobee,FL
2003 - January - Everstart Tour 9th place, Lake Okeechobee,FL
2002 - November - B.A.S.S. Tour 12th place, Lake Pickwick, AL
2002 - September - B.A.S.S. Tour 5th place, Lake Murry S.C.
2002 - June - F.L.W. Tour 4th place, Lake Champlain, NY
2002 - May - B.A.S.S. Tour 6th place, Potomack River,MD
2002 - February - F.L.W. Tour, 4th place, Wheeler lake, AL
2001 - December - B.A.S.S. Eastern Invitational, 13th place, Palatka, FL
2001 - December - Redbone Pro-Celebrity Grand Champion, Islamorada, FL
2001 - July - ESPN Great Outdoor Games, 4th place 2000 - July - ESPN Great Outdoor Games, Silver Medallist 2000 - June - F.L.W. Tour, 6th place, Pickwick Lake, AL 2000 - February - F.L.W. Tour Champion, Pasgaqula, M.S.
2000 - February - TNN Shoot - Out Champion
1999 - September - F.L.W. Tour Championship, 8th place, Ft. Gibson, OK
1999 - May - F.L.W. Tour Co-Angler of the Year
1999 - January - F.L.W. Tour Co-Angler, 2nd place, Lake Okeechobee, FL
1999 - February - F.L.W. Tour Co-Angler, 6th place, Lake Murry, SC
1999 - June - F.L.W. Tour Co-Angler, 8th place, Lake St. Claire, MI
1998 - December - BASS Eastern Invitational, 7th place, Lake Okeechobee, FL
1998 - September - Southeastern Regional Championship Classic, 5th place,
TN.
1998 - Southeastern Regional Championship Florida Division Champion







Ronnie Kovach
www.fishingexpeditions.com
The man behind the many Fishing Expeditions enterprises, Ronnie has an extensive background in marketing, broadcasting and journalism—in addition to being a pre-eminent expert in both freshwater and saltwater fishing. He is a tournament bass fisherman, a licensed professional bass and trout guide, and proficient at fly, big game, and long-range fishing—with command of all freshwater and saltwater fishing methods and techniques.
Ronnie has been a marketing consultant to major shoe brands and served as a Vice President of Big 5 Sporting Goods for nearly 20 years. He is the Founder and Director of the Owner Hooks "On The Water" Fishing Schools, and the host of dozens of other fishing seminars annually. To date, Ronnie has personally taught over 50,000 anglers the finer points of fishing. He is a regular contributor to major popular fishing magazines (over 500 articles published), and he has authored five best-selling books on trout, bass and saltwater fishing. He also is host and executive producer of Fishing Ventures Television and the Fishing Expeditions Radio Show.


 






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