Steps toward becoming a Pro Walleye Angler

[Kelly]

My name is Kelly and I am 17 years old, I would like to become a professional walleye fisherman and am trying to take the right steps to plan my future and acomplish my goal. Currently I am looking into sales and Marketing classes for college and am fishing in RCL tourneys and a variety of smaller tourneys around my area. Any advice or encouragement would be greatly apreciated. Thanks
Kelly

[stevefellegy]

Hi Kelly,

Please feel free to e-mail me. I will send you my phone number and I will gladly answer any of your questions.

[cyclone_kid]

Kelly im 19 and fished the RCL at detroit, got 36th. Someday i hope to fish on the pro side too. Im also fishing Winnebago, and Saginaw.
You said you were fishing RCL but i dont see your name on any of the co-anlgers for the upcoming tournaments, are you actually fishing RCL?

If you are i'll see you there

[spebley]

I'm 21 and I wanted to be a professional bass fisherman as long as I can remember. I've kinda been there and done that. I started guiding at 17 and I fished operation bass' BFL tournament trail. I finished 6th for the year and I had never seen any of those lakes. I can tell you that it is a thrill but....very, very few people make it big. If you want to go to college, get an advertising/marketing degree. That is a big plus when it comes to getting sponsors. You have to have sponsors!!! Real sponsors, that pay money not a few free baits a year. The best way to get in the business is to get in with someone that is in the business that can teach you what you need to know. Go to work for a fishing lodge or possibly a boat dealership(I did that also, good way to get a boat deal). There is way too much to explain in one letter. Another thing, when fishing is your job you have to treat it like a job(somewhat). Prefishing for a tournament, go by yourself and go early and stay late. Get pleanty of sleep, dont stay up talking to the guys all night. Put everything you have into it and relize if you win $10,000 you didnt make $10,000. You'll find, alot of people go to tournaments in groups. Several of them are guides or started out as guides . Most of them have the same sponsors, travel together, and split expenses. Get in with one of those groups. Learn to budget your money and do you homework as far ahead of time as you can. I have spent the last 5 years around pros. They will teach you alot. If I had one peice of advise it would be, pay attention to detail. Watch everone, learn everything you can. As for me, I quit for a while. I got tired of living on the edge of going bankrupt. I'm starting a photography business in a mall but if I ever get the chance again I will be right back there, doing what I love.

Steve Pebley
Cooper Lake, Texas

"You can do anything, if you want it bad enough"

[Rich S]

Hey Steve, can I get your E-mail address also? I would like to talk with you. My E-mail is Valkaree@aol.com. Thanks.

[muskyhunter]

hi steve,
could we talk about getting on the cicuit. what's needed, what it takes. i guess i have a bunch of question. i'm willing to listen if you can spare the time.
thanks,
james pulkinen