One thing I realized a long time ago — without the help and investment of others in my career, I wouldn’t be a professional angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series. From my dad and uncles taking me hunting and fishing, to the parents of my friend Billy Backman, to every sponsor who has chosen to partner with me since my career began — I’m not here without them investing in my career.
With all of that in mind, giving back to the overall outdoors community has always been important to me.
When I worked with Buck Knives, I would give 25 of their knives away every time I made the cut to fish on Day 3 of an Elite Series event. When that promotion came to an end, Jen and I started thinking about other ways to share our appreciation and love for the sport, and we landed on something.
We were lying in our camper one night and decided that we could literally give the gift of B.A.S.S. So, at each tournament where I make the cut to fish on Day 3, I select a kid from stage and give him or her a one-year B.A.S.S. Membership
I can’t tell you what tournament we started doing this, and I don’t know how many memberships we’ve given away to kids over the years. But we do hear back from some of them. We’ll get pictures sent to us of a youngster with a copy of Bassmaster Magazine or some fish caught with a technique learned from the publication or a lure from the gift pack. It always makes us smile.
One of my favorite times was when I made a final-day cut at Santee Cooper a few years ago, we chose our kid to give our membership to. Our Tournament Director Trip Weldon – who was in his final year before retiring – said on the microphone, “Let’s give every kid in the crowd a membership.” That was really cool to see B.A.S.S. step up and do that.
I think back to my dad every time we do this, how he was a B.A.S.S. member from the time I was little and how he and my uncles took me fishing and hunting so much. I think of my kids, Nevaeh and Fisher, and what the outdoors mean to them. They both love being outdoors camping, hunting and fishing. They couldn’t imagine life without these sports and activities as a major part of their lifestyle. Without people investing in my life and me sharing that love with them, who knows what they’d be into.
I know by giving back in this way, or by taking kids fishing when we have a chance, we are giving kids something to do that could keep them from heading down a different path. We love to share our love of the outdoors as a family as a way of thanking those who did the same for me.
It’s a lifestyle I love to share and something we plan to continue.
In fact – and Jen doesn’t know this yet – but, if I do well enough in these last two events that I qualify for the 2024 Bassmaster Classic, I’m going to give each kid in attendance at the St. Lawrence River weigh-in a B.A.S.S. membership. I hope I get to do that.
