A smoking light fixture popped loudly in the JM studio, spitting sparks and startling Jordan Lee and girlfriend Kristen Agnew just a few steps below.
“That was really scary,” she said.
“This is some hardcore stuff. I didn’t sign up for this,” Lee calmly joked.
Lee threw plenty of sparks in March by posting a record comeback to win the Bassmaster Classic, which is known to ignite a firestorm of attention that’s sometimes considered overwhelming. But Lee and Agnew haven’t flinched under fire, instead working to make his career burn more brightly.
“You have to think of the business side bigtime,” said Lee, who was in Little Rock to shoot videos. “It’s probably the most important thing in fishing, and that’s something we’re getting better at every year. We’re learning how to do things the right way.”
Lee said Agnew has always been an immense help. She might still remind him of calls he needs to make, emails to be answered or upcoming appearances, but she’s also been offering more perspective on much of his business dealings.
“It’s like a life experience,” Agnew said. “Once it happens, then you learn from it. We’ve learned how to handle contracts and different deals and what to say. I plan to do things the right way, and that’s why it’s been helpful for me to talk to some of the other women, like Lulu Swindle. I’ve asked her how she does things.”
Certainly the wife of two-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle has great advice. Agnew also knows that Lee’s talent and performance are being marketed, and their value should be recognized.
“It’s helps when you have leverage – how successful he’s been,” Agnew said. “Knowing your worth is really important in negotiating.”
Lee’s head has been on straight from the get-go. In his third Elite season, the 26-year-old has been well-immersed in the business side of the fishing industry. He’s accustomed to appearances, sponsors, fans and media, but the Classic stacked a few dozen more logs on the flames.
“Even without the Classic win, I’ve had really good years, but a win does something big,” he said. “The biggest difference is probably being noticed, and just the fans’ involvement. It’s huge now when I walk into an expo or someplace like that. And there’s been a lot more phone calls and emails – just staying a lot busier.”
Lee knew the formula – an aspiring pro needs to go out and fish, “get some tournaments under your belt and then work on the sponsors. You can’t just get them with nothing. You’ve got to make a name for yourself first.”
Since a Classic crown elevates a name exponentially, talks with current and potential sponsors have picked up, and while “nothing is set in stone,” his career trajectory has moved from smoldering embers to white-hot.
Carhartt, which some said went out on a limb to sponsor Lee and his brother, Matt, right out of college, is certainly fired up over their investment. “They are very happy, which is awesome for college fishing,” Lee said. “They’re making more things for fishermen, so it’s good all around.”
Even when sparks are flying, Lee and Agnew certainly seem to have the ability to keep things down to a controlled burn.
MOM AND POP PLEASED AS PUNCH
Bruce and Leigh Lee were probably the proudest parents ever when Jordan won the title. She kissed the Classic trophy (above) in the media interview room right before the family posed for the bass-a-razzi.
“They’re just over the moon,” Lee said. “My dad’s a veterinarian, so he has a lot of people coming into the office every day. He stays really busy, and now he has people coming in bringing him articles (about Jordan).”
Leigh takes pride in the fact that she supervised many of her sons’ early fishing trips. When Jordan made his first Classic on Guntersville, she pointed across from the launch to where she had many interesting fishing encounters with the boys.
“When I started getting in to it, she was the one who took me to the lake,” Jordan said. “When I was 14, 15, she was the one that would take me. That helped me get me out on the water and get involved in the sport.”
Jordan is also somewhat satisfied that he was there for the start of the Carhartt College Bracket, which has sent an angler to the Classic since 2012. Andrew Upshaw was the first, then his brother and Auburn teammate, Matt, beat him for the next berth while he secured the third, finishing an impressive sixth at Guntersville in 2014.
“Being in the beginning of it is pretty cool,” he said. “Getting to see the different levels of it. When they first offered a Classic spot, that’s when I thought it really changed. It changed it for me. It gave me some really good motivation to do well.”
MARSHAL HAS GREAT EXPERIENCE
Donnie Hulse (above with Edwin Evers) has served as a Marshal for five Elite events, the most recent being early this month on Lake Dardanelle. He said he looks forward to when the Elite schedule comes out each year so he can determine if his schedule allows him to attend any events.
“This program is so neat in that an average person like me gets to experience what life on the tournament trail is really like,” Hulse wrote to B.A.S.S. “Most fans only see the anglers in all their glory at the different tournaments, but by being a Marshal, you get to witness the early hours, the late hours, and the stress that the anglers go through first-hand.”
At Dardanelle, Hulse was paired with veterans Edwin Evers and Casey Ashley and rookie Mark Daniels Jr., and he said he came away with much more fishing knowledge as each was a great ambassador of the sport. He said every angler he witnessed was professional and treated fans well.
“Even if they had been through a very tough day on the water, they all took time to stop and visit with the fans, sign autographs, and take pictures,” Hulse said. “Their behavior that they exhibited is unheard of these days in professional sports.
“I hope that this gets passed on to Trip Weldon and Chuck Harbin and that they let the anglers know how much their fans appreciate their professional and positive attitudes. Thanks again for the Marshal program!”
Now, about your photos, Donnie.
ROSS BARNETT REMOVING REBAR
A number of anglers in Ross Barnett Elite found out the hard way that rebar has been used there to mark stumps, and many argued the remedy was worse than the problem.
“I am loving this lake, but not all the steel posts sticking up everywhere,” Aaron Martens wrote on Facebook. “Why? Trying real hard not to scratch up my Phoenix (boat). Some of them are hidden under the water!”
Martens and a number of others who dinged up their boats and required overnight surgery possibly created change as the entity that manages the Rez has begun removing the metal menaces.
“We’ve removed quite a lot of rebar so far,” said John Sigman, Pearl River Valley Water Supply District general manger. “Primarily in Pelahatchie Bay and we’re moving up the lake now.”
There, seems having an event has done some good besides the economic boost.
McKINNIS CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
If Jerry McKinnis were a pirate, how might he tell you his age?
“Aye, Matey.”
Yes, on June 14, the B.A.S.S. co-owner and TV pioneer hit the big 8-0, going out to a restaurant on Lake Norfork for a big steak with Angie Thompson. He’s pictured here on Day 1 at Dardanelle with Ollie, “maybe the greatest wiener dog of all time,” he said.
No ordinary octogenarian, McKinnis is going strong, finishing up a new home overlooking the White River, where his journey into fishing began in earnest.
Oh, and he has never been a pirate, at least he didn’t mention it in his book, Bass Fishing, Brown Dogs & Curveballs, where you can learn more of his fascinating life.
Happy Birthday, Jerry.