If you’ve closely followed the Bassmaster Elite Series over the past decade, you may not know of Jay Yelas, but you should. If you’ve been a Bassmaster junkie for a long time you’ll know the name is among the best in the business. He’s one of the few who have claimed the most prestigious title in bass fishing, along with several Angler of the Year titles.
Yelas is the 2002 Bassmaster Classic champion, which occurred on Alabama’s Lay Lake. He won the 2003 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of they Year title; he also won AOY on the FLW tour in 2002 and 2007. And he is also the owner of the 2003 ESPN ESPY Award as the most outstanding outdoor athlete.
He’s one of the most decorated anglers in the sport, let alone on the Elite Series this year. If you’re willing to listen you can learn a tremendous amount from his three decades of experience.
Yelas fished locally as a semi-pro very early in his career, but his tenure with B.A.S.S. began in 1989. He stayed with that tour until 2006 when he switched over to the FLW tour fulltime. After all the changes that occurred in late 2018, Yelas was invited back to the Elite Series, and he eagerly accepted.
In the middle of his 31st year as a professional angler, Yelas is showing no sign of slowing down.
“This year has been so much fun,” he said. “The new field of anglers is full of talent, and everybody is happy to be here — it’s very refreshing. I’m glad to be here.
“At this point, I don’t see retirement in my near future. As long as I’m having fun, and my participation is not a stress on my family, I’ll keep at it. Look at Rick Clunn. I hope I’m still fishing competitively at his age, but I’m also not above hanging it up when the time is right.
“I still love it!”
As the sport continues to grow at impressive rates thanks to rising numbers of high school and college programs, Yelas had some advice to offer young anglers immersing themselves in bass tournaments.
“Learn to fish, learn to speak, be a nice person, stay humble, keep up with new techniques and never give up on the dream,” he said. “In today’s day and age, getting involved in a bass club, high school or college team is a great way to increase experience.
“Getting to this level is much harder than it used to be, and the trail here is covered with broken hearts. And, that’s not to mention there are a lot of broken careers and bank accounts after being here for a couple of years. It’s not an easy way to make a living, but if you get here and if you can maintain it, it’s the most rewarding career a bass-fishing fanatic could enjoy.”
Yelas said to set realistic goals and expectations, and then get to work on achieving them.
“Get a college degree, and stay flexible,” he said.
When an angler makes the Elite Series, that’s when the real work begins. Staying relevant and capable requires a willingness to adapt with new techniques and trends.
“Once you’ve earned a spot on the Elite Series, you’ve got to maintain it,” he said. “That’s the hardest part, I think. It’s a double-edged sword, once you have sponsors supporting you; you owe them time as well. As the success increases, so does the demand. You’ve got to have the personality and patience for that in order to stay successful. This career isn’t for everybody, but man, it’s still thrilling for me. Even after all of these years.”
When asked what his favorite part of every bass derby is, Yelas said “the bite.”
“That moment in the morning when you get your first bite, and right before you set the hook,” he said. “You know it’s a fish, but you’ve yet to feel how big. That’s the moment I live for every time I leave the dock — fun fishing or tournament fishing. But it means so much more when you’re keeping track to see who’s the best angler of the day.”
Jay Yelas is no spring chicken; he’s a true veteran of the sport, and when considering ending his career as an angler, he said he still wants another shot at the Classic. However, he’s deeply involved with the CAST for Kids Foundation. An effort he’s deeply passionate about.
“If I were to consider retiring from tournaments, it would be to spend more time growing CAST for Kids,” he said. “And it’s growing substantially. I’m really passionate about getting kids with special needs out fishing. The joy it brings to their lives is incomparable. I’d quit tournaments to work more with that organization.”
With over 30 years of experience, Yelas has seen a lot of changes in the outdoor space, but he’s also learned why it’s valuable to maintain relationships.
“Don’t ever burn bridges in this industry, it’s too small. From one year to the next you never know who you’ll be working with or working for,” he said. “Your reputation should be a priority in all that you do. No matter what league you fish in, if you can maintain a good name, continue to be very capable on the water and sell product, you’ll make it as a pro. But never overlook the value of selling product. Ultimately a professional fisherman is a salesman, and companies that see your credibility in that department will want to work together for years.
“I value my sponsor relationships just like family, and they do the same for me. I actually left Skeeter/Yamaha after nearly 20 years. When I was on the FLW Tour I drove a Ranger to align myself with their sponsors. But the opportunity to come back to the Elites afforded me to reestablish my relationship with Skeeter/Yamaha. That’s a fine example of investing in the people and never burning a bridge — I’m very grateful for my family, friends and sponsors.”
Yelas proved yet again that he’s got a lot more to show on the tournament scene. During Semi-Final Sunday at the 2019 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks &Wildlife Department, Yelas posted 24 pounds, 8 ounces to climb from 21st place to 16th place.
Yelas ain’t done yet.