KISSIMMEE, Fla. – For four anglers, the Wednesday night registration meeting for the first Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open of the year had a different flavor than normal.
After the meeting wrapped up, Gerald Swindle, Terry Scroggins, Jacob Wheeler and Terry Seagraves stayed behind and spoke with a group of young fishermen from the area. The Osceola Bass Anglers and Teen Sportfishing Association fishermen listened to the seasoned pros about everything from fishing techniques to the mental side of bass fishing.
See photos of the pros’ Q&A session here.
The young fisher men volunteered to help out the B.A.S.S. tournament staff with parking, fish care and many other activities behind the scenes of this week’s tournament.
“The work starts long before the weigh-in at a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open,” Tournament Director Chris Bowes said. “Volunteers play a huge roll to the success of a tournament. We’ve really seen an abundance of anglers come to volunteer since B.A.S.S. has started college and high school events. They want to be involved and it’s pretty neat.”
Another very cool aspect is to see professional anglers take the time out of their busy schedules to speak with the younger generations of the sport, but for Swindle it is more than important to spread the word and encourage youth.
“It’s our responsibility as professionals that when we get to this level to use the platform and give back,” Swindle said. “If no one takes the time then we don’t have that next generation. To me it’s not an inconvenience to do it, but it’s just what you do as a professional.”
The topics ranged from topwater techniques for big Florida bass to the secrets and success of tournament fishing from the mental side of the spectrum. The 20 or so kids and parents in attendance heard what makes Gerald Swindle who he is, why “Big Show” Terry Scroggins has made a living for a long time in the sport and how Jacob Wheeler was able to find success at a high level at such a young age.
“When I was growing up fishing we didn’t have as much attention on the sport as we do now,” Scroggins said. “These kids have a lot of avenues to learn and they look up to us. In a way, I look up to them because I remember myself as a young fisherman and the grassroots I grew up with.”
While some of the conversations were filled with laughter, others were more serious and about the drive and dedication needed if a fisherman’s dream is to make it to the professional level.
“Today’s generation wants to do things in life, but I’m not sure they want to sacrifice or be driven enough,” Swindle said. “You don’t want to undersell the flashy logos and what makes Scroggins and Wheeler unique, but rather you want them to know that those pros are driven.”
By winnings and years of professional fishing, Jacob Wheeler isn’t considered a newbie, but because of his age he is still one of the young guns in the sport and it certainly allows him to connect with the younger age group.
“You don’t get the opportunity to speak with kids everyday and I really connect with kids because I’m young enough to have experienced that level of fishing,” Wheeler said. “It’s crazy to think I fished the first Junior Bassmaster Championship on Lake Norman when I was 14 years old. You see the excitement in those kids’ eyes, the excitement I had almost 10 years ago.”
For young anglers, meeting a professional fisherman is something you can’t put a price tag on, but having the opportunity to speak and listen to pros for an extended amount of time is something that will be cherished.
“The advice the kids received from these guys will last them a lifetime,” Seagraves said. “I’ve taken a liking to these kids and I know they will take these values and morals with them if they end up as a pro fishermen or if they end up car salesmen.”