SAN ANTONIO, Texas — It’s not often that one single day can change the landscape of a collegiate angler’s life, but for Nick Barr, the semifinal loss to Jordan Lee in the 2013 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket pointed him in the right direction for a career in the fishing industry.
Most college anglers who travel and compete at a high level on the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series aspire for a career as an Elite Series pro, but for many that doesn’t come to fruition.
Barr, the founder of the Eastern Washington Sportsman’s Club, graduated from EWU in May 2014 after a decorated career on the college circuit. He remains one of the most-traveled anglers competitive college bass fishing has ever seen.
Now, Barr said he believes college fishing directly correlated with his opportunity to work in the industry.
“The biggest impact on me was the relationships I made with tournament organizations and staff,” said Barr. “In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have a job with Livingston Lures today if it weren’t for B.A.S.S. and the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series,” Barr said. “They see your 20-pound days and your one-fish days. They notice how you carry yourself.”
Barr joined the Livingston Lures team late in 2014 after moving from Washington state to San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, Kelly, to pursue her own endeavors in physical therapy school. The former college angler is now a customer relations manager with the lure company and handles a vast array of tasks.
“I really like selling,” said Barr. “I like calling up tackle stores and talking to guys from different regions to spread the Livingston Lures brand. It’s a blessing and exciting to be at the forefront of the fishing industry because we are growing so fast.”
Barr encountered numerous obstacles throughout his college career at Eastern Washington, including multiple-day travels just to get to a tournament destination.
“The biggest thing college fishing taught me was persistence. With fishing you are always banging your head against the wall. Whether it’s struggles on the lake or it’s building a fishing club, you’re always trying to learn and get better,” Barr said. “College fishing really teaches you that, and it’s a great life skill to stay persistent.”
Barr and teammate Jarred Walker’s fourth-place finish in 2013 is still the record for the highest finish by a Western team in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship. The anglers — who were geographically the farthest from Lake Chatuge — took the Day 1 lead. Two days later, they found themselves with a one-in-eight shot at a Bassmaster Classic berth.
“The bracket is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and to share that with Nick was very cool,” said Walker. “The relationships we made with other anglers and people eventually forged lifelong friendships.”
Not long after getting eliminated by Jordan Lee in the Bassmaster Classic Bracket, Barr got to spend time with some Elite Series pros. The lessons he learned from listening to those anglers let him know that he had a place in fishing, but it may not be on the front of a boat.
“I would love to take a shot at it later in life when I’m more financially set, but I wouldn’t want to do it now by pinching pennies.”
The competitive flame still burns inside of Barr, but at the moment he is happy being at the forefront of the tackle industry with Livingston Lures.
“I think Nick’s work ethic and the time he puts into preparation speaks for itself,” Walker said. “If he was to pursue a professional fishing career at some point in life, I believe he would be successful.
“After all, we fished at a high level in college, so I can’t see that changing for Nick.”
