Bass fishing and mechanical engineering don’t sound like they go hand in hand when you first think about the two fields, but Daniel Taylor blended the two into a promising career path with Mercury Marine.
As a former Iowa State collegiate angler, Taylor fueled his desire to learn more about bass fishing and have the opportunity to compete while getting a college degree in mechanical engineering.
It all started on his grandfather’s pond many years ago.
“When I was in high school, I tuned in to ESPN2 and saw The Bassmasters on TV,” said Taylor. “I saw the 2006 Bassmaster Classic, and I thought it was very interesting how they were doing things during that tournament. After watching the Classic, I seemed to pay more attention to it and began practicing more in my grandfather’s five-acre farm pond.”
After learning to enjoy bass fishing in rural Iowa, Taylor graduated high school and headed to Ames, Iowa, where he became a member of the Iowa State bass fishing club. He was a member of the team from 2009 to 2013 and held numerous positions within the club, including vice president and fundraising chairman. Taylor also set the team up for concession work during basketball games in order to help raise money.
As a “farm kid,” Daniel wasn’t that optimistic about his chances at landing a job with Mercury Marine, but once he approached the company at a job fair in 2012, Mercury staff members found out his background with the company’s products and his passion for bass fishing, which elevated his chances higher than he could have imagined.
“I come from a rural farming background in Iowa,” Taylor said. “There isn’t a lot of water and fertile fishing grounds there, but once they talked with me, they knew I understood their products and that my professional experience didn’t matter as much.”
After spending eight months as an intern, Taylor jumped into a full-time position with Mercury and is now in his second year with the company. As a manufacturing engineer, he oversees the prop shaft manufacturing process.
Taylor says he is blessed to have the opportunity to work in the industry that he loves, especially because he was a college student during the recession when the job outlook wasn’t as bright as it is now.
“I didn’t think getting a job in the industry was off the table,” Taylor said. “Getting an internship was important because only the cream of the crop were getting job offers during the tough time. I’m so blessed to have experienced a job interview with Mercury.”
Former Iowa State angler Eric Geesaman spoke highly of Taylor’s impact on his personal life when it comes to fishing. Geesaman started at ISU at the same time Taylor, and the two became close friends during school before Geesaman left for the military.
“Dan is one of my inspirations and drives me to be a better fisherman every day,” said Geesaman. “Bass fishing can be one of the most fun trash-talking sports, and I loved talking smack with my good buddy Dan.”
Geesaman has since moved from North Carolina to Green Bay, Wis., and is now only an hour and a half away from his college friend.
“He has such a passion and drive for the sport,” Geesaman said. “I only see good things for Dan’s future, both in the industry and on the water.”
Both Taylor and Geesaman know the importance that college fishing has shown in their own lives and certainly the future group of anglers coming into the college ranks.
“Kids in high school are wondering what they can do, and college fishing shows them that being part of this industry is achievable and isn’t out of the ordinary,” Taylor said.
“Don’t give up on your dreams. I wish the best of luck to kids who go to college hoping to find their place in the industry.”
