Story by Hunter Sales | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
I’m writing this article from Toyota of Knoxville as I sit with three of our Carson-Newman University anglers waiting on an emergency repair on their truck. We made it just 30 minutes into our trip to Kentucky Lake before a wheel bearing went out on our vehicle.
One of the anglers is a freshman who is quickly learning what life on the road can be like. Almost every trip will have some sort of adversity and — as we talked about last week — it’s important to handle it with positivity. Many professional anglers balance full-time jobs, family, and their fishing careers. The memories made through these trips are priceless.
In order to stay relevant in the fishing world, promote your sponsors, and grow your following it’s important to stay moving during your free-time. Some anglers hunt deer, some hunt ducks, some do podcasts, and others work full-time jobs. This balance can be tricky, but most anglers will tell you that tournament fishing isn’t enough to pay the bills. For me, my full-time job as the Director of Outdoor Sports and Head Coach of the fishing team occupies all of my time away from the tournament world.
This past weekend, I was at a high school fishing recruiting combine meeting with 97 of the most-dedicated anglers from across the country. It’s refreshing to see the passion this generation has for the sport. The positive attitude that these anglers have is second to none.
I came back to campus late Sunday evening and began packing for NPFL event on the St. John’s River while finalizing logistics for our team’s travel to Kentucky Lake and Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Once we arrive at Kentucky Lake, my job title will change to “mobile mechanic” and “personal chef.” All my colleagues and friends assume that this travel and gypsy lifestyle would be something that I dread. However, I feel beyond blessed to spend my time around a sport that I love so much.
After a busy October, the off-season work will begin. We finish our season on October 26th at Lake of the Ozarks and must have our plans for 2025 submitted by October 31st. Prior to that, it’s important to have the majority of your sponsor commitments in place. These conversations will continue taking place until the end of the year as we work to solicit new partnerships that will allow more stability of income. After sponsorship agreements are finalized, my attention turns to getting my 2025 boat rigged and set up properly. This includes copious amounts of tackle prep, organization, and other maintenance of equipment. This process can take a few weeks, but it saves immense amounts of time throughout the busy season by allowing you to know where your gear is stored.
Another part of life during the offseason is creating a media plan for the following year. A plan detailing social media content and goals has helped me maintain consistency with growing my following. I also enjoy taking health and fitness seriously in the offseason, as it can be very difficult to do so during the business of the travel season.
While this article has me looking ahead to what’s next, we still have a lot of unfinished business in the 2024 season. An Angler of the Year title is well within reach, and I’m excited to get to work at the St. Johns River.
Well, the truck repair has been completed, and we’re getting back on the road! Thanks for your time! Tight lines until next week!
