JUSTIN KIMMEL
Name: Justin Kimmel
Date of birth: September 22, 1986
Hometown: Athens, Georgia
Family: Kathryn (wife) and three children
Nickname: “Kimmy”
Home water: Lake Oconee, Georgia
Favorite water: Lake Hartwell, Georgia-South Carolina
First tournament: 14 years old
NPFL debut: 2022 — 24th at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky
Sponsors: Lures & Lead; Clutch Swimbait Co.; Barnett Southern; Kimmel Design; Kissel Krafts Custom Rods; Sonar Pros; Cowart Tree Service; Drew Cook Fishing
First fish: Age 4 — bluegill
First bass: Largemouth at age 6 from a strip pit in Kentucky
Biggest bass: 12-02 largemouth from a small lake in Monroe, Georgia on a Zoom Speed Worm (junebug)
Favorite lure: Clutch Darter Glide Bait (Bone)
Fishing strength: Scrambling
Fishing weakness: Trusting my gut
Fishing hero: Uncle Mike Neal
Fishing goals: Win a shield — an NPFL tournament or Progressive Angler of the Year
Best fishing advice: Start with small tournaments and use your success to take you to the next level. Lean on your own abilities rather than the latest, hottest new thing.
Off-the-water work: I’m a fishing entrepreneur. I work with Clutch Swimbaits and Lures and Lead.
Hobbies: Dating my wife, activities with our kids, play guitar and sing
Favorite movie: “Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
Favorite music: Chris Stapleton
Superstitions: No bananas in the boat
