Entry 76-4

Mark Davis - Do Or Die

Two More

Editor's Note: Thirty-nine-year-old Mark Davis, who has fished in 12 Bassmasters Classics, won the title of Angler of the Year three times and won the Bassmasters Classic in 1995. Davis has had 34 top 10 finishes and ranked third on the BASS circuit in 2003. Thirteenth in all-time career winnings on the BASS circuit, having won more than $800,000 fishing, Davis is a quiet, gentle man who competes fiercely once a tournament starts.

Question: Your life was pretty much on-course up until last year. You and Tilly had one son, James who was 12, your career as booming, and life was good. How did your life take a drastic turn last year?

Davis: We adopted twin infant boys, Hunter and Fisher. They needed a good home, and the opportunity came up for us to adopt them. We hadn't really planned on adopting two children, or actually adopting any children, for that matter. But the Good Lord knew that these boys needed a home. We couldn't think of a reason not to adopt them, and so we did. The boys are 21-months old now and have really brought so much joy into our lives as well as a whole new dimension. They have forever changed our lives. I guess Tilly and I never really know what's going to happen. We just deal with life as the Good Lord sends it, and He just seems to bless us in everything we do.

Question: Mark, what's in the future for you?

Davis: Well, I think I've already proven that no one really knows what's in the future. When I was guiding people crappie fishing, I never knew I could make a living as a fisherman. When I started fishing bass tournaments, I never knew that it would be more than a sport I would do when I wasn't guiding bass fishermen. When I became a professional fisherman, I never knew that my career would skyrocket in one year. Then when I really felt like I could earn a living as a professional fisherman, I never knew that in a very short time I'd be adopting two twin boys. But all the way through my life, the Good Lord has blessed me and given me tremendous opportunities. I'd like to fish professionally for at least an other 10 years. I'm 39 now in 2003, and I'd like to think I'll get off the road from fishing when I'm 50. But nowadays, quite a few fishermen are still competitive past the age of 50. So I really don't know at this point what will happen in the future.
 

© 1996-2008 Strike King Lure Company