Entry 78-3

Shaw Grigsby, Jr.

Fishing With A Family

Editor's Note: Shaw Grigsby, Jr., a 47-year-old professional angler from Gainesville, Florida, has joined the One Million Dollar Club of professional fishermen on the BASS Circuit, after earning more than $1 million in tournament winnings. He has finished in the top 10 in 43 tournaments and ranks fourth in career winnings on the BASS circuit. He has a TV show and is always listed among the best of the best tournament bass fishermen.

Question: Shaw when did you get married?

Grigsby: I got married in 1980.

Question: What did your wife say when you told her you wanted to give up the life of a maggoteer for the uncertainty of being a professional bass fisherman?

Grigsby: Polly and I discussed what life would be like if I became a professional fisherman. I had received the Florida BASS Federation “Angler of the Year” award in 1979, and was fishing some regional tournaments with Bernie Schultz. In 1982 and 1983, Bernie and I fished the Hydrasport tournaments and had done fairly well on them. I told Polly I had been wanting to professional bass fish forever. By this time I was making $5000- to $10,000-each year in tournament fishing. With my tournament winnings and my job as a maggoteer, I bought a house and saved some money. When I had saved about $9,000 Polly said to me, "Why don't you give tournament bass fishing a try? You have enough money to stay out on the road for at least two years, even if you don't win." So, in September of 1984, I fished my first full season on the BASS circuit.




 

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