Entry 193-1
Learning the Bass-fishing Ropes with Jonny Schultz
Part 1: Who Is Jonny Schultz?
Editor’s Note: The large crowd around the Hog Trough (a giant aquarium full of bass and crappie used for demonstrations at the Bassmaster Classic) was quiet as a 12-year-old young man stood on the podium not only demonstrated his casting ability, but also showed and explained how to fish many of the Strike King lures. From time to time, a bass would take his bait and he’d bring the fish to the surface where it would jump off the barbless hook. Very few bass pros command as much attention or as much interest as 12-year-old Jonny Schultz of West Bend, Wisconsin, and very few of them can express how to fish lures and catch bass as eloquently as Schultz. Like the others in the crowd, I was amazed at Jonny’s product knowledge, his fishing skill and ability and how his stage presence silenced a crowd of rowdy bass fishermen. As I shot photos, a man came up to me and asked, “What do you think?” I said, “I think he’s as much a pro as any of the contestants in the Bassmaster Classic.” Then I saw a big smile come over the man’s face as he announced, “That’s my son, Jonny.” This week, we’ll look at how Jonny Schultz learned to be a bass pro, and how a 12-year-old gets sponsors and learns how to teach fishing like anglers much older and with much-more experience than him do.
Question: When did Jonny start fishing tournaments?
Bob Schultz (Jonny’s dad): When Jonny was 8 years old, he won the Bassmaster CastingKids National Championship. During the Bassmaster Classic, he competed in the Junior World CastingKids Championship and finished 7th.
Question: What does Jonny do?
Schultz: Jonny works with ESPN on youth programs, he teaches at summer camps, and he’s been fortunate enough to work with several major manufacturers in the fishing-tackle industry. Jonny’s trying to get more kids involved in fishing. His goal is to spread the word about how much fun fishing can be for kids and adults.
Question: How many sponsors does Jonny have?
Schultz: Jonny has 11-different national sponsors and has been privileged to learn from and get to work with these sponsors. Jonny’s been on TV shows and has used that national recognition as a platform to speak and teach other kids. He teaches fishing seminars for young people as well as classes during the summer.
Question: How long has Jonny been fishing?
Schultz: He started fishing and competing in the Bassmaster CastingKids competition when he was 7-years-old, and he won it when he was 8-years-old, the same year he also started competing in tournaments. He’s been tournament fishing and conducting seminars for four years. He started doing seminars at the 2004 Bassmaster Classic.
Question: Do Jonny’s sponsors pay him for doing these seminars?
Schultz: No, they don’t pay him, but they cover his expenses, give him new products and teach him all the new technology coming out in tournament bass fishing. He loves to work shows, and he’ll work as hard as any tournament pro will.
Question: Where have you and Jonny been?
Schultz: We’ve been to the last five Bassmaster Classics, and we’ve done shows all over the South. Jonny’s been to several B.A.S.S. tour events, and he does seminars and classes all around the Midwest.
Next: The 12-Year-Old Bass Pro
Contents:
- Part 1: Who Is Jonny Schultz?
- Part 2: The 12-Year-Old Bass Pro
- Part 3: Johnny’s Life as a Fisherman
- Part 4: The Man
- Part 5: More about the Man
