Entry 193-2

Learning the Bass-fishing Ropes with Jonny Schultz

Part 2: The 12-Year-Old Bass Pro

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: What does Jonny think about being a bass pro at 12-years-old?

Bob Schultz (Jonny’s dad): The strange thing about Jonny being a bass pro is that my wife and I don’t fish. We don’t have a boat, and we’ve never had an interest in fishing until Jonny became interested in it. Jonny not only became fascinated with the fishing side of the sport, he also was attracted to the tournament-fishing aspect and the marketing of fishing products. He really loves the business of bass fishing. He studies hard about how to promote products and to learn how the products work, why they work, and what’s the best way to fish them. He understands what his sponsors expect of him just as if he’s was a major tournament pro.

Question: Who are Jonny’s heroes?

Schultz: The person he looks up to the most is Earl Bentz, the president of Triton boats. His fishing idols are Shaw Grigsby and Dion Hibdon, who both took Jonny under their wings when he first started fishing and continue to encourage and help him. Even today, Shaw Grigsby plays a major role in Jonny’s success. He’s appeared on Shaw’s TV show, “One More Cast,” and he’s also been on the Strike King “Pro Team Journal” TV show. Strike King takes really good care of Jonny.

Question: How did Jonny become involved with Strike King?

Schultz: Earl Bentz is good friends with Doug Minor, who’s the vice president of sales for Strike King. In 2003, Jonny laid out his deal to Doug about what he wanted to do, how he wanted to do it, and how Strike King could help him. I just kept my mouth shut and let Jonny do his own talking. He was able to explain what he felt he could do for Strike King, and what he’d like Strike King to do for him. When the meeting was over, Jonny became a Strike King pro.

Question: How many shows does Jonny do a year?

Schultz: Jonny does six or eight shows a year, including the Bassmaster Classic. He conducts seminars at Bass Pro Shops and other consumer shows, and he fishes about 20 tournaments a year. He also does three or four junior bass-fishing seminars and clinics a year. He’s really busy.

Question: How do you keep up with Jonny?

Schultz: We really don’t. My wife and I just carry him to where he has seminars and sit back and watch him do his thing. Jonny’s a good boy. He’s a straight-A student, and we have to give him very little guidance. He realizes that even at a young age, he has to act and be professional, if he’s in the public eye and promoting products for his sponsors. His mother and I are just his chaperones. We both like to travel, but since Jonny has become a professional fisherman, we’re traveling now more than we ever thought we would.

Question: Has Jonny taught you to fish?

Schultz: A little bit. I really enjoy being outside with Jonny, and I enjoy videoing him as he fishes. I’d rather watch Jonny fish than fish myself, so I ride along with him and video while he fishes. We have a great time together.

Learning the Bass-fishing Ropes with Jonny Schultz

Part 2: The 12-Year-Old Bass Pro

Next: Johnny’s Life as a Fisherman

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