Entry 193-3
Learning the Bass-fishing Ropes with Jonny Schultz
Part 3: Johnny’s Life as a Fisherman
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 is Jonny’s goal?
Bob Schultz (Jonny’s dad): Jonny wants to be a professional bass fisherman, but he plans to attend college and study business and marketing. One day, he’d like to design lures for companies like Strike King.
Question: Where did Jonny get the enthusiasm for fishing, since you and his mother don’t fish?
Schultz: When Jonny was about 6-years old, we realized he had a real enthusiasm for nature. He liked bugs, frogs and all types of wildlife. When he started noticing fish, he wanted to know where the fish lived, what they ate, and what they did all day. He went fishing with one of his buddies, started studying fish and then began fishing on his own.Like a Labrador pup doesn’t have to be taught to swim, it’s just something the Labrador does, that’s the way Jonny took to fishing. It’s just something he does.
Question: What type of tournaments does Jonny fish?
Schultz: Jonny fishes about six Junior Bassmaster tournaments a year. He fishes on the Fishers of Men National Tournament trail because they have a junior division, and he fishes several open tournaments. Jonny’s been really lucky by making friends with some of the B.A.S.S. Federation fishermen, and they’ll take him with them to their tournaments.
Question: What does Jonny’s mom, Joy, think about his fishing career?
Schultz: She’s a school teacher, so she deals with kids every day. She and I both are very proud of Jonny. During the summer months, she takes Jonny to a lot of tournaments, seminars and fishing events. If Jonny were playing football, basketball or soccer, we’d be taking him to those practices and games. But since Jonny’s sport is bass fishing, we take him to tournaments. We never thought in a million years that our son would be a tournament bass fisherman, but we’ve really enjoyed being with him and watching him grow into the sport.
Next: The Man
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
