Entry 193-5

Learning the Bass-fishing Ropes with Jonny Schultz

Part 5: More about the Man

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.

Largemouth BassAfter Jonny finished his seminar, he came down off the stage where he’d been performing in front of hundreds of people, and Strike King talked with him.

Question: How did you learn about all the lures, rods, reels, boats and motors, and how did you learn how to fish each one of the Strike King baits?

Jonny Schultz: I read a lot of books and magazines about fishing, tournament fishing and how to catch bass. I bought and watched numbers of fishing videos, and I talked with many of the pros.

Question: How did you learn about all the Strike King lures, especially all the new products that many fishermen haven’t seen yet?

Jonny Schultz: I talked to a lot of fishermen about how they fished the lures. I talked to the Strike King Pros and the other Strike King employees to learn all I could about their baits and how to fish them.

Question: What does it mean to you to be a Strike King Junior Pro staff member?

Jonny Schultz: I think it’s really great, and being a Johnny SchultzStrike King Junior Pro staff member makes me feel really important.

Question: What do you want to do when you grow up, Jonny?

Jonny Schultz: I want to be a professional bass fisherman, and one day, be a Strike King national pro. I really love bass fishing and tournament fishing and doing seminars, and I hope to grow up to be able to do this for the rest of my life.
 

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