Entry 284-2
How to Make Your Living as a Professional Fisherman with Mark Rose
Editor’s Note: Mark Rose of Marion, Arkansas, tournament fisherman and Strike King pro, has paid his dues to become a national bass-fishing pro. Andy Andrews, author of “The Seven Keys to Success,” explains that one of the most-important keys to succeed in any endeavor is to endure without ceasing. “If you can’t do something, and you keep trying, you’ll find a way to be successful that most people who quit before you never find,” Andrews explains. Rose believed in his ability to become a tournament fisherman, and even when sponsors and tournament winnings were scarce, he didn’t quit. This week, Rose will tell us what’s required to go from a wannabe to a national touring pro.
Part 2: Preparing to Become a Pro Fisherman
Question: Mark, what steps would you advise a young angler in a bass club to take to become a national pro?
Rose: I suggest first that he finish his education. To become a professional fisherman is as much about knowing how to manage a business and doing public relations as it is about catching bass. Then I recommend that the fisherman give himself at least 3 years to start becoming successful. I learned so much my first 3 years that I would have been afraid to quit, because after that third year, everything I’d learned began to pay off.
Question: After you’ve spent your time learning, how long before you feel like you’ve made it and can continue in this profession?
Rose: That’s a really-hard question.The really-talented professionals like Kevin VanDam make the jump from bass club to national pro quickly. Then sometimes people like me require a little more time to learn their skills and hone their craft. I’m not saying I’ve got it all together, and I have it made as a national pro. However, I do have a lot of confidence in my ability to find and catch bass. Even though I struggle in tournaments, I’ve learned how to not become depressed and be ready to fish the next tournament with a positive attitude. The only way I’ve learned this is by fishing a lot of tournaments and not doing well in them.
Some people think a really-rich guy can hire local pros to teach him how to catch bass on any lake he fishes, but that’s not true. If you want to be a pro fisherman, you have to invest the hours, the days and the weeks on the water in all types of weather conditions in all sections of the country to learn your craft. Too, you have to realize that some people really understand the out of doors and how fish react, move and change according to different conditions. These people usually have a natural talent for fishing. Other people may not have that inborn talent. So, natural talent plays a big role in how fast someone can learn to be a pro. But even if you’re really talented as a fisherman, there’s still an awful lot to learn.
Contents:
- Part 1: Getting Over the Hump
- Part 2: Preparing to Become a Pro Fisherman
- Part 3: Pick Your Mentor Carefully Because He Can Teach You Your Craft
- Part 4: How to Get Sponsors
- Part 5: How to Hold Them
