+1 Great book and really shows just how much can go into trying to keep things going while fishing on that level. My take is there isn't as many "freebies" as one would think from all the hype.

I spent from 2003 to 2006 fishing the BASS Tour then the Elites and I just flat didn't have the money to keep going, but here is my advice.

1. Fish as much as possible, fish as many lakes as possible so you can learn as much as you can about bass and their habits.

2. Save every dollar you can and when you're not fishing be working and save your money.

3. As your current age forget sponsors. Sponsors will come as you produce and develop as an angler.

4. When you approach a sponsor you ask for money. PERIOD. Free tackle and other products won't pay your bills.

I would go to a college with a fishing team and fish the opens in BASS and FLW as a co-angler. Fish as much as you can and as much as you can afford. Find a girl that will help, or has her own life and won't care that you are gone all the time, or avoid getting to attached to any of them. Become a pharmacist then start fishing the opens as a boater, make a lot of friends and connections in the industry. Qualify for the tour, get some sponsors, kiss up to them and every time you are on TV talk about them and how great they are (see Roland Martin). Catch a bunch of fish, make a lot of checks, win a few so you can get better sponsors and keep your wife/girlfriend or finally get one. Oh yeah, one more tip, as you are working your way up, always buy the best stuff, boats, reels, line, rods. Cheaper isn't really cheaper in the long run. Boat trouble will sink you, bad line will sink you. Learn everything you can about your graphs, engines, trolling motors. This may seem like a lot of work but when we are all out busting our humps all day at jobs we hate, you will be out doing what all of us wish we were doing.

Some good answers and some comical. I would suggest that you join a local bass club and join one that is affiliated with either FLW or BASS. I am in one that is with FLW and the TBF, every year they have a state qualifier event. They will take the top 12 to compete against the top 12 of other TBF state. TBF (The Bass Federation). I placed 6th and will be going to Missouri as a boater. The top 6 get to be boaters, if they prefer to take their own rig to the event the other 6 are classed as non-boaters. While competing your team is fishing to win the trophy for your state at the same time you are competing against the 12 in your team to place 1st or 2nd so you can advance to the next round. Brian Travis just won the last FLW event on Lake Norman he came up through the ranks this way and was 2008 TBF champion. And won the Living A Dream package sponsored by Chevy Trucks and Ranger Bass Boats. I would suggest that you go to the TBF web site and ck. it out. We have a youngster that is 17 and fished as a non-boater that made the team in 4th this is his second go round at qualifying. This might be the way to go and hope it helps. A college team is another! We have one of those that made the team as well. Good Luck & good fishing!

Give up everything else in life and just fish. Forgot video games, girls, drugs, everything else. Fish 24 x 7. Live with your parents till your 30 and you will make it.

Drugs

go fish a BASS open, then decide if you "got" th skills needed to compete at the pro level

Get a good source of income that does not require you to work everyday, allows u take vacation when you want and as much as you want. Its not easy and money plays a big part in it.

+1 on this, I had your dream when I was young and actually had tidecraft and some tackle companys on board back in the early 80s + I was single. The only thing that ended my dream was that my passion turned into a job and it was no fun with all the pressure to perform every time out. My hat is off to the guys that have made it and have slept many nights in their truck or van on 35 degree nights. Good luck on your dream though.

As a couple of others have said STAY IN SCHOOL go to a COLLEGE that has a good fishing program and get involved in a local Bass Club to improve your skills till then - Once you get to this level and you win tourys the sponsorships will come to you- KEEP AT IT & NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAM

Yes, there are plenty of clubs in the Killeen, Belton, Copperas Cove, Temple and Ft Hood area. Check out Texas Boat World web page for a few clubs and another is Texas Bass Anglers Club! Being a teen thou, I would recommend joining B A S S junior series Centex Bass Club adopted the junior club and they fish a championship every year if you qualify which for your age fish for cash prizes and scholarships.

As far as tournaments there is an open tournament every month on Stillhouse I believe is thrown together by centex or there is the Tuesday Night jackpot tourney.

I would recommend starting out with club tourneys thou, cost is alittle cheaper and I would say a better chance to win some small cash pots and get your experience up.

For opens you have to be pretty darn good to figure out fishing even on the crappiest days and out fish guys who have been fishing the lake for decades and do nothing but fish. Some of us have to work.

Working on this right now. Should be ready to go for the 2011 season!

Its all about the money! How much you got.Flw tour on the pro side did not fill last event.If you have about 6 grand to blow you can go pro Today

The regular entry fee.

+1