provided by John Phillips
Mossy Oak Fishing Pro Bill Lowen of Brookville, Indiana, finished 11th on the Bassmaster Elite Circuit in the Angler of the Year competition in the 2019 season, which qualified him for the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, the 2020 Bassmaster Classic, to be held March 6-8, in Birmingham, Alabama, and fished at Lake Guntersville, one of the nation’s top big-bass lakes.
Ever since I was a little boy, all I’ve wanted to do is fish in the Bassmaster Classic, and I’ve lived that dream 10 times already. So, I’m kind of over all the excitement and the thrill of being able to fish in it. What I want to do now is to win it. When you win the Classic, you’ve solidified your career, and that will put the icing on the cake for my chosen profession of bass fishing. My winning the Classic is more than just about me. If I win the Classic, it will mean so much to my family, friends, sponsors and everyone I’m connected with in the world of bass fishing. The $300,000 purse that goes to the Bassmaster Classic champion will pay a lot of bills and enable me to fish a lot longer.
One of the things I think many fishermen forget is how much money anglers spend to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series. I have a tremendous amount of expenses. I am very fortunate and blessed that my family gets to travel with me all over the country to the Bassmaster tournaments. We have an RV and camp out. Fishing tournaments is a lifestyle we enjoy. However, when you start factoring in fuel for the RV and boat and the expenses we have on the road and the expenses at home with our house and car payments, our expenses are extremely high. I know that before I make a cast with entry fees and all my other expenses, I need to make at least $75,000 per year to just break even. This is where your sponsors play a major role in your ability to continue as a tournament angler. I say that catching fish is only a tiny part of what I do to earn a living. I maintain good relationships with all my sponsors because they help and support me, and I don’t think I’d be able to continue to fish without them. Helping promote and sell your sponsors’ products is an important ingredient, when you’re trying to fish at the highest levels.
I’ve always had a lot of respect for people who have helped me not only in fishing but in learning about the outdoors. Had it not been for the people in the companies who have worked hard to not only preserve the outdoors for future generations, but also support people who work in the outdoors, and if I didn’t have sponsors like Mossy Oak, you probably wouldn’t be talking to me today. If you listen to Mossy Oak’s commercials, and you talk to their people, they always talk about giving back and making the outdoors a better place. Mossy Oak talks about passing on our heritage and love for all things wild and natural. Mossy Oak fits my family’s lifestyle. They embrace the same philosophy I do. I feel like I’m a part of everything good that Mossy Oak is doing. That company promotes the lifestyle I both live and love.
