Tournament anglers are professionals who are on the water even when it's raining buckets, the wind is kicking up six-foot waves and the temperature is hovering in the 30s. They keep pounding the water even when the fish aren't biting. They're up before dawn getting ready to fish and up half the night nursing broken equipment and stringing fresh line. All most of us see is the moment when an angler walks on stage, weighs a big basket of fish and holds up a fat check in front of thousands of cheering fans. Anyone looking to get a taste of what tournament fishing is like might want to enter a pro-am event as an amateur.
Most tournaments now offer pro-ams.
Spending a day in a professional's boat, you'll learn more about fishing than you could in an entire summer by yourself. You'll enjoy the excitement of competition and maybe even win some cash or merchandise prizes. You'll also get an idea of what it takes to become a professional fisherman. Kris' Kitchen . Outdoor Secrets .