I was born in Athens, Texas in 1974. I grew up mainly in the Dallas area where fishing became a very important part of my life. When most kids were playing video games and trying to get to the next level of Super Mario Brothers, I was
out fishing. Back then, it really didn’t matter what kind of fish it was, as long as it was tugging on my line. I fished
that way all the way up until high school, when I moved to Florida. It was there that I really took to bass fishing. I would
go to school in the morning, and because I had a short schedule, it allowed me to work a night shift at a local paint
shop and fish during the day in the Everglades or the many ponds and lakes around town. I fished my first tournament
when I was seventeen with a local bass club, The Glade Bass Master. Although I didn’t do too well, I was hooked. It
was the competitive rush I had been looking for, not to mention I was completely passionate for the sport of bass
fishing. I will never forget; I was reading an issue of Bass Master Magazine in which was an article about professional
bass fishing professional and the money these guys and gals were taking home doing what they loved to do. It was at
that moment that I knew what I wanted to do with my life.
I moved back to Texas were I met my best friend and wife, Melanie Long. She has brought so much success to our
team and our family through raising our two wonderful children, Jared and Kearstin, to being a full time house wife,
being the bookkeeper of our small business, and being the smarter side of me. Melanie has helped make me be all I
can be.
Over the years, I have been able to develop the skill and patience needed to have great success, and I owe a lot of
that to the East B.A.S.S. Federation for helping me pave the way. I have also been fortunate enough to acquire a
great team of sponsors that have made it possible for me to carry out my quest as a pro fisherman.
I currently live in Longview, Texas, which has been my home since 1998. The fishing around the east Texas area is
second to none, which makes living in Longview even better. I love life and I 'am so thankful to have the opportunity to pursue my dreams.
Hometown: Longview Texas.
Born:11/7/74
Family: wife, Melanie, son Jared, daughter Kearstin
I was born in Athens, Texas in 1974. I grew up mainly in the Dallas area where fishing became a very important part of my life. When most kids were playing video games and trying to get to the next level of Super Mario Brothers, I was
out fishing. Back then, it really didn’t matter what kind of fish it was, as long as it was tugging on my line. I fished
that way all the way up until high school, when I moved to Florida. It was there that I really took to bass fishing. I would
go to school in the morning, and because I had a short schedule, it allowed me to work a night shift at a local paint
shop and fish during the day in the Everglades or the many ponds and lakes around town. I fished my first tournament
when I was seventeen with a local bass club, The Glade Bass Master. Although I didn’t do too well, I was hooked. It
was the competitive rush I had been looking for, not to mention I was completely passionate for the sport of bass
fishing. I will never forget; I was reading an issue of Bass Master Magazine in which was an article about professional
bass fishing professional and the money these guys and gals were taking home doing what they loved to do. It was at
that moment that I knew what I wanted to do with my life.