Wanna be a Pro Angler? It’s Not So Easy, Says Bassmaster Elite Angler David Walker

NORTH EAST, Md. — As Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat pro angler David Walker prepared for this weekend’s Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite tournament, which runs Thursday–Sunday on the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, he was reminded of a familiar refrain he often hears from fishing fans.

 

“Everyone always says, ‘Man, you’re so lucky, you get paid to fish,’ ” Walker said. “Well, what they don’t always consider is that we only get paid if we catch fish and catch more than half the other anglers out there who are trying real hard to do the same thing. It isn’t easy, trust me. It’s tough as nails out here.”

 

The brackish waters of the northern section of Chesapeake Bay can be tricky to fish, as anglers deal with the delicate balances between fresh and salt water and the sometimes extreme tidal patterns. Add in warm summer temperatures that can make bass sluggish, and nervousness begins to creep into even the most seasoned angler’s mind.

 

“Everyone’s been complaining about a light bite, which normally when you hear that you think people are sandbagging, but I think this time it may be true,” Walker said. “I can tell you my practice sessions have been very light as far as fish count goes.

 

“I’ll put it this way, it’s much easier to get fired up about a tournament when you know you’re going to catch a lot of fish. At least you’re out there doing something constructive, trying to get your total weight up. When you have a deal like this, you lay awake at night scared to death you’re gonna mess up and not even get a limit. It’s stressful.”

 

For now, Walker’s preliminary game plan is to hit the obvious spots, even though he expects those areas to be crowded.

 

“The Susquehanna River is the main waterway that pushes fresh water into the bay,” he said. “There also are a bunch of small creeks and streams that feed into the bay. Those areas tend to have flats with some aquatic grasses and the fish like that cover. The thing is, I’m last out (Thursday), so those areas might be beat up by the time I get there. We’ll have to see.

 

“I don’t have time for excuses. They won’t do me any good. I need to go out there and grind it out. I have two tournaments left, and I want to reach Saturday at the very least in both events. We’re all fishing under the same circumstances, so I’ll try my best to be one of the guys that gets paid to fish this weekend.”

 

Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. ET each day at Anchor Marina in East Community Park, located at 36 Iroquois Dr., North East, Md. ESPN2 will air highlights of the event at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 30.

Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat pro angler DavidWalker