Met My First Pro

[buzzfrog]

Came home from class early and noticed a big Livingston boat and matching car coming up beside me,  I thought I knew who it was but I followed it and about a half mile from my house he stops at a garage. It was Hank Cherry, got to meet and talk to him, great guy. I found out he lives in Maiden NC. never much noticed were elites were from, but pretty cool.

[livetofish28]

That's pretty awesome I wish I had something like that happen to me

[CDMeyer]

Meet him back stage at a Elite event Incredible Angler

[buzzfrog]

yea he musta been fishing normal cause I live off of 321, and he was pulling up the exit as he got in lane beside me. I have met a lotta metal bands and you always get that the fear there are gonna be pompas @ssholes, well he was just as normal as you and me, I wrote on his FB wall about meeting him and he wrote back in a few minutes saying it was a pleasure, that again made my day, stand up man. Not saying hat because he lives about 20 mins from me, but in his interviews and in product videos, he seems real, not a salesman but like he truly believes in his product and in his religion

[cast_and_destroy]

That is one thing I like about professional anglers, a lot of them are down to earth and nice guys.

I remember meeting Alton Jones at a bass pro shop and he couldn't be more friendly.

[buzzfrog]

now  I feel like a dumb@ss though, I mentioned cashion rods and I love them, he smiled and chuckled, I know find out he is sponsored by Denali, jeez feel like a doophus

[dwtaylor]

I agree Alton is a class act. I have had the opportunity to marshal the last two elite events on the Mississippi river and I have talked with many guys. This year, I found it really cool to have my day 1 pro last year, Grant Goldbeck approach me and ask how I was. I talked to him again at each day's weigh in and he is probably the most approachable guy on tour.

Pete Ponds is another awesome guy. I rode with him on day 1 this year and spoke with him the next two days.

[TNBassin']

Had a chance to meet a few pros. KVD, Timmy Horton, and Rick Clunn. Pretty coo.

[AJMichigan]

My grandfather once met Bill Dance in Tennessee. He has a picture with him somewhere.

[buzzfrog]

Nice, I stood next to the g man and ish at an nc open, they were busey and didn't seem to be in meetin mood. They crow sucked as well since it wasn't an elite deal. There was about 7 elites there though

[Downeaster2010]

Being an oldtimer,   I also met some old time big bass pro's like Ricky Green, Tommy Martin, and actually fished

with Roland Martin and Green.  Some of them are a blast to fish with and have some good stories.

[Sam]

I have met many pros. Only two were not very nice but one has to understand the circumstances surrounding the situation.

 

Situation 1

Fishing the Chickahominy River for fun a few days before the Northern Open out of Richmond. Jamie Fralick came into the creek we were fishing and we said hello as he passed by and he gave us a snub. As he was passing I caught a small bass and made sure he saw it. He was out scouting for the tournament so I understood why he was not in a good mood.

 

Situation 2

I was helping with that Northern Open and we had just had one heck of a thunderstorm at the end of the event. Greg Hackney came through the line and he was not in a good mood. Never smiled or said thank you.

 

At the same event Ike was the perfect gentleman and would talk with the fans, sign autographs and have photos taken with you.

 

Boyd Duckett was very nice at the ramp where we launched onto the Chick and we saw him again in the grass fishing a creek and he waived at us.

 

The pros at the old Bassmasters Universities were great. Everyone. Not one loser in the group of over 20 I had the privilege of listening to their presentations.

 

All the pros I met at the Pittsburgh Classis were super. Friendly and easy to speak with.

 

The pros who attend the Richmond Fishing Expo are excellent ambassadors. Even good ole Woo Daves will speak to you as he walks around our Ashland Bass Pro Shop and give you helpful suggestions. VanDam autographed one of his books for me at a Richmond Expo and even Denny Brauer, the old goat, was friendly when I spoke to him at the Susquehanna Tackle Shop booth.

 

Hank Parker was keeping us laughing at his stories at the last Boy Scout Jamboree I worked for Pure Fishing. And Bradley Roy was also very nice and acted like a pro at all times.

 

Interesting to read if you all have some good stories about meeting your first pros.

[Brian Needham]

first time I met Mark Rose. I saw him in BPS...... I really didn't figure it was him so I said, "man you ever get told you look just like Mark Rose." He said , "that's cause I am ."

 

seen him a few times since at kids baseball games and such, he is really a family guy.

[LApanic]

That is one thing I like about professional anglers, a lot of them are down to earth and nice guys.

I remember meeting Alton Jones at a bass pro shop and he couldn't be more friendly.

Agreed!  Met Chris Lane, January 2013 at Guntersville Baptist Church.  My grandad is a pastor there and introduced me to him dressed in his Sunday's best.  we had a nice chat and talked about how he really enjoys fishing one of local lakes, Lake Seminole.  Pretty cool to see Chris out of the spotlight, dressed up and walking into the church service

[Bluebasser86]

I run into Brent Chapman pretty often at the local Cabela's or BPS shopping with his family or on the water at his home lake. Great guy and you'd never know he was anything other than just another Joe out there from the way he acts.