Derek Hudnall Retires From BASS Elites

[fishballer06]

Derek Hudnall has announced his official retirement from professional bass fishing mid season. Derek was sitting 55th in points in the BASS Elites this year. He made the cut in 3 of the 5 events this season, and he even managed to take 5th place at Lake Seminole last season. Derek said that financial troubles were his reason for hanging it up. Best of luck in the future, Derek. 

 

https://www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/derek-hudnall-announces-retirement-from-elite-series/

[gim]

The reality with a lot of pro anglers is that the math just doesn't add up if you are solely trying to make it financially from this.  Sponsors, side businesses, and financial assistance is almost always needed to at least break even.  Very few can do it on their own and succeed.

[Choporoz]

I am surprised this was posted on Bassmaster.com.  There has been a lot of noise outside of official BASS/MLF channels about pro money, but for BASS to hang it out there that even a moderately successful angler at the highest level can't make it in this pay-to-play game is interesting 

[WRB]

Derek who? It’s time to know when to fold them.

Tom

[Pogues2300]

35 minutes ago, WRB said:

Derek who? It’s time to know when to fold them.

Tom

Never heard of him either but I do wish the pros made more money. Same thing for ufc fighters!

[fishballer06]

You must not follow the Elites too well. Derek has had a top 10 finish in each of his Elite seasons. He was definitely a good stick. 

[gim]

27 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

You must not follow the Elites too well. Derek has had a top 10 finish in each of his Elite seasons. He was definitely a good stick. 

 

I will admit I'm not that familiar with him either.  I know his name, but that's about it.

 

Even if you aren't familiar with him, the fact that he can do so well but still not be able to make it work from a financial stand point is the emphasis of this.

[GReb]

He’s a friend of a friend so I’ve been following him since he started fishing the Opens a decade ago. From all accounts he’s a good dude but he said in his Facebook video that the average performances each year led to sponsors cutting his pay. 
 

Also I believe he’s on Dunkin’s podcast this week or next if you are interested in hearing more. 

[volzfan59]

I hate it for Derek. Saw him at the 2019 Classic in Knoxville. Seems like a good guy.

[TnRiver46]

I took a full time job as a fishing guide when I was 23. Most people said “but there ain’t no money in it “

 

they were correct

 

not sure how this surprises everyone, maybe just that bad news sells better than good news 

 

I’ve seen Hudnall fishing the tour for a while, he’s pretty darned good 

[fishballer06]

18 hours ago, gimruis said:

Even if you aren't familiar with him, the fact that he can do so well but still not be able to make it work from a financial stand point is the emphasis of this.

 

This. 

 

Really makes me wonder how some of these guy manage it whenever they're only making the cut maybe 2-3 times in a season. 

 

An example. Frank Talley has been fishing the elites since 2019. Five events this year. Best finish is 52nd, with two finishes in the 90's. Only made $7500 this season. He won an event in 2020, and beside that he only has one top 10 finish. Entry fees alone for the Elites are about $4500 per event. 

[DaubsNU1]

@TnRiver46, a friend of a friend is a die-hard walleye fisherman, and deer hunter. He purchased a fishing lodge in Canada back in the late 1990's. I have fished there three times. That guy works HARD! Is on the water every day of the open fishing season. Runs a great fish camp, they put huge walleye in the boat day in and day out.

 

In the off-season he guides deer hunting trips in the States, and then hits all the outdoor shows through the winter. He really HUSTLES all year long to make ends meet. Does what he loves, but I don't think he's making a ton of money.

 

@fishballer06, It's got to be tough as a professional angler these days. I think first and foremost, you need to be a good businessman. Brother and I were working a local fishing swap meet here in Nebraska back in February. A local walleye pro had a table, was selling lures, and promoting his guide service. He was super outgoing, very friendly, and talking with everyone. This guy had won some world walleye tournament the year before.

[TOXIC]

Let’s face it, the next KVD, Clunn, Hackney, Reese, Klein, and so on….have to come from somewhere.  There is new blood coming into the tournament picture but the current economics don’t allow 5-10 years on tour to establish yourself and get enough paying sponsors to make it a break even career choice.  IMHO in the pursuit of members/followers/customers/competitors/sponsors the industry has diluted the available cash for “Professional” fishermen.  My personal opinion is that they need to condense the myriad of trails, set standards for what a “Professional” fisherman is by virtue of a standardized process other than just being able to mortgage your house and max out your credit cards to pay entry fees and finally get sponsors to fund more of the payouts so the anglers don’t.  We are indoctrinating kids into the promise of a career in fishing from high school to college and those who truly can progress to the professional level of the sport can’t make a living doing it.  Off soapbox….😛

[WRB]

The 1st B.A.S.S. Tournaments were open to anyone who paid the entry fee and had a bass boat. Partners were blind draw with 2 contestants sharing time in boat. Limits were 15 bass on a stringer, later changed to 10 in a livewell for 2 contestants. The term “Pro” wasn’t in play yet.

I thought about fishing B.A.S.S. tourney’s but realized to be competitive meant moving close to where the derbies were held and giving up my engineering career.

Guaranteed  income vs an ego trip with little money to off set the cost. Simple decision back then, take the bird in hand.

I don’t believe things have changed regarding earning a living bass fishing the odds are very slim vs a working career.

Derek made the right choices and realized he wasn’t going to earn enough money fishing.

Tom

[gim]

5 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

That guy works HARD!

 

The live bait business is no different and that's why it's a dying breed.  The bait shops nearest me are done.  They closed up last year.  One was there for almost 45 years.  It's a crap load of work on a seasonal basis for not much money.

 

Not for this guy

[fishballer06]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

The live bait business is no different and that's why it's a dying breed.  The bait shops nearest me are done.  They closed up last year.  One was there for almost 45 years.  It's a crap load of work on a seasonal basis for not much money.

 

Not for this guy

 

In my area, any store that has popped up over my lifetime that is a dedicated tackle/bait shop has never survived. Every shop that has stuck around and done well has another business that is part of the bait shop (gas station, gun shop, oil and furnace sales, etc). 

[gim]

2 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

In my area, any store that has popped up over my lifetime that is a dedicated tackle/bait shop has never survived.

 

There are a few survivors left here.  But none in my immediate "area."  Walleye fishing is more geared towards using live bait and walleye fishing is far more popular here than bass fishing is.  Most ice anglers in the winter also use live bait of some kind.

 

But to your point, I think its best to stay diversified.

[DaubsNU1]

@gimruis & @fishballer06, Brother and I have been taking my Dad to Lake Frances Case in South Dakota for a few years now. There is a local bait / tackle / eatery / fuel station right near the dam.

 

They were "self-service" minnows for many years...UNTIL last year. Owner felt some people were throwing in an extra scoop of minnows here and there...so he changed policy...no more self-service. Employee must scoop your minnows.

 

Owner was amazed how much more $$ earned after that change(!)

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, fishballer06 said:

Every shop that has stuck around and done well has another business that is part of the bait shop (gas station, gun shop, oil and furnace sales, etc). 

Two of the convenience stores around me try...small little corners with some cheap rigs (usually Daiwa D-Shock spinning combos) a few lures, some hooks and a fridge with worms, grubs and bagged minnows.

 

One is different - about 1/3 of the store is tackle and boat supplies. They have worms and grubs in a fridge...but 3 actual tanks for minnows and shiners instead of the bags of half-dead minnows.

 

Two local tackle shops don't bother to carry much in the way of live bait cause this BP station does such a good job of handling that part.