All Speakers

From successfully competing in club competition, to earning a spot on the Idaho State Team, to making it to the federation championship, securing a tour card by winning the whole thing and now, Angler of the Year 2017. After winning the Federation Nation National Championship he’s accumulated 15 top 10 finishes including four top 5 BASS Elite finishes in 2017 alone on the Bassmaster Elite Trails. He’s advanced to the Classic eight years in a row including a second place finish on Grand Lake in 2013. Brandon is an approachable “rising star” and an outstanding ambassador to the sport.

As a self-made angler and former United States Army Drill Sergeant he equally enjoys balancing the competition and the business sides of the bass community.

His 2013 season was the start of his career as a professional angler. Although his venture began later than some, James has accomplished many feats since he began at age 38.

From a B.A.S.S Open win to the Bassmaster Classic, Watson promotes fishing on a WORLDWIDE level. Additionally, James has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup and the Texas Toyota Bass Classic during his duration fishing the FLW Tour, FLW Costa Series, BASS Opens, P.A.A. and Major League Fishing. He has also competed as a member of the US Bass Team in the Black Bass Championships in 2017 in South Africa and 2018 in Mexico. Bringing home the gold medal with the team in 2018.

In 2018, he received the Forrest L. Wood Sportsmanship and Community Leadership Award per his involvement in FLW Community Outreach. He prides himself on his personality, often gaining him media attention, which positively promotes his sponsors. All eyes are watching where James “WORLDWIDE” Watson will go with his professional fishing career.

You can find James fishing Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour, FLW Costa’s as well as attending charity events when it fits his schedule.

When Jordan was ten years old he caught the fishing bug at his grandfather’s pond in his hometown of Cullman, Alabama, knowing at that moment he wanted to do this as his career. Years later, his parents saw a growing passion and bought him an aluminum boat to fish local tournaments. This passion has evolved into a very successful career for the now 27 year old. Fishing on Auburn University’s Team opened the doors and Jordan has taken full advantage of it. In 2014 he won the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Bracket Championship. As a pro, he has already collected 12 top 10 BASS Elite Trail finishes and fished the Bassmaster Classic 4 times, winning the world’s most coveted fishing tournament in Houston, TX (2017) and Greenville, SC (2018). He will now try to replicate these successes on the Major League Fishing Pro Tour Trail being launched in 2019. Jordan Lee is sponsored by A.R.E. Truck Caps, Lowrance Electronics, T-H Marine, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Plano, Ranger Boats, Carhartt, Yakima, Native Watercraft, and Mossy Oak.

Since catching his first smallmouth bass in 1994, he has caught and released 22,500. His focus has been on the big waters of Green Bay in and around Sturgeon Bay, along with rivers and streams throughout Wisconsin. Bill’s popular talks at sports shows and fishing events have turned thousands onto the tremendous opportunities and excitement of fishing for smallmouth bass on lakes and rivers. Catching and releasing smallmouth bass and sharing his recipe for success has become a passion for him. Bill’s appearance is sponsored by St. Croix Rods and Jackson Kayak.

While you may see other kids after school sitting at home on electronics, you can find Carter fishing at neighborhood ponds, tuning in his techniques for the next tournament. Carter’s favorite techniques are flipping and frogging, but he has a wide skill set that is crucial in winning tournaments. In Carter’s 4 years of tournament fishing he has had 14 top 3 finishes in local, BASS, and FLW tournaments as well as qualifying for the past two years for the Bassmaster Junior National Championship where he placed 1st last summer in 2018. While only being a freshman, Carter has competed in local adult tournaments and has won a handful. When Carter isn’t fishing, he is hunting, wrestling, mountain biking, snowboarding or working on his Eagle project for Boy Scouts.

Cheryl is a USCG Licensed Master Captain, has fished local bass tournaments on the Fox Chain O’ Lakes, is an outdoor writer and a regular contributor on Chauncey’s Great Outdoors on ESPN Radio AM 1000. Her passion for fishing and dedication to the industry has gained her much respect. It is apparent through her enthusiasm that she truly loves teaching others.

He founded Ripple Guide Service in 1999 to give fishermen an unforgettable experience and is the only full-time fly fishing guide on the St. Joe system. He guides the rivers of Indiana, Michigan, and Montana for steelhead, salmon, trout, smallmouth bass, pike, and just about anything else that swims. Dustan has also spoken to fly fishing clubs from Tennessee to California. When not on the river, he can be found fishing with his children or designing new flies for the fish he loves to fool.

Geri began her pursuit of southern Rockies trout while living in Taos, New Mexico, and ten years later (2006) she and her husband moved to the Midwest to open a fly shop and guide service. She co-owns the Driftless Angler in Viroqua Wi, and is currently a guide there. Geri is fiercely committed to not only bringing more women into the sport of fly fishing, but also to supporting other female professionals in the fly fishing industry. Geri started Athena & Artemis Women’s Fly Shop in 2015, and is fully committed to encouraging all women to engage in the sport of fishing, both fly and conventional.

Jeff is the founder and President of a non-profit kids fishing tournament called Tomorrows Anglers. Tomorrows Anglers fishing tournament was just broadcast nationally with MidWest Outdoors. Jeff is an Outdoors writer for Badger Sportsman’s Magazine, his articles on walleye fishing the Bay of Green Bay can be read from March through August issues.

Jeff’s sponsors include: Mercury Marine, Starcraft, SkipperBuds, Humminbird, Minn Kota, and Churches Tackle Co.

Jeff has been an avid fisherman his whole life, even spending 6 years as a first mate on a lake Michigan charter boat during the 1980’s. Since his early teenage years, Jeff has been primarily focusing on Walleye fishing leading up to his present guide service. As well as his guide service, Jeff has created a tackle company called Team-Outdoors, where he has designed his own unique fishing products. Jeff and his wife Karen who is a chef, have a an All-Inclusive service which offers first class fishing charters with lodging and gourmet meals at their Green Bay location.

He has fished many FLW events including BFLs, EverStart Series and a few FLW events from New York to Tennessee and thru the upper Midwest Great Lakes areas. His specialty is SMALLMOUTH BASS and the Great Lakes. He has also fished many B.A.S.S. events in the Midwest Great Lake Region, from Pro-Am events to Team events at home on Lake Michigan to Sturgeon Bay and Lake St Clair in Michigan. A few of his accomplishments and sponsors are below.

Tournaments Accomplishments

3-Time REDMAN Regional Qualifier(1996-2001)

5-Top 10 REDMAN finishes including 2 Wins

BFL Lake St Clair 1st Place(2001)

Big Bass BFL Regional-Lake Chautauqua NY(2001)

BFL Bay of St Louis 1st Place(2003)

Big Bass 2003 BFL-Gulf Coast Division

EVERSTART Championship Qualifier(2003-2004-2005)

Chicagoland Classic Champion(2003)

Chicagoland Classic Big Bass(2003)

Big Bass Mid-West Sportsman Classic-Kentucky Lake(2000)

Mid-West Sportsman Champion-Lake Michigan Division(2001-2002)

B.A.S.S. Federation IL Calumet River Open 1st Place(2005)

B.A.S.S. Federation IL Calumet River Open 2nd Place(2007)

Sturgeon Bay Open 5th Place(2005)

Sturgeon Bay Open Big Bass(2007)

US Anglers Choice Southern Lake Michigan 1st Place(2011)

US Anglers Choice Southern Lake Michigan 1st Place(2012)

Anglers Dream Championship 1st Place Lake St Clair(2013)

Anglers Dream Team of the Year(2007-2008-2013-2015-2016-2019)

Anglers Dream Championship 3rd Place Lake St Clair(2015)

B.A.S.S. Federation TEAM Calumet River 1st Place(2015)

Breast Cancer Open Lake Calumet 1st Place(2016)

BASS NATION 1st Place(Big Green Lake) 2018

FLW winnings over $28,000

B.A.S.S. winnings over $10,000

Pro-Am and Team Events over $50,000

SPONSORS

VEXUS BOATS – 2019/Present

LEE’s Global Tackle – 2009/Present

DEM JIGS – 2015/Present

G Loomis/Shimano – 2011/Present

MERCURY Outboards – 2015/Present

DOU Realis – 2016/Present

Ranger Boats – 2001/2019

BAG-EM – 1998/2005

CASTAWAY RODS – 1996/2009

Jerry is a competitive Pro Series trout and salmon tournament angler on the western shores of Lake Michigan. Jerry and his team are consistent finishers in the top 5 boats, with several first place pay checks to their credit.

Capt. Jerry was also been named Kenosha Sportfishing’s “Angler Of The Year” in 2016, 2017, 2018. He also is a five time Kenosha Sportfishing’s “Big Fish” award recipient.

Capt. Jerry is the creator and instructor of the trout and salmon school “Top to Bottom”. This unique school give his students classroom instruction as well as on the water instruction aboard the “RESOLUTE”.

Jerry is a past IGFA World Record holder in the 4# test line class with a 15lb. 12oz. Walleye caught in the Wisconsin River.

Capt. Jerry is a Pro Staff member and sponsored by; Grandt Rods, Yellowbird Fishimg Products, FireFlies Wi., Finn Tackle, Dreamweaver Tackle, Bloodline Tackle Co., Silver Horde/Gold Star, Lake County Watersports, Outdoors With Jerry and Nick Radio, Boathouse Pub and Eatery, The Lettering Machine Embroidery and Screenprinting.

Follow Capt. Jerry on Facebook under Jerry Costabile and JLC Outdoors. www.resolutecharters.com

Joe’s home water is now Lake of the Woods, which he has fished for over 25 years.

Professionally, Joe has enjoyed a variety of executive leadership positions, is an outdoor communicator and a media member of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. His professional background combined with his many fishing credentials lead him to his current role, Executive Director of Tourism for Lake of the Woods.

Joe works closely with 60 resorts, area guides, and a number of stakeholders in the outdoor industry. He is an active writer, appears in outdoor TV shows, produces outdoor videos, digital media and speaks about fishing and the outdoors across the Midwest.

In 2010, he combined his passions of programming and fly fishing by programming a ‘web based, page turning’ app to display an online magazine called a Tight Loop Magazine. Today, Kurt is the Editor of a Tight Loop. As a Midwesterner through and through, Kurt believes the Midwest offers some of the best fishing in the world. The goal of a Tight Loop is to showcase the Midwest fishery. When not working to promote the region’s fisheries, you can find Kurt stomping, rowing or laughing on a local smallmouth stream or chasing fish in Lake Michigan on a fly.

The Captain has fished muskies and been successful from East of Montreal to Winnipeg. He has had many tournament wins . He specializes in casting, jigging and trolling for big Muskies on LK. St. Clair and connecting rivers. 26 years of addictive Musky fishing behavior gives him a unique outlook on tactics that will help any angler in the pursuit of giant fish in LSC or his local lakes.

Mike eventually moved back to Indiana where he graduated from Brownsburg High School and then immediately enlisted in the Navy.

After serving in the Navy, Mike moved back to Brownsburg where he began his career in law enforcement by becoming a Reserve Officer. Over the next 27 years Mike held every sworn rank at the department including Shift Supervisor, Training Officer, Swat Commander, Undercover Operations, Crime Scene Investigator, Detective, and Assistant Chief of Police until he was appointed Chief of Police in 2010. During Mike’s career he had extensive training in a variety of specialized law enforcement including Tactical Command, Special Weapons and Tactics, Certified Crime Scene Investigator, Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, Advanced Incident Command, and graduated from the 223rd Session of the FBI Academy.

Throughout Mike’s law enforcement career he continued to fuel his passion of fishing by competing in Bass Tournaments across the United States while building relationships in the industry. Since Mike’s retirement in 2016 he has been actively involved in the fishing and consulting industry. Mike ceased the opportunity to begin the Hero Getaway in 2012 to give back to the police officer, firefighter, and veteran community. Since retiring Mike has fished the Bassmaster Opens, Costa Series and is now going to fish the Champions Tour.

Rob appears frequently on the John Gillespie Show, speaks to fishing clubs and at shows around the Midwest, and also runs several local fishing events in my area. When not fishing multi species, with his focus on smallmouth bass, walleye, and his favorite, the musky, you’ll find Rob out in the Western states chasing elk, mule deer, or antelope.

Steve is co-owner of the University of Esox Musky Schools and conducts seminars for sport shows and fishing clubs throughout the Midwest. Each year he serves as the master of ceremonies for the National Championship Musky Open, the largest musky tournament in the world.

He is the lead presenter at the first-ever college musky fishing course ever conducted at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Steve has written, edited or contributed to 25 books about musky fishing and has produced five musky fishing DVDs.