MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. — Justin Atkins’ path to a career in bass fishing doesn’t start with his first cast as a member of the Mississippi State Bulldogs fishing team in 2013, but instead five years prior as a bass fishing addict in Columbus, Miss. Now, the recent graduate is living the dream as a manager at a lure company founded by Bassmaster Elite Series pro Timmy Horton.
Atkins enrolled at East Mississippi Community College in 2008 and during his two years there, Atkins fished the Weekend Series as a co-angler. In 2009, he cashed in $50,000 when he was crowned the Co-Angler Weekend Series Champion after winning by almost 3 1/2 pounds on Lake Dardanelle.
After graduating in spring 2010, he devoted himself to the front of the boat and competed in numerous trails both regionally and nationally. After his 2012 season of BFLs and regional events, Atkins decided it was do-or-die time and he needed to finish his degree. In comes college fishing.
“After fishing on my own, I had an appreciation for what B.A.S.S. does for college anglers,” Atkins said. “Those are the best tournaments I’ve ever fished and the people who run them are great. It is the closest thing to an Elite event without actually being in the Elites.”
In 2013, Atkins began fishing the college ranks and became a part of something that was gaining momentum and publicity. While fishing the College B.A.S.S. series, Atkins fished from lakes in Florida to clear water reservoirs in Georgia and many of the Tennessee River impoundments. Atkins wasn’t competing for just self-satisfaction, though.
“College fishing creates a pride in your team and your school, a drive to a whole other level to perform well,” he said. “When I fished for Mississippi State, I wasn’t just grinding out there for Justin Atkins. I was grinding out there for Justin Atkins and the Bulldogs.”
His work ethic on the water opened up opportunities in the fishing industry where Atkins could set up a promising career. After finishing school at Mississippi State, Atkins put his extensive fishing knowledge and his prior connections to good use as he landed a position with the lure company Profound Outdoors, which has been running for roughly two years now.
When Atkins accepted the position of operations manager at the Muscle Shoals-based company, it was probably one of the easiest decisions he has made both geographically and for career enjoyment.
Muscle Shoals is a great place for Atkins because it graces the shores of Pickwick Lake, a place he invested countless hours on to figure out how to be a better angler. He grew up less than two hours from the Tennessee River lake while living in Columbus, and with any opportunity, he was on the water learning and fine-tuning skills that would pay off in the future.
“Growing up, Pickwick was such a different beast from where I grew up fishing,” said Atkins. “Fishing offshore is something I didn’t get to practice at home, so I spent every free weekend since I was able to drive on Pickwick.”
Atkins ended his final year of college fishing with two opportunities at taming Pickwick and taking home a title of some sort. In May 2014, he and partner Grant Galloway finished sixth place out of 158 boats. One month later, Atkins and Joe Marty fished the College B.A.S.S. Wildcard on Pickwick to simply try to win. They had already qualified for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, but this event gave Atkins the opportunity to just see how he could compete on a body of water he had invested years to figure out. Atkins and Marty placed third in the 100-plus-team field.
“College fishing gives people opportunities to compete at a level at which they may not have tried to compete,” said Atkins. “Your club can set up fundraisers and everyone can make money to go toward travel. Anglers don’t always have to foot the bill on their own. It’s a really unique experience.”
He now takes his work ethic to an innovative company that features pro anglers that design baits they want to use day in and day out.
“What makes Profound unique is that Timmy Horton started it and owns it,” said Atkins. “With the help of a group of pro anglers he trusts, they have come together to design their own baits. It’s a different dynamic when the other designers in the room are people who are on the water throwing those baits every day.”
Horton’s partner, Tony Jones, said he believes Atkins has every skill needed to succeed in the fishing industry, whichever route he chooses.
“Justin has a very good character for a young guy,” said Jones. “He is very honest, upfront and truthful. Those kinds of characteristics are hard to find these days.
“You can tell when there is an order, whether this person knows fishing by what they order and how they order it,” said Jones. “Justin, with his knowledge, can assist customers who may lack in experience or may not know what to ask for. He is an asset to us.”
Atkins has taken the skills learned from college fishing, both on and off the water, and has numerous opportunities available to him. Atkins and his partner, Drew Long, recently qualified for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville via the tough Alabama Bass Trail, where they had placed fourth in the Anglers of the Year standings.
Atkins said he hopes for an opportunity to fish the Bassmaster Opens and other national events in the coming years.
