20 Questions with Ott DeFoe

He's been Rookie of the Year, nearly won AOY in 2012 and won the very first All-Star Week competition, but 20 Questions is where you'll get to know Tennessee's Ott DeFoe.

<p>Ott DeFoe was the 2011 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, finished second in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race in 2012 and won the inaugural All-Star Week competition. All that's impressive, but it doesn't tell you as much about him as our 20 Questions.</p>
Ott DeFoe was the 2011 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, finished second in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race in 2012 and won the inaugural All-Star Week competition. All that’s impressive, but it doesn’t tell you as much about him as our 20 Questions.
<p><strong>1. Where were you born and raised?</strong></p>
<p>Knoxville, Tenn.</p>
1. Where were you born and raised?
Knoxville, Tenn.
<p><strong>2. How did you get started in bass fishing?</strong></p>
<p>I always watched "The Bassmasters" on TV when I was growing up. When I was nine years old, my family went to the Bassmaster Classic, and about a month later we took a trip to Lake Okeechobee. My parents hired a guide and I caught a bunch of big ol' bass and was hooked at the ripe old age of nine.</p>
2. How did you get started in bass fishing?
I always watched “The Bassmasters” on TV when I was growing up. When I was nine years old, my family went to the Bassmaster Classic, and about a month later we took a trip to Lake Okeechobee. My parents hired a guide and I caught a bunch of big ol’ bass and was hooked at the ripe old age of nine.
<p><strong>3. Your real name is Arthur. How did you get the nickname "Ott"?</strong></p>
<p>My dad's uncle was also an Arthur, and he went by "Ott." Since I had the same first name, they gave me the same nickname. It doesn't stand for "otter" or anything like that. It's just a nickname.</p>
3. Your real name is Arthur. How did you get the nickname “Ott”?
My dad’s uncle was also an Arthur, and he went by “Ott.” Since I had the same first name, they gave me the same nickname. It doesn’t stand for “otter” or anything like that. It’s just a nickname.
<p><strong>4. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes?</strong></p>
<p>Hank Parker and Jay Yelas. They were really good and have the kind of values I admire.</p>
4. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes?
Hank Parker and Jay Yelas. They were really good and have the kind of values I admire.
<p><strong>5. What's the biggest bass you've ever caught?</strong></p>
<p>I caught a 10-9 in a Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Toho in 2011. Charlie Hartley had a 10-10 that day, so I didn't get big fish. My bag for the day weighed 29-11. It was my best to that point, but only fifth biggest that day. Since then I had a 30-15 at Lake Falcon.</p>
5. What’s the biggest bass you’ve ever caught?
I caught a 10-9 in a Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Toho in 2011. Charlie Hartley had a 10-10 that day, so I didn’t get big fish. My bag for the day weighed 29-11. It was my best to that point, but only fifth biggest that day. Since then I had a 30-15 at Lake Falcon.
<p><strong>6. What do you love most about bass fishing?</strong></p>
<p>I love the competition. Growing up, I wasn't very good at other sports so bass fishing gave me a way to be competitive. I've also always loved being outdoors.</p>
6. What do you love most about bass fishing?
I love the competition. Growing up, I wasn’t very good at other sports so bass fishing gave me a way to be competitive. I’ve also always loved being outdoors.
<p><strong>7. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why?</strong></p>
<p>My favorite tournament water is Santee Cooper in South Carolina. I got my first big tournament win there and have probably caught more seven pound bass there than anywhere else. For fun fishing, I love the Holston River in Tennessee. It's close to home, secluded and full of smallmouth bass. I hope to live on it one day.</p>
7. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why?
My favorite tournament water is Santee Cooper in South Carolina. I got my first big tournament win there and have probably caught more seven pound bass there than anywhere else. For fun fishing, I love the Holston River in Tennessee. It’s close to home, secluded and full of smallmouth bass. I hope to live on it one day.
<p><strong>8. Who has been the biggest influence on your fishing or fishing career?</strong></p>
<p>I learned the most from my friend Jason Nichols. We fished together a lot growing up and still get on the water together occasionally. We fished in a club together, and he fished some Bassmaster Invitationals and Top 150s in the late 1990s and early 2000s.</p>
8. Who has been the biggest influence on your fishing or fishing career?
I learned the most from my friend Jason Nichols. We fished together a lot growing up and still get on the water together occasionally. We fished in a club together, and he fished some Bassmaster Invitationals and Top 150s in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
<p><strong>9. When did you realize you had "made it" in the bass fishing industry?</strong></p>
<p>I feel like I'm on the edge of making it now. Winning the 2011 All-Star Week competition was a big boost to my career and really helped to solidify my relationship with sponsors. Things are coming together now. I'd love to win a Bassmaster Classic or AOY!</p>
9. When did you realize you had “made it” in the bass fishing industry?
I feel like I’m on the edge of making it now. Winning the 2011 All-Star Week competition was a big boost to my career and really helped to solidify my relationship with sponsors. Things are coming together now. I’d love to win a Bassmaster Classic or AOY!
<p><strong>10. What is the biggest challenge you've faced in your career?</strong></p>
<p>At the beginning, my biggest challenge was financial. How can I get to the next tournament and pay my next deposit? Until you've had some success and build some relationships, you don't have a platform that will help you support your sponsors.</p>
10. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
At the beginning, my biggest challenge was financial. How can I get to the next tournament and pay my next deposit? Until you’ve had some success and build some relationships, you don’t have a platform that will help you support your sponsors.
<p><strong>11. What is the biggest misconception people have about you?</strong></p>
<p>It's actually a misconception they seem to have about all anglers. They seem to think our lifestyle is easy and carefree —that we just show up and go fishing. They don't realize the hours we put in, the time we spend on the road, the expenses we have. All that said, though, there's nothing else I'd rather do.</p>
11. What is the biggest misconception people have about you?
It’s actually a misconception they seem to have about all anglers. They seem to think our lifestyle is easy and carefree —that we just show up and go fishing. They don’t realize the hours we put in, the time we spend on the road, the expenses we have. All that said, though, there’s nothing else I’d rather do.
<p><strong>12. If you could do one thing over in your career, what would it be?</strong></p>
<p>I wish I had tried to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series sooner.</p>
12. If you could do one thing over in your career, what would it be?
I wish I had tried to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series sooner.
<p><strong>13. What is the best advice you ever received in your career?</strong></p>
<p>Mark Rose told me to leave it all up to God and to fish to the best of my abilities.</p>
13. What is the best advice you ever received in your career?
Mark Rose told me to leave it all up to God and to fish to the best of my abilities.
<p><strong>14. What is the biggest lesson you've learned in your career?</strong></p>
<p>You never know when you're going to have a good tournament. I used to hate fishing up North, but last year that's where I had my two best finishes. This year I expected to do well on the Alabama River, but I didn't. Looking at the schedule doesn't tell you anything about how you're going to do.</p>
14. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
You never know when you’re going to have a good tournament. I used to hate fishing up North, but last year that’s where I had my two best finishes. This year I expected to do well on the Alabama River, but I didn’t. Looking at the schedule doesn’t tell you anything about how you’re going to do.
<p><strong>15. What is your greatest strength as a professional angler?</strong></p>
<p>Shallow water fishing of any kind. I'm typically a power fisherman, but I have a lot of confidence in my ability to catch shallow bass that others don't. I feel I know how bass position themselves in shallow water.</p>
15. What is your greatest strength as a professional angler?
Shallow water fishing of any kind. I’m typically a power fisherman, but I have a lot of confidence in my ability to catch shallow bass that others don’t. I feel I know how bass position themselves in shallow water.
<p><strong>16. What is your greatest weakness as a professional angler?</strong></p>
<p>Deep water finesse fishing.</p>
16. What is your greatest weakness as a professional angler?
Deep water finesse fishing.
<p><strong>17. What question do you get asked most by your fans, and how do you answer it?</strong></p>
<p>They all want to know how to get sponsors. Good luck! Seriously, though, if you concentrate on your fishing and do as well as you can, the sponsors will follow.</p>
17. What question do you get asked most by your fans, and how do you answer it?
They all want to know how to get sponsors. Good luck! Seriously, though, if you concentrate on your fishing and do as well as you can, the sponsors will follow.
<p><strong>18. Do you have any fishing superstitions?</strong></p>
<p>No, I'll even eat a banana in the boat, but I don't fill the livewell with water until I catch a keeper.</p>
18. Do you have any fishing superstitions?
No, I’ll even eat a banana in the boat, but I don’t fill the livewell with water until I catch a keeper.
<p><strong>19. What profession (other than your own) would you like to have tried?</strong></p>
<p>If I weren't fishing, I'd probably have gone into the military. My dad was in the Air Force, and I have a lot of respect for the people in our military. I think it's a very rewarding career, and I'm very grateful for the sacrifices they make for us.</p>
19. What profession (other than your own) would you like to have tried?
If I weren’t fishing, I’d probably have gone into the military. My dad was in the Air Force, and I have a lot of respect for the people in our military. I think it’s a very rewarding career, and I’m very grateful for the sacrifices they make for us.
<p><strong>20. When it's all over, how do you want the bass fishing world to remember you?</strong></p>
<p>I'd like for people to know that I was a Christian and that I always played the game honestly and tried to grow the sport.</p>
20. When it’s all over, how do you want the bass fishing world to remember you?
I’d like for people to know that I was a Christian and that I always played the game honestly and tried to grow the sport.