On the road with Morizo Shimizu

See how Japanese professional angler Morizo Shimizu spends a day on the road with the Bassmaster Elite Series tour.

<p>Elite Series angler Morizo Shimizu didn't make the cut at the Rigid Industries Falcon Slam but he still had a busy day. Here's how he spent the day after the tournament. First step: Start packing everything for the road trip.</p>
Elite Series angler Morizo Shimizu didn’t make the cut at the Rigid Industries Falcon Slam but he still had a busy day. Here’s how he spent the day after the tournament. First step: Start packing everything for the road trip.
<p>During fishing tournaments, Shimizu doesn't eat out. He cooks his own meals in his hotel room.</p>
During fishing tournaments, Shimizu doesn’t eat out. He cooks his own meals in his hotel room.
<p>Shimizu has a fishing good luck charm from Japan.</p>
Shimizu has a fishing good luck charm from Japan.
<p>Some equipment travels in his boat instead of his vehicle.</p>
Some equipment travels in his boat instead of his vehicle.
<p>Morizo brings his own chopsticks.</p>
Morizo brings his own chopsticks.
<p>Morizo packs up his kitchen supplies.</p>
Morizo packs up his kitchen supplies.
<p>He keeps his travel receipts in giant Ziploc bags. Want to do his taxes?</p>
He keeps his travel receipts in giant Ziploc bags. Want to do his taxes?
<p>He keeps three phones — a U.S. iPhone, a Japanese iPhone and another cell phone for Japan. These are important communication tools for him to stay in touch with people at home and abroad.</p>
He keeps three phones — a U.S. iPhone, a Japanese iPhone and another cell phone for Japan. These are important communication tools for him to stay in touch with people at home and abroad.
<p>Folding some clothes to pack away.</p>
Folding some clothes to pack away.
<p>Time to get some laundry done before the next stop.</p>
Time to get some laundry done before the next stop.
<p>Time to load up the van.</p>
Time to load up the van.
<p>Always searching for Big Mama...</p>
Always searching for Big Mama…
<p>Sneak peek inside his van. He may need to do a little spring cleaning.</p>
Sneak peek inside his van. He may need to do a little spring cleaning.
<p>He has some stickers to give out to the fans. Next time you see him, ask for one!</p>
He has some stickers to give out to the fans. Next time you see him, ask for one!
<p>He helps his sponsors design new products. These reels include some of his ideas.</p>
He helps his sponsors design new products. These reels include some of his ideas.
<p>He prays to the fishing god for good fishing everyday.</p>
He prays to the fishing god for good fishing everyday.
<p>He checks comments from his fans on his blog everyday. This is another important tool that connects him with Japan while he is in the States.</p>
He checks comments from his fans on his blog everyday. This is another important tool that connects him with Japan while he is in the States.
<p>Enjoying a local Tex-Mex quesadilla before he leaves Zapata, Texas.</p>
Enjoying a local Tex-Mex quesadilla before he leaves Zapata, Texas.
<p>Time to hit the road.</p>
Time to hit the road.
<p>Morizo is going back to Japan for two weeks to shoot TV shows, work on fishing trip stories for Japanese magazines, meet with sponsors for new products, and hopefully having a few days off. Then, he'll be back for the Elite Series Ramada Quest on Bull Shoals Lake, April 18-21.</p>
Morizo is going back to Japan for two weeks to shoot TV shows, work on fishing trip stories for Japanese magazines, meet with sponsors for new products, and hopefully having a few days off. Then, he’ll be back for the Elite Series Ramada Quest on Bull Shoals Lake, April 18-21.