20 Qs with David Kilgore

Alabama pro and 2014 Bassmaster Classic qualifier David Kilgore goes on the record with Bassmaster.com's 20 Questions.

Posted on
David Kilgore will set a Bassmaster Classic record even if he never catches a fish at Lake Guntersville this year. At 6 feet, 9 inches, he is the tallest person ever to qualify for the championship. And while his height gets your attention, what keeps it is his considerable angling talent. Here's how the Alabama pro tackled our 20 Questions.
David Kilgore will set a Bassmaster Classic record even if he never catches a fish at Lake Guntersville this year. At 6 feet, 9 inches, he is the tallest person ever to qualify for the championship. And while his height gets your attention, what keeps it is his considerable angling talent. Here’s how the Alabama pro tackled our 20 Questions.
1. Where were you born and raised? I was born in Birmingham and raised in Jasper, Alabama.
1. Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Birmingham and raised in Jasper, Alabama.
2. How old were you when you caught your first fish and what was it? My first fish was a bass, and I was three years old when I caught it. My family has some property with some ponds, and my dad (Don Kilgore) would take me fishing as a kid.
2. How old were you when you caught your first fish and what was it?
My first fish was a bass, and I was three years old when I caught it. My family has some property with some ponds, and my dad (Don Kilgore) would take me fishing as a kid.
3. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes? My dad was my earliest fishing hero because he would carry me fishing. He'd drop me off with a flat-bottomed johnboat and leave me to fish. As I got a little older, I watched Roland Martin and Bill Dance on TV and wanted to be just like them.
3. Who were some of your earliest fishing heroes?
My dad was my earliest fishing hero because he would carry me fishing. He’d drop me off with a flat-bottomed johnboat and leave me to fish. As I got a little older, I watched Roland Martin and Bill Dance on TV and wanted to be just like them.
4. What's the biggest bass you've ever caught? I caught a 10-pound, 11-ounce largemouth from a private lake in Jasper about six or seven years ago.
4. What’s the biggest bass you’ve ever caught?
I caught a 10-pound, 11-ounce largemouth from a private lake in Jasper about six or seven years ago.
5. What do you love most about bass fishing? I love trying to figure the fish out. Whether you fished a place yesterday or a year ago, you still have to go out and start over, learn what's going on and how you can catch them.
5. What do you love most about bass fishing?
I love trying to figure the fish out. Whether you fished a place yesterday or a year ago, you still have to go out and start over, learn what’s going on and how you can catch them.
6. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why? Buckhead Lake on the Warrior River, just below Smith Lake. It's a really diverse fishery with all kinds of structure and cover. I fish there a lot. It's a great place to try new baits or techniques, and the lake helps me to stay sharp.
6. Where is your favorite place to fish for bass and why?
Buckhead Lake on the Warrior River, just below Smith Lake. It’s a really diverse fishery with all kinds of structure and cover. I fish there a lot. It’s a great place to try new baits or techniques, and the lake helps me to stay sharp.
7. Who has been the biggest influence in your fishing or fishing career? That would have to be my father. I work for him, and he's very understanding about my schedule and how much fishing means to me. I couldn't do what I'm doing without that kind of understanding and support.
7. Who has been the biggest influence in your fishing or fishing career?
That would have to be my father. I work for him, and he’s very understanding about my schedule and how much fishing means to me. I couldn’t do what I’m doing without that kind of understanding and support.
8. What has been your greatest accomplishment in the fishing industry? It would probably be qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series three different times (Kilgore declined each invitation). I'm also proud of my Bassmaster Opens win on Logan Martin in 2013 that put me in the Bassmaster Classic and my Weekend Series wins.
8. What has been your greatest accomplishment in the fishing industry?
It would probably be qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series three different times (Kilgore declined each invitation). I’m also proud of my Bassmaster Opens win on Logan Martin in 2013 that put me in the Bassmaster Classic and my Weekend Series wins.
9. What is the best advice you ever received in your career? After I won the Open on Logan Martin, I got a call from Rick Pierce (Bass Cat Boats), and he told me that he had been in the business a long time and had seen lots of guys qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. He said the week before the final practice period starts I needed to get as much sleep and rest as possible because you won't get any sleep at all during the Classic. I plan to follow that advice, too!
9. What is the best advice you ever received in your career?
After I won the Open on Logan Martin, I got a call from Rick Pierce (Bass Cat Boats), and he told me that he had been in the business a long time and had seen lots of guys qualify for the Bassmaster Classic. He said the week before the final practice period starts I needed to get as much sleep and rest as possible because you won’t get any sleep at all during the Classic. I plan to follow that advice, too!
10. What is the biggest lesson you've learned in your career? I've always had pretty good finishes in the points standings of the Opens, but I had never won until 2013. I learned that fishing to win and fishing for points are completely different things. You can have a really terrible finish if you're fishing to win, but you have to be willing to roll the dice and take that risk if you want the trophy.
10. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
I’ve always had pretty good finishes in the points standings of the Opens, but I had never won until 2013. I learned that fishing to win and fishing for points are completely different things. You can have a really terrible finish if you’re fishing to win, but you have to be willing to roll the dice and take that risk if you want the trophy.
11. What is your greatest strength as a professional angler? Any kind of shallow water fishing. I love power fishing. I love flipping and pitching or throwing a Strike King Red Eye Shad. That's my strong suit and comfort zone.
11. What is your greatest strength as a professional angler?
Any kind of shallow water fishing. I love power fishing. I love flipping and pitching or throwing a Strike King Red Eye Shad. That’s my strong suit and comfort zone.
12. What is your greatest weakness as a professional angler? Fishing deep water. I'm not terrible at it, but I'm certainly not great. I've learned a lot about it in recent years and gotten a lot better, but I'm nowhere near where I want to be with it.
12. What is your greatest weakness as a professional angler?
Fishing deep water. I’m not terrible at it, but I’m certainly not great. I’ve learned a lot about it in recent years and gotten a lot better, but I’m nowhere near where I want to be with it.
13. What question do you get asked most by your fans, and how do you answer it? Ever since I won the Open and qualified for the Classic everyone wants to know if I'm ready for it. I'm really excited about the opportunity. There are a lot of distractions when you're going to the Classic, but I plan to draw a line between the business part of it and the fishing part of it. I'm not going to let the hype bother my fishing.
13. What question do you get asked most by your fans, and how do you answer it?
Ever since I won the Open and qualified for the Classic everyone wants to know if I’m ready for it. I’m really excited about the opportunity. There are a lot of distractions when you’re going to the Classic, but I plan to draw a line between the business part of it and the fishing part of it. I’m not going to let the hype bother my fishing.
14. What is the biggest mistake you see from casual or weekend anglers? They fish what worked for them in the past or what worked last week even though things may have changed drastically. They don't adjust to the situation. They get too locked in on one thing and won't try something new when what they're doing isn't working.
14. What is the biggest mistake you see from casual or weekend anglers?
They fish what worked for them in the past or what worked last week even though things may have changed drastically. They don’t adjust to the situation. They get too locked in on one thing and won’t try something new when what they’re doing isn’t working.
15. Do you have any fishing superstitions? No, I really don't ... but if I'm leading the Classic after the first day, you might see me in the same cap, shirt, pants — everything — on Day 2! (laughs)
15. Do you have any fishing superstitions?
No, I really don’t … but if I’m leading the Classic after the first day, you might see me in the same cap, shirt, pants — everything — on Day 2! (laughs)
16. When you're not bass fishing, how do you like to spend your time? I have two young children — a two-year-old daughter and a six-week-old son — so I really enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I enjoy deer hunting, so we spend as much time as we can hunting or getting ready for hunting season.
16. When you’re not bass fishing, how do you like to spend your time?
I have two young children — a two-year-old daughter and a six-week-old son — so I really enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I enjoy deer hunting, so we spend as much time as we can hunting or getting ready for hunting season.
17. If you could only fish one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? It would have to be a Strike King KVD HC 1.5 Square Bill Crankbait. You can catch them on that bait all year long, and it's just fun to fish. I love bouncing it off stuff and seeing bass come out to grab it.
17. If you could only fish one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
It would have to be a Strike King KVD HC 1.5 Square Bill Crankbait. You can catch them on that bait all year long, and it’s just fun to fish. I love bouncing it off stuff and seeing bass come out to grab it.
18. What are your favorite spectator sports and sports teams or athletes? I love University of Alabama football. My family has had season tickets since I was three years old. Driving to Tuscaloosa on a fall Saturday is a lot of fun. Roll Tide!
18. What are your favorite spectator sports and sports teams or athletes?
I love University of Alabama football. My family has had season tickets since I was three years old. Driving to Tuscaloosa on a fall Saturday is a lot of fun. Roll Tide!
19. What is your pet peeve? I hate it when somebody is not on time and they don't call to tell you they're running late. There are no excuses for that in the cell phone era.
19. What is your pet peeve?
I hate it when somebody is not on time and they don’t call to tell you they’re running late. There are no excuses for that in the cell phone era.
20. When it's all over, how do you want the bass fishing world to remember you? I'd like to be remembered as a good guy — someone who tried to do things the right way and treated people well. And I'd like to be remembered as someone who really loved what he did with fishing and shared the sport with others.
20. When it’s all over, how do you want the bass fishing world to remember you?
I’d like to be remembered as a good guy — someone who tried to do things the right way and treated people well. And I’d like to be remembered as someone who really loved what he did with fishing and shared the sport with others.