20 Questions with Bobby Lane

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Bobby Lane from Lakeland, Fla., has been an angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series since 2008. Through his career, Lane has fished in 110 B.A.S.S. tournaments, and he landed a Bassmaster Elite Series win on Kentucky Lake in 2009. The accomplished angler answered 20 questions about his past, present and future in professional bass fishing.
Bobby Lane from Lakeland, Fla., has been an angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series since 2008. Through his career, Lane has fished in 110 B.A.S.S. tournaments, and he landed a Bassmaster Elite Series win on Kentucky Lake in 2009. The accomplished angler answered 20 questions about his past, present and future in professional bass fishing.
<b> 1. Where are you from, originally?</b><p> I’m a Florida native, born in Tampa and raised in Lakeland.
1. Where are you from, originally?
I’m a Florida native, born in Tampa and raised in Lakeland.
<b> 2. Who were some of your early fishing heroes? </b><p> My heroes are my dad Robert and grandfather Bill McClain. They taught me how to fish. I still talk to dad most every morning before a tournament begins. And then there’s Rick Clunn, Bill Dance, Hank Parker and Roland Martin.

2. Who were some of your early fishing heroes?
My heroes are my dad Robert and grandfather Bill McClain. They taught me how to fish. I still talk to dad most every morning before a tournament begins. And then there’s Rick Clunn, Bill Dance, Hank Parker and Roland Martin.

<b> 3. How did you come up through the ranks to get to the Elite Series? </b><p> I fished the Southern Opens in 2007 and qualified for the next season of the Elite Series. I’ve been here ever since, starting in 2008.

3. How did you come up through the ranks to get to the Elite Series?
I fished the Southern Opens in 2007 and qualified for the next season of the Elite Series. I’ve been here ever since, starting in 2008.

<b> 4. What do you love the most about competing? </b><p> I really enjoy dialing into a pattern. Figuring out the pattern is the greatest feeling for me. More so than where I place in the tournament or anything else. It’s all about figuring out the pattern and what the fish are doing.

4. What do you love the most about competing?
I really enjoy dialing into a pattern. Figuring out the pattern is the greatest feeling for me. More so than where I place in the tournament or anything else. It’s all about figuring out the pattern and what the fish are doing.

<b> 5. What is your greatest strength as a bass angler? </b><p> I’d say my strongest skill is junk fishing. Just being able to be very versatile. I can just show up anywhere and get into doing something different. If something looks good to me then I’m likely to stop and try it out.

5. What is your greatest strength as a bass angler?
I’d say my strongest skill is junk fishing. Just being able to be very versatile. I can just show up anywhere and get into doing something different. If something looks good to me then I’m likely to stop and try it out.

<b> 6. What is your greatest weakness as a bass angler? </b><p> Fishing offshore. I have a hard time getting lined up with offshore structure. I’m just so used to having the shoreline to eyeball and line up my targets.

6. What is your greatest weakness as a bass angler?
Fishing offshore. I have a hard time getting lined up with offshore structure. I’m just so used to having the shoreline to eyeball and line up my targets.

<b> 7. Where is your favorite place to fish in the country? </b><p> Believe it or not it’s the Potomac River and from June through September. It’s because the fish are super aggressive and the way the grass lines up with the bite. It has the tide, of course, and I like that too. I just find it easy to pattern fish there and really enjoy it. There are days when you can catch up to 80 or more bass. It’s just a phenomenal place.

7. Where is your favorite place to fish in the country?
Believe it or not it’s the Potomac River and from June through September. It’s because the fish are super aggressive and the way the grass lines up with the bite. It has the tide, of course, and I like that too. I just find it easy to pattern fish there and really enjoy it. There are days when you can catch up to 80 or more bass. It’s just a phenomenal place.

<b> 8. What’s the biggest mistake you see casual anglers make? </b><p> I see anglers not fishing their strengths. They go with dock talk and rumors. My advice is sticking with what you have the most confidence in doing. Ignore the rest.

8. What’s the biggest mistake you see casual anglers make?
I see anglers not fishing their strengths. They go with dock talk and rumors. My advice is sticking with what you have the most confidence in doing. Ignore the rest.

<b> 9. Do you have any fishing superstitions? </b><p> Yes, my lucky underwear. I have eight or 12 pairs that I work through from practice until tournament time. It’s not the cheap stuff, either. When I make Day 3 and I’m going to make the money then I go all out. I wear the pair with the American eagle with the $100 bills patterned on it. Then on the last day I used to wear a Superman pattern. I’ve found an even better pattern. Those are green and gold color with four-leaf clovers.
9. Do you have any fishing superstitions?
Yes, my lucky underwear. I have eight or 12 pairs that I work through from practice until tournament time. It’s not the cheap stuff, either. When I make Day 3 and I’m going to make the money then I go all out. I wear the pair with the American eagle with the $100 bills patterned on it. Then on the last day I used to wear a Superman pattern. I’ve found an even better pattern. Those are green and gold color with four-leaf clovers.
<b> 10. How big a part does luck play in tournament success? </b><p> I’d rather be lucky than good any day of the week.

10. How big a part does luck play in tournament success?
I’d rather be lucky than good any day of the week.

<b> 11. What goals have you yet to accomplish in the fishing industry? </b><p> I want to be a Bassmaster Classic champion. Of course, win Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year. I’m getting older and know the time is now for me to start knocking out some of those goals. I’m getting there. The longer you do this, the more you learn from your mistakes.

11. What goals have you yet to accomplish in the fishing industry?
I want to be a Bassmaster Classic champion. Of course, win Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year. I’m getting older and know the time is now for me to start knocking out some of those goals. I’m getting there. The longer you do this, the more you learn from your mistakes.

<b> 12. How do you stay mentally focused when the fishing gets tough? </b><p> I try and not fish too hard in practice and burn myself out. I think you can put too much pressure on yourself. You can only stay 100 percent focused for so long. So I fish really super fast in practice and then dial it down to the best details for the tournament.

12. How do you stay mentally focused when the fishing gets tough?
I try and not fish too hard in practice and burn myself out. I think you can put too much pressure on yourself. You can only stay 100 percent focused for so long. So I fish really super fast in practice and then dial it down to the best details for the tournament.

<b> 13. How many times are you confused with your brother Chris? </b><p> It’s gotten a lot better. Now, it’s only about every other person who confuses me with Chris.

13. How many times are you confused with your brother Chris?
It’s gotten a lot better. Now, it’s only about every other person who confuses me with Chris.

<b> 14. How can the industry recruit new anglers and especially youths? </b><p> Pros like Chris and I need to continue reaching out and encourage them to like just going fishing. We put so much emphasis on sponsors. We need to dial that down and encourage kids to just enjoy going. The more they enjoy it, the more they will like it and be successful. And when that happens the sponsors come around.

14. How can the industry recruit new anglers and especially youths?
Pros like Chris and I need to continue reaching out and encourage them to like just going fishing. We put so much emphasis on sponsors. We need to dial that down and encourage kids to just enjoy going. The more they enjoy it, the more they will like it and be successful. And when that happens the sponsors come around.

<b> 15. How do you unwind outdoors when not competing? </b><p> Play golf, lots of golf. I try and play during any down time and especially with Chris in between the tournaments.

15. How do you unwind outdoors when not competing?
Play golf, lots of golf. I try and play during any down time and especially with Chris in between the tournaments.

<b> 16. What is one gear item you can’t do without in your boat? </b><p> I’ve got to have SpiderWire braided fishing line. When it came out that started the entire revolution of where braid is today. The castability and strength have come so far.

16. What is one gear item you can’t do without in your boat?
I’ve got to have SpiderWire braided fishing line. When it came out that started the entire revolution of where braid is today. The castability and strength have come so far.

<b> 17. What’s the greatest innovation in fishing gear you’ve seen in your career? </b><p> I’m pretty amazed with how reels are lighter and stronger. The composite materials and strength of Abu Garcia reels, especially, is really impressive for where we are today.

17. What’s the greatest innovation in fishing gear you’ve seen in your career?
I’m pretty amazed with how reels are lighter and stronger. The composite materials and strength of Abu Garcia reels, especially, is really impressive for where we are today.

<b> 18. What is the best way for someone to follow in your path as an Elite Series pro? </b><p> I’d say join a high school team or a B.A.S.S. Nation club. You learn so much from your peers, and it’s just a great way to get settled in and enjoy the sport even more.

18. What is the best way for someone to follow in your path as an Elite Series pro?
I’d say join a high school team or a B.A.S.S. Nation club. You learn so much from your peers, and it’s just a great way to get settled in and enjoy the sport even more.

<b> 19. What profession (other than your own) would you like to have? </b><p> I’d probably be in the landscape business, here in Florida. It’s one of the best businesses around. I’d own it, not work for it.

19. What profession (other than your own) would you like to have?
I’d probably be in the landscape business, here in Florida. It’s one of the best businesses around. I’d own it, not work for it.

<b> 20. How do you want people to remember you as a pro angler? </b><p> I want to be remembered as a family man and a bad to the bone angler on the water. That’s how I want to be remembered. I want to be the best example that I can to the youth, for sure.

20. How do you want people to remember you as a pro angler?
I want to be remembered as a family man and a bad to the bone angler on the water. That’s how I want to be remembered. I want to be the best example that I can to the youth, for sure.