Knoxville, Tenn.
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.
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.
Hank Parker and Jay Yelas. They were really good and have the kind of values I admire.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
It’s actually a misconception they seem to have about all anglers. They seem to think our lifestyle is easy and carefree âthat 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.
I wish I had tried to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series sooner.
Mark Rose told me to leave it all up to God and to fish to the best of my abilities.
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.
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.
Deep water finesse fishing.
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.
No, I’ll even eat a banana in the boat, but I don’t fill the livewell with water until I catch a keeper.
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.
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.