20 Questions with Randy Howell

Learn more about 2014 Bassmaster Classic winner and Elite Series angler Randy Howell in this 20 questions interview.

Posted on
Randy Howell began guiding on Kerr Reservoir in North Carolina at age 11 and has never had a job outside of the fishing industry. It’s been several years since he sat down with us, so we decided to update his 20 Questions, and it’s interesting to see how things have changed for him over recent years. <br> <br> 1. Where are you from, originally? <br> <br> Lake Gaston, N.C.
Randy Howell began guiding on Kerr Reservoir in North Carolina at age 11 and has never had a job outside of the fishing industry. It’s been several years since he sat down with us, so we decided to update his 20 Questions, and it’s interesting to see how things have changed for him over recent years.
1. Where are you from, originally?
Lake Gaston, N.C.
2. Where is your dream-home location?<br> <br> Lake Guntersville, Alabama. We are in process of making that move a reality as we speak! We are building a place and our family is hoping to move in by late spring, or early summer of next year. This is an exciting move for us and we’re greatly looking forward to it.
2. Where is your dream-home location?
Lake Guntersville, Alabama. We are in process of making that move a reality as we speak! We are building a place and our family is hoping to move in by late spring, or early summer of next year. This is an exciting move for us and we’re greatly looking forward to it.
3. When did you realize you had made it in the fishing industry?<br> <br> When I qualified for my first Bassmaster Classic in 1997, which ironically was on Guntersville. Having qualified for the biggest stage in competitive bass fishing, that’s the moment I really felt like I arrived. I say “ironically” because I didn’t know it then, but I would go on to win the Classic in 2014 on Guntersville. I’m definitely here to stay!
3. When did you realize you had made it in the fishing industry?
When I qualified for my first Bassmaster Classic in 1997, which ironically was on Guntersville. Having qualified for the biggest stage in competitive bass fishing, that’s the moment I really felt like I arrived. I say “ironically” because I didn’t know it then, but I would go on to win the Classic in 2014 on Guntersville. I’m definitely here to stay!
4. What is your favorite place to fish for bass, and why?<br> <br> That’s a tough question because I don’t always get to just fish some of my favorite places. We spend the bulk of our time fishing tournament waters that are prearranged. We did just move to Guntersville, and that is a lake that I love to fish the most because there is such a wide array of places and techniques that work there. Plus, you have a great chance at catching a lot of quality fish, even one that could change your life! But, I’d have to put Oneida in there, too. That would be my northern favorite.
4. What is your favorite place to fish for bass, and why?
That’s a tough question because I don’t always get to just fish some of my favorite places. We spend the bulk of our time fishing tournament waters that are prearranged. We did just move to Guntersville, and that is a lake that I love to fish the most because there is such a wide array of places and techniques that work there. Plus, you have a great chance at catching a lot of quality fish, even one that could change your life! But, I’d have to put Oneida in there, too. That would be my northern favorite.
5. What is the biggest bass you’ve ever caught, and where did you catch it? <br> <br> I’ve still not caught one bigger than 10-8 during a tournament, which was at Lake Amistad in Texas. And, Greg Hackney ended up with big fish of that event—that’s just my luck sometimes.
5. What is the biggest bass you’ve ever caught, and where did you catch it?
I’ve still not caught one bigger than 10-8 during a tournament, which was at Lake Amistad in Texas. And, Greg Hackney ended up with big fish of that event—that’s just my luck sometimes.
6. If you could pursue any outdoor sport anywhere in the world, where would it be?<br> <br> That’s another tough question. I feel blessed to say I don’t have a lot of wants that I don’t have. But, if I were to pick something and focus on it, I think it would have to be some form of saltwater fishing. I don’t get to do it very much, but I’ve always wanted to go catch bonefish on the flats. That just seems very challenging and exciting all at the same time.
6. If you could pursue any outdoor sport anywhere in the world, where would it be?
That’s another tough question. I feel blessed to say I don’t have a lot of wants that I don’t have. But, if I were to pick something and focus on it, I think it would have to be some form of saltwater fishing. I don’t get to do it very much, but I’ve always wanted to go catch bonefish on the flats. That just seems very challenging and exciting all at the same time.
7. What is the best advice you’ve ever received throughout your career? And, what is the toughest lesson you’ve had to learn?<br> <br> Be yourself, do your own thing and fish your own strengths and styles. Don’t try to copy other people, it may look like they have it all together, but what may, or may not, be working for them might not work for you. That came from some of the older pros back when I got my start, I’ll never forget it! <br> <br> There are a lot of tough lessons to learn when fishing at this level. The answer is not an easy one: But making good decisions each day of every event, and never take one single fish for granted over the course of the season. Missing one fish can cost you at the end of the season, and I’ve narrowly missed Classic appearances because of one bite I should have capitalized upon.
7. What is the best advice you’ve ever received throughout your career? And, what is the toughest lesson you’ve had to learn?
Be yourself, do your own thing and fish your own strengths and styles. Don’t try to copy other people, it may look like they have it all together, but what may, or may not, be working for them might not work for you. That came from some of the older pros back when I got my start, I’ll never forget it!
There are a lot of tough lessons to learn when fishing at this level. The answer is not an easy one: But making good decisions each day of every event, and never take one single fish for granted over the course of the season. Missing one fish can cost you at the end of the season, and I’ve narrowly missed Classic appearances because of one bite I should have capitalized upon.
8. What is your greatest strength?<br> <br> I think my ability to be versatile is my biggest strength.
8. What is your greatest strength?
I think my ability to be versatile is my biggest strength.
9. What is your greatest weakness?<br> <br> There is always room for improvement, and I really try to have a teachable spirit when it comes to fishing, because there is always someone out there who has valuable insight worth listening to.
9. What is your greatest weakness?
There is always room for improvement, and I really try to have a teachable spirit when it comes to fishing, because there is always someone out there who has valuable insight worth listening to.
10. What are we doing right as a sport?<br> <br> We are teaching the sport as a profession and a passion to our youth. We are reaching high schoolers and college students, and leading them to see bass fishing as a true professional sport. That’s something I’m very proud of.
10. What are we doing right as a sport?
We are teaching the sport as a profession and a passion to our youth. We are reaching high schoolers and college students, and leading them to see bass fishing as a true professional sport. That’s something I’m very proud of.
11. What could we do better as a sport?<br> <br> Everybody needs to work harder and be more diligent at giving time and resources to invest in the next generation, especially those kids who might live in a big city, or otherwise don’t have the opportunity to get out fishing as much.
11. What could we do better as a sport?
Everybody needs to work harder and be more diligent at giving time and resources to invest in the next generation, especially those kids who might live in a big city, or otherwise don’t have the opportunity to get out fishing as much.
12. What is the biggest mistake you see casual anglers making?<br> <br> Fishing too close to the bank the most common mistake I see. But, to add to that, I think most are not making enough, or long enough, casts to a particular piece of structure. Over the last few years especially, I’ve learned that longer casts keep the bait in the water longer and that has produced better results for me. I believe that having access to the right kind of equipment to make casts like that is also key. Make smarter casts with the right kind of gear and more fish will be caught!
12. What is the biggest mistake you see casual anglers making?
Fishing too close to the bank the most common mistake I see. But, to add to that, I think most are not making enough, or long enough, casts to a particular piece of structure. Over the last few years especially, I’ve learned that longer casts keep the bait in the water longer and that has produced better results for me. I believe that having access to the right kind of equipment to make casts like that is also key. Make smarter casts with the right kind of gear and more fish will be caught!
13. Do you have any fishing superstitions?<br> <br> Nope. But, I do get a kick out of eating two bananas in front of the anglers who have the banana superstition.
13. Do you have any fishing superstitions?
Nope. But, I do get a kick out of eating two bananas in front of the anglers who have the banana superstition.
14. If you could only fish with one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be?<br> <br> My namesake crankbait that I won the Guntersville Classic with is on top of that list, the Livingston Howeller. But, it would be hard to beat a Gary Yamamoto Senko. Can I pick both? [laughs] Both catch fish, I know that for sure!
14. If you could only fish with one lure for the rest of your life, what would it be?
My namesake crankbait that I won the Guntersville Classic with is on top of that list, the Livingston Howeller. But, it would be hard to beat a Gary Yamamoto Senko. Can I pick both? [laughs] Both catch fish, I know that for sure!
15. What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far?<br> <br> Winning the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. That’s a pretty easy one!
15. What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far?
Winning the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. That’s a pretty easy one!
16. If you could only win one, would it be the Angler of the Year title? Or another Bassmaster Classic?<br> <br> Without a doubt, another Bassmaster Classic. I used to think either would be good, and I have a lot of respect for the AOY title, but after winning the Classic I’ve seen the level of positive impact that winning the Classic has on your career. From a fan perspective and an industry perspective, I think the Classic is very highly revered.
16. If you could only win one, would it be the Angler of the Year title? Or another Bassmaster Classic?
Without a doubt, another Bassmaster Classic. I used to think either would be good, and I have a lot of respect for the AOY title, but after winning the Classic I’ve seen the level of positive impact that winning the Classic has on your career. From a fan perspective and an industry perspective, I think the Classic is very highly revered.
17. If you could have one tournament to do over again, what would it be?<br> <br> Man, there’s a lot of tournaments I’d love to have back! That’s what makes this such a cool sport: Seldom does one angler really dominate to the point where everyone else is seemingly out of it. On any given day at just about any event, it can truly be anybody’s game. But… It might have been four or five years ago on the California Delta I finished in the 90s, and because of that tournament, I missed the Classic. I decided to run a long ways knowing I should have stayed closer to the launch area. It not only cost me the event, but it cost me the Classic, and that hurts!
17. If you could have one tournament to do over again, what would it be?
Man, there’s a lot of tournaments I’d love to have back! That’s what makes this such a cool sport: Seldom does one angler really dominate to the point where everyone else is seemingly out of it. On any given day at just about any event, it can truly be anybody’s game. But… It might have been four or five years ago on the California Delta I finished in the 90s, and because of that tournament, I missed the Classic. I decided to run a long ways knowing I should have stayed closer to the launch area. It not only cost me the event, but it cost me the Classic, and that hurts!
18. You’ve had a long and exciting career, what keeps you motivated to keep going?<br> <br> I’d probably have to say my faith. As a Christian, I consider my career a ministry. I get the chance to speak at 25 to 30 faith-based events every year, and that is something that I love to do! I really think being able to pursue my passion for fishing through my faith and ministry is my biggest motivation.
18. You’ve had a long and exciting career, what keeps you motivated to keep going?
I’d probably have to say my faith. As a Christian, I consider my career a ministry. I get the chance to speak at 25 to 30 faith-based events every year, and that is something that I love to do! I really think being able to pursue my passion for fishing through my faith and ministry is my biggest motivation.
19. When you are not bass fishing, how do you like to spend your time?<br> <br> Hanging out with my family. But, what’s cool about that is they all like to go fishing. Both my boys are starting to get into hunting, so I’ve been learning about that recently as well. I’m grateful that my whole family enjoys being outside, because as you know, that’s a big part of my life. We play a lot of basketball, too.
19. When you are not bass fishing, how do you like to spend your time?
Hanging out with my family. But, what’s cool about that is they all like to go fishing. Both my boys are starting to get into hunting, so I’ve been learning about that recently as well. I’m grateful that my whole family enjoys being outside, because as you know, that’s a big part of my life. We play a lot of basketball, too.
Randy and Robin Howell
Randy and Robin Howell
20. If fishing stopped for you today, what career might you pursue?<br> <br> Without a doubt, I’d love to be a Christian speaker and visit churches, men’s events and wild-game dinners to share my faith in Christ.
20. If fishing stopped for you today, what career might you pursue?
Without a doubt, I’d love to be a Christian speaker and visit churches, men’s events and wild-game dinners to share my faith in Christ.