If you were a Bassmaster Elite Series pro, how would you spend time during late fall and winter, when tournament season is over? Current pros choose lots of different ways of passing the cooler months, from hunting to fishing to hanging out with family. Here’s what a few of the Elite Series pros say they do with their time.
Photo: B.A.S.S.
Tim Horton caught a 5-pound smallmouth worth bragging about on Wheeler Lake in Alabama in early November.
Bill Lowen served as a guide for children with special needs during the Outdoor Friends Forever event in Alabama. Here he is with his hunting partners for the day and a doe they shot.
(Photo by Dan O’Sullivan)
Bradley Roy also served as a guide during the Outdoor Friends Forever event in Alabama, which included hunting and fishing opportunities for children with special needs.
(Photo by Dan O’Sullivan)
Brent Broderick hunts as soon as hunting season opens. This is his biggest buck, and he’s waiting to get it officially scored. “I’m hoping he pushes over 170-class after all adds and deducts,” he said.
Brent Chapman spends time with his family when they’re all home in Lake Quivira, Kan. Here, he and his daughter, Makayla, show off a turtle they found.
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brent Chapman also takes his son, Mason, fishing whenever he can. With fish like this one, he’s sure to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Brian Snowden went on an annual family hayride this fall. “As you can see, I like to sweep pumpkins when I am not fishing,” said Snowden.
Casey Scanlon took out some pheasants during this hunting season.
Chris Lane takes his kids fishing and hunting whenever he can. His son, Cal, shot this duck at home this fall.
Cliff Crochet shows of his biggest deer of the year. “A deer on the ground is a deer on the ground,” he said.
Cliff Prince spent a cool week in late fall on Alabama’s scenic Pickwick Lake, taking writers and photographers fishing.
Clifford Pirch enjoys hunting when he’s not fishing. “My off-season means elk season where I live in Payson, Ariz.,” said Pirch. “We usually hunt during the archery hunt and guide during the rifle hunt.”
David Walker took a trip to Kansas to hunt on Dave Smith’s hunting ranch.
Dennis Tietje was filming a show for KNG this fall, and the group of hunters took down multiple ducks.
Greg Vinson participated in the Outdoor Friends Forever hunt in Alabama earlier this fall. “I’ve spent most of my other time working on preparing for the 2013 Elite season and working on 2013 business relationships,” said Vinson. “Best of all, I’ve had a chance to spend a lot of quality time with my family, something that is difficult during the rigors of the tournament season.” (Photo by Dan O’Sullivan)
Jamie Horton of Alabama traveled to Illinois to get this buck.
Jason Christie spends his non-fishing time in the woods. “These were taken with a bow in Oklahoma,” said Christie.
Josh Bertrand fishes tournaments even in the off-season. He caught this bass in early December while pre-fishing for a Holiday Open tournament on Lake Pleasant just outside of Phoenix, Ariz.
Kelley Jaye spent last year’s off-season pre-fishing for tournaments. He caught this bass on Georgia’s Lake Hartwell in February 2012.
Kenyon Hill takes lots of his off-season time trimming down the duck population.
Kevin Ledoux and his wife, Cara, took in some football during the fall. “Boomer Sooner!”
Kevin VanDam takes his sons, Jackson and Nicholas, out into the woods during the fall.
Kurt Dove guides during the off-season on Lake Amistad, catching pigs like this one.
Mark Davis spends his time involved in sports with his kids. “Our oldest son and I coach Pee Wee football in the fall,” said Davis. “I love every minute and all 14 boys!”
When Davis isn’t coaching, he’s in the woods. Here’s a big deer he got earlier this season.
Morizo Shimizu said he caught the world’s smallest fish earlier this fall in Japan using super-small tackle. Here he is showing off a teensy broad-striped bitterling.
Shimizu spends a lot of time enjoying catching typical Japanese fish. He caught several Herabuna, a deep-bodied crucian carp.
Ott DeFoe has been taking his daughter, Abbie, crappie fishing this fall.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said DeFoe, regarding crappie fishing. “We have been catching between 150 and 250 a trip! Not many big ones, but lots of them.”
Randy Howell spent some of his off time as a pirate — on a Disney cruise ship with his family!
Russ Lane went duck hunting in mid-December in Arkansas with Scott and Dennis Montgomery of Big Bite Baits.
Steve Kennedy taught his son about fishing on the beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast during Thanksgiving.
Kennedy also took his kids redfishing in Florida.
Takahiro Omori wants to stay in tip-top shape for next season. “I work out at the gym just to try to stay fit during the off-season,” said Omori.
Terry Scroggins took advantage of the cool temperatures on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake in early November.
Keith Poche spends his spare time in the garden when he can. This fall, he helped build a custom raised planter in his backyard. He planted some lettuce and cole crops for the cool season.
