Tharp’s nine-day trek in China

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Bassmaster Elite pro Randall Tharp and his wife, Sara, took a fall trip to China to work with his rod company, ARK Fishing International. Starting from their home in Port St. Joe, Fla., the Tharp’s traveled to Dallas, where they embarked on a nearly 7,000-mile flight to Beijing.
Bassmaster Elite pro Randall Tharp and his wife, Sara, took a fall trip to China to work with his rod company, ARK Fishing International. Starting from their home in Port St. Joe, Fla., the Tharp’s traveled to Dallas, where they embarked on a nearly 7,000-mile flight to Beijing.
The Tharps said one of the first things they noticed about China was that most of the people lived in high-rise apartments. “The biggest difference I saw – it doesn’t appear that there any middle class at all,” Randy said.
The Tharps said one of the first things they noticed about China was that most of the people lived in high-rise apartments. “The biggest difference I saw – it doesn’t appear that there any middle class at all,” Randy said.
Just out touring the grounds near the hotel in Beijing, Randy ran across his first Chinese fisherman. “He caught this one two minutes after I met him right in the middle of downtown,” Randy said. “There were a lot of people fishing there, and this guy was the only one I saw catching them!”
Just out touring the grounds near the hotel in Beijing, Randy ran across his first Chinese fisherman. “He caught this one two minutes after I met him right in the middle of downtown,” Randy said. “There were a lot of people fishing there, and this guy was the only one I saw catching them!”
The Tharps first meal in China was called “Hot Pot,” where each diner puts meat, vegetables and things like wonton in broth to cook. Food would be an issue for the Americans on the trip. “If you’re not kind of adventurous when it comes to eating, you can starve over there,” Randy said. “You’re not going to find a cheeseburger.” We’ll see about that later.
The Tharps first meal in China was called “Hot Pot,” where each diner puts meat, vegetables and things like wonton in broth to cook. Food would be an issue for the Americans on the trip. “If you’re not kind of adventurous when it comes to eating, you can starve over there,” Randy said. “You’re not going to find a cheeseburger.” We’ll see about that later.
After a night in Beijing, the Tharps went by train to Weihai on the eastern coast, with recent news hotspot Korea and the demilitarized zone straight across the Yellow Sea.
After a night in Beijing, the Tharps went by train to Weihai on the eastern coast, with recent news hotspot Korea and the demilitarized zone straight across the Yellow Sea.
Although it wasn’t the fastest train in the country, the Tharps’ ride covered the 680 miles in six hours. China has high-speed rail that tops out at 268 mph.
Although it wasn’t the fastest train in the country, the Tharps’ ride covered the 680 miles in six hours. China has high-speed rail that tops out at 268 mph.
Tharp toured the ARK rods factory and worked on his line of signature rods that he hopes are ready in time for the Bassmaster Classic Expo.
Tharp toured the ARK rods factory and worked on his line of signature rods that he hopes are ready in time for the Bassmaster Classic Expo.
There were thousands of rods in boxes and rods ready to be boxed before being shipped. Tharp said, “There’s so much fishing tackle made over there, and almost 90 percent is made in Weihai.”
There were thousands of rods in boxes and rods ready to be boxed before being shipped. Tharp said, “There’s so much fishing tackle made over there, and almost 90 percent is made in Weihai.”
Tharp paused from a working lunch with some factory employees to snap this shot. The mission to find food for American tastes was difficult, Sara said. “I lost 4 pounds,” she said. “The food was not my favorite thing. I asked, ‘When are we going for Chinese food? Beef and broccoli and egg rolls?’ Our translator said, ‘That’s fake Chinese food. We don’t have that.’”
Tharp paused from a working lunch with some factory employees to snap this shot. The mission to find food for American tastes was difficult, Sara said. “I lost 4 pounds,” she said. “The food was not my favorite thing. I asked, ‘When are we going for Chinese food? Beef and broccoli and egg rolls?’ Our translator said, ‘That’s fake Chinese food. We don’t have that.’”
Tharp poses for some photos with two factory owners. There will be 14 different models in the Tharp signature line.
Tharp poses for some photos with two factory owners. There will be 14 different models in the Tharp signature line.
Tharp saw some rods on a pier on the Pacific Ocean in Weihai before he got to wet a line in China. That would take place far away, another 600-plus miles inland in Taiyuan.
Tharp saw some rods on a pier on the Pacific Ocean in Weihai before he got to wet a line in China. That would take place far away, another 600-plus miles inland in Taiyuan.
The Tharps were greeted with a familiar sight. “B.A.S.S. has got a presence over there. Other than the sticker on the van, guys I was around all had B.A.S.S. stuff on,” Randy said. “They follow it as much as they can. They live it, just like we do.”
The Tharps were greeted with a familiar sight. “B.A.S.S. has got a presence over there. Other than the sticker on the van, guys I was around all had B.A.S.S. stuff on,” Randy said. “They follow it as much as they can. They live it, just like we do.”
There were very nice accommodations in Taiyuan, but the fishing excursions took Randy up into the cold mountains to one of the best largemouth lakes in the country.
There were very nice accommodations in Taiyuan, but the fishing excursions took Randy up into the cold mountains to one of the best largemouth lakes in the country.
Sara stayed in town and ventured out, finding interest in such things as Chinese toothpaste packages. She said she felt incredibly safe walking around the city on her own, but food to suit her tastes remained an issue.
Sara stayed in town and ventured out, finding interest in such things as Chinese toothpaste packages. She said she felt incredibly safe walking around the city on her own, but food to suit her tastes remained an issue.
Fishing was fun, Randy said, but his fishing partners added to the intrigue. “The coolest thing for me was getting to fish,” he said. “I got to meet this group of guys, basically like a bass club, and it was one of the better lakes in the entire country.”
Fishing was fun, Randy said, but his fishing partners added to the intrigue. “The coolest thing for me was getting to fish,” he said. “I got to meet this group of guys, basically like a bass club, and it was one of the better lakes in the entire country.”
Tharp ate dinner with the anglers and reported he didn’t get much sleep. “None of them spoke a lick of English, but we had a translator … We basically never went to sleep for about two nights.”
Tharp ate dinner with the anglers and reported he didn’t get much sleep. “None of them spoke a lick of English, but we had a translator … We basically never went to sleep for about two nights.”
Here’s a shot of the river from a bridge in Taiyuan at dawn. “Those guys just quizzed me from dinner and until the sun came up the next morning,” Randy said. “Every question these guys asked I thought was very smart and well-educated.”
Here’s a shot of the river from a bridge in Taiyuan at dawn. “Those guys just quizzed me from dinner and until the sun came up the next morning,” Randy said. “Every question these guys asked I thought was very smart and well-educated.”
Here’s his fishing group. “They followed me around, filmed me for a couple days. They were just fascinated. I think I showed them some things they’ve never seen before,” he said.
Here’s his fishing group. “They followed me around, filmed me for a couple days. They were just fascinated. I think I showed them some things they’ve never seen before,” he said.
Randy poses with Tommy, who organized much of the Tharps’ trip and was with them most of the time. “The coolest thing is seeing what those guys go through to go bass fishing, and their quest for knowledge and trying to becoming better anglers, and how limited their resources are,” Randy said.
Randy poses with Tommy, who organized much of the Tharps’ trip and was with them most of the time. “The coolest thing is seeing what those guys go through to go bass fishing, and their quest for knowledge and trying to becoming better anglers, and how limited their resources are,” Randy said.
Besides the club anglers, Tharp’s presence drew some spectators. He said only a few lakes there have bass, but the sport is growing. “The place I fished was absolutely beautiful, and there’s a huge population who fish. They have forms of social media, and they had a big camera in my boat … and another guy was filming me with a cellphone,” said Tharp, noting their initial audience was 3,000.
Besides the club anglers, Tharp’s presence drew some spectators. He said only a few lakes there have bass, but the sport is growing. “The place I fished was absolutely beautiful, and there’s a huge population who fish. They have forms of social media, and they had a big camera in my boat … and another guy was filming me with a cellphone,” said Tharp, noting their initial audience was 3,000.
After about 20 minutes, there were a lot more watching him fish. “I was just blown away that there was even 10,000 people who even knew what a bass was over there,” he said. “I thought that was absolutely incredible.” This 4-pounder was icing on the cake.
After about 20 minutes, there were a lot more watching him fish. “I was just blown away that there was even 10,000 people who even knew what a bass was over there,” he said. “I thought that was absolutely incredible.” This 4-pounder was icing on the cake.
Tharp said these are the people who made his trip happen, and they later told him his visit made a national news report – ‘American bass pro fishes in China,’ or something along those lines. Pictured are Louie, Tommy, Jason and Mark.
Tharp said these are the people who made his trip happen, and they later told him his visit made a national news report – ‘American bass pro fishes in China,’ or something along those lines. Pictured are Louie, Tommy, Jason and Mark.
That wasn’t so surprising since he believes he’s the first bass pro to even go to China and fish. Here Tharp takes in more dinner, and more questions.
That wasn’t so surprising since he believes he’s the first bass pro to even go to China and fish. Here Tharp takes in more dinner, and more questions.
The Tharps enjoyed the trip, which included some sights like this huge statue, but they said China would probably be best experienced with a guide. “It was an interesting trip,” Randy said. “We had really good handlers everywhere we went. There was always somebody with me that spoke Chinese who could translate.”
The Tharps enjoyed the trip, which included some sights like this huge statue, but they said China would probably be best experienced with a guide. “It was an interesting trip,” Randy said. “We had really good handlers everywhere we went. There was always somebody with me that spoke Chinese who could translate.”
The food was a big issue. “They don’t waste a thing on animals,” Sara said. “They had congealed blood, and a soup with animal parts. Yuck. I wanted a steak so bad.” She heard of a Burger King in Taiyuan and ventured out for a cheeseburger, but was disappointed when the bacon and hamburger weren’t quite cooked. She vows to pack more snacks on their next trip.
The food was a big issue. “They don’t waste a thing on animals,” Sara said. “They had congealed blood, and a soup with animal parts. Yuck. I wanted a steak so bad.” She heard of a Burger King in Taiyuan and ventured out for a cheeseburger, but was disappointed when the bacon and hamburger weren’t quite cooked. She vows to pack more snacks on their next trip.
Not a scene out of <em>A Christmas Story</em>, this roasted duck was welcomed when compared to mystery parts in soup. Yes, that is its head. “I thought it was delicious and one of the best meals” Randall said.
Not a scene out of A Christmas Story, this roasted duck was welcomed when compared to mystery parts in soup. Yes, that is its head. “I thought it was delicious and one of the best meals” Randall said.
The Tharps took this shot of the currency. Randy explained some of the economics in the communist country. “It’s a luxury to have a car over there, and they’re way nicer than our cars. All Mercedes, BMWs, Porsches,” he said. He said the Ranger Z -520 he fished from cost its owner $130,000 to have there, and an $80,000 car would cost around a quarter million U.S. dollars.
The Tharps took this shot of the currency. Randy explained some of the economics in the communist country. “It’s a luxury to have a car over there, and they’re way nicer than our cars. All Mercedes, BMWs, Porsches,” he said. He said the Ranger Z -520 he fished from cost its owner $130,000 to have there, and an $80,000 car would cost around a quarter million U.S. dollars.
The only touristy things they did was go by the Forbidden City and visit the Great Wall of China. The section of the Great Wall they visited is about 40 minutes north of Beijing, the capital with a population of more than 23 million.
The only touristy things they did was go by the Forbidden City and visit the Great Wall of China. The section of the Great Wall they visited is about 40 minutes north of Beijing, the capital with a population of more than 23 million.
The Tharps were among the 4.4 million international visitors the Great Wall entertains – and tires out – each year. Chinese tourists increase the attraction’s annual total visitors another 140 million.
The Tharps were among the 4.4 million international visitors the Great Wall entertains – and tires out – each year. Chinese tourists increase the attraction’s annual total visitors another 140 million.
“The Great Wall was awesome,” Sara said. “I would do that again. Everybody should do that, if you’re ever in China. It was amazing.”
“The Great Wall was awesome,” Sara said. “I would do that again. Everybody should do that, if you’re ever in China. It was amazing.”
Sara did say the climb to the top was physically taxing. “It was a lot steeper than I thought,” she said. “It was cold so we had three layers of clothes on, and after 10 minutes we began taking off layers. It was a workout, but when we made it to the top it was just beautiful.”
Sara did say the climb to the top was physically taxing. “It was a lot steeper than I thought,” she said. “It was cold so we had three layers of clothes on, and after 10 minutes we began taking off layers. It was a workout, but when we made it to the top it was just beautiful.”
Going inside the Forbidden City, which served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties beginning in the 1500s, is on the to-do list for the Tharps’ next visit.
Going inside the Forbidden City, which served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties beginning in the 1500s, is on the to-do list for the Tharps’ next visit.
The group poses for a photo at their final lunch gathering in Beijing.
The group poses for a photo at their final lunch gathering in Beijing.
Tharp was presented a copy of a rare 1,000-year old Chinese calligraphy print – only 19 exist – that is expected garner $30 million in an auction this month.
Tharp was presented a copy of a rare 1,000-year old Chinese calligraphy print – only 19 exist – that is expected garner $30 million in an auction this month.
The Tharps’ nine-day trip was more than just business being conducted – they made friends, learned about Chinese culture, and will cherish the memories made. “We were nervous flying over there, but we had good people taking care of us,” Sara said. “I wouldn’t recommend going by yourself unless you speak the language.” But she would suggest taking a lot more snacks, as their box of Cliff bars was gone rather quickly.
The Tharps’ nine-day trip was more than just business being conducted – they made friends, learned about Chinese culture, and will cherish the memories made. “We were nervous flying over there, but we had good people taking care of us,” Sara said. “I wouldn’t recommend going by yourself unless you speak the language.” But she would suggest taking a lot more snacks, as their box of Cliff bars was gone rather quickly.