Diary of a Bass Pro: A Year on the Inside of Fishing's Fast Track

if you want to be a pro,check this book out first it details one mans year on the tour,(by the way joe thomas is no slouch a fine fisherman) and is you like to fish this still a great read

As a former touring Bass pro myself, I have to say that Thomas & Tucker capture what it is really like out on the professional fishing circuit. Perhaps the only thing missing or in error related to the book vs. the tour today is simply one of a forgiving level of competition. The book was written in the early 90's when a competator could have a bad tournament and still make the classic. Such is not the case these days in most situations. A single stumble can ruin a year's chance at the classic.Otherwise, a great look inside a much mis-understood and little seen side of the sport.

I have read, and re-read this book about 4 times. Each new season coming off a bad previous tournament season, I re-read it and find it to be a grounding factor in my goal setting for the coming year. I feel like I know Joe personally at this point. His insight into what really happens in Competitive Fishing is exceptional, and details the real world responsibilities of what it takes to be a National Touring Bass Pro. The financial part of it may be a little outdated, because the sport and payouts of Full Time Tournament Fishing have increased greatly since 1996, but the content and mental aspects of this book make it one that needs to be in any serious bass tournament anglers library.

This diary of one angler (Joe Thomas) for a year in high profile professional tournament fishing offers something to everyone from the weekend fisherman to the local tournament trail angler. I not only enjoyed reading about the competition of the tournaments themselves, but also the attention to detail and preparation that is involved in being a pro angler. The book made it clear that these guys work hard for their money both on and off the water. Most days' entries would include "I'm exhausted and going to bed early" but would be followed by "Worked on my tackle before hitting the rack". These guys really have their priorities in line. Joe must have taken the oath of "Be Prepared" seriously in the scouts (even to the point of carrying an extra trolling motor with him in the boat). I was able to draw a few parallels with Joe's experiences as I have fished local tournaments over the past years. Even they have bad days, but not nearly as many as I do. The book also offers up strategies he employs both on practice days and competition days. It was informative to know why he made the moves and choices he made. There are also short by lines with tips and tactics that all of us can use to avoid those bad days.All and all the book is an informative and an easy read. It is one I will pull out again and again to get me thru the winter months waiting on spring fishing to arrive.

This book is awesome! It explains in biographic form the ups and downs of being on the tournament trail...even a section telling how hard it is to maintain sponsars and the business side of bass fishing. I was real startled to here that he found a suicide victims body in the water.