What Truck, Boat and Outboard does Michelle run?

2018 SKEETER, GMC TRUCK

My Sponsors

DUCKETT FISHING

BD BAITS

BASS REAPER BAITS

VECTOR HOOKS

WICKED WEIGHTS

What Michelle does for a living:

ACCOUNTS CONTROLLER

OFFICE MANAGER FOR FACTORY SUPPORT

What you should know about Michelle:

I think the hardest thing about fishing is keeping your head in the game.  Every day is a new day in fishing.  Positive thinking when your biggest fish of a tournament gets off is hard.  Learn something new every time you go on the water.  I have seen a lot of beautiful sunrises and sunsets on the water during practice and tournaments.  I try to be the first on out and the last in at every event.  I am the person that will leave after work and drive ten hours, sleep in truck for a few hours before a tournament.  I am dedicated and it doesn’t matter if it’s 10 degrees or 100 degrees, I will be on the water.  

How Michelle started fishing

I have been fishing all my life and enjoy the challenge.  I remember my dad and I would be going through the tackle boxes in February with it freezing outside.  I would not stop asking to go fishing until he would give in and took me.  Even in the worse conditions, I remember breaking ice to get the boat in at ramp and sitting on the front with a paddle until we got far enough out.

Mom couldn’t keep up with me, I always had my pole.  Growing up in a small town, there were 6 large ponds behind my house.  My dog Dan and I would take off on my 3-wheeler to fish all day.  At family camping trips to Center Hill, I was gone with my worms and pole before anyone was up.

Aspirations or goals with fishing

One day I hope to be able to fish the FLW and hopefully qualify for the Classic with the Elite guys.  I work very hard at fishing.

Favorite way to fish

Love my plastics and cranking.  My home lake is Old Hickory so if you want a limit you better break out the plastic.

Most exciting fishing experience

You know you have a fishing affection when you go fishing the morning before you get married.  My biggest bass 8.4LB was right before my oldest son was born, I guess the bass flu soaked right into him.

How Michelle preps for a tournament

Being organized is the main prep.

Three favorite search baits

Lipless, jig, spinnerbait

Best tournament finish and what you did that day when you were fishing.

Most challenging part of tournament fishing

Slowing down, you know a limit is your goal but sometimes the fish just want a slower bait.  When your in a hurry to get 5 it is hard.

When tournaments don't go my way

Always be positive, tomorrow is a new day.  Shake the hand of the winner and tell them great job.

Advice to give to an aspiring tournament angler:

If you are willing to put everything on the line, you will suceed.  That is long drives and leaving home for weeks at a time.  I leave every Friday after work and drive up to 9 hours, sleep in my truck for a hour and put boat in the water for a tournament.  With limited time off work that is all I can do.

Some shared general bass fishing techniques for people just getting into the sport

You don't have to have the best of everything.  Go buy a spinning rod and you can get them cheaper, they work for everything.  Don't buy things you don't need. 

Use the KISS principle, KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.