Entry 243-1

Looking at the Classic through College Eyes with Rusty Jones

Editor’s Note: At the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, members of the University of Alabama’s bass-fishing team paid to attend the Classic and work for and with their sponsors. They were in the Strike King booth all three days of the Classic, showing new products and talking fishing with all who would listen. These young men are setting a new standard as college fishing pros, and they’re becoming tournament pros the right way through working with sponsors and honing their fishing skills, at a very young age. This week, you’ll meet Rusty Jones of Helena, Alabama, who has his education and fishing act together and uses his college courses to help further his fishing career.

Part 1: First, Earn a Degree

Question: Rusty, why did you go to college?

Jones: I went to college because my parents wanted me to get an education and earn a college degree. I’m a junior now, studying business marketing.

Question: How does business marketing fit into a career in bass fishing?

Jones: I think they fit together really well. There’s another side to bass fishing that the public never sees – the sponsors, the manufacturers and the business side of fishing.

Question: What are you learning in college about that side of the business?

Jones: I’m learning a lot, including how to find the right people to talk to, how to deal with these people, how to handle a business interview, and everything else related to the business side of fishing.

Question: How and why did you get tied to the Strike King Company?

Jones: In 2007, our team went to the Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, and we met Chris Brown, the marketing director for Strike King. He got onboard with us and became one of our U of A bass-fishing team sponsors. Both Chris Brown and Strike King have been a major help to our fishing team.

Question: How has your bass club performed on the circuit this year?

Jones: We went to the 2007 National Championship and placed third in the nation. After that, we hosted and won an invitational tournament.

Question: What’s your favorite Strike King lure to fish?

Jones: Right now, my favorite is the new Rage Tail Craw. I like the lure’s action, and I usually flip it rigged Texas style around vegetation and wood cover. Once the Craw hits the water, I let it sit still and dead stick it. Then I give it one or two hops and reel it in to the boat.

Question: How long are you letting the Rage Tail Craw sit before you move it?

Jones: The water temperature usually dictates how long I dead stick the bait. If the water’s cold, I may let it sit for 30 seconds before I move it. If the water’s warm, I may only let it sit 2 or 3 seconds.

Question: Why did you decide to start dead sticking the bait?

Jones: We’ve had some cold water, and the bass have been a little lethargic. So, I like to give them time to come up to the bait, see it and take it.

Question: What’s your favorite color?

Jones: Watermelon, because it’s a natural color, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in it. I mostly fish it on 17-pound-test line with a Power rod and a Shimano reel.

Looking at the Classic through College Eyes with Rusty Jones

Part 1: First, Earn a Degree

Next: After College Plans

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