How did you get started in bass fishing? – My folks were instrumental in getting me started. My Dad was (is) an avid bass fisherman and used to take me. Before I could drive, during the summer, my mom would take me out and drop me off at Lake Jackson (North of Tallahassee) with my 12 foot johnboat before she went to work then pick me up when she came home. 

How did you get into tournament fishing? – Again, though my dad. My dad and I fished father son tournaments when I was 9 or 10. Tallahassee Junior Museum used to hold them out on Lake Jackson. I also fished some kids tournaments that the Tallahassee Hawg Hunters bass club used to hold. Those were fun days. Remembering back to those days makes me happy that I am involved with the Junior Bassmasters of Tallahassee.

What's your favorite technique? – I really love swimming worms in the grass but I work very hard on being fairly versatile. I like to sight fish in the spring, throw crank baits when they are biting crank baits, flippin when there is opportunity to do so, jerk baits when that's what the fish want, Carolina rig or Texas Rig when it's appropriate... I feel like versatility is the difference between good anglers and great anglers. And by versatile that includes versatility with each type of bait. There are several ways to catch fish using spinner baits for example. You can slow roll them on the bottom, burn them till they wake the water on top and work them in every inch of water in between. Each bait has several ways to work it and as a result several uses. Being a versatile angler means learning and mastering as much as possible.

How about your fishing highlights.. What accomplishments are you most proud of? - 

• Third place finish on the amateur side of the 2002 BASS Top 150 on Lake Seminole
• Making the Florida Bass Federation state team in 2002
• Making the Florida Bass Federation state team in 2004
• 2004 BASS Federation Southern Divisional Tournament on the Ohio River in Paducah Kentucky 1st Place for Florida
• Representing the State of Florida at the Federation National Championship tournament in 2005.
• Making the Florida Bass Federation state team for 2006.

Any advise you'd like to pass on to others interested in tournament fishing? – First, spend lots of time on the water. Go to different bodies of water and experiment a lot till you find techniques that work for you. Second, join a Bass Club. Fishing club events will help you learn not only new fishing techniques, but also help you hone tournament strategies and tactics. Drawing from the knowledge of a different partner every month, you can learn quicker (and more inexpensively) than you would just blindly entering tournaments. Third, did I mention spending lots of time on the water?

Who are your sponsors? Anyone else you want to thank? - Thanks to the folks at Tri State Marine, Mike Roser at the Bass Anglers Supply Shop, Charles Kori at Bite-A-Bait lure company, Kistler Rods, Barrett Clifton at Sergeant Spinner Custom Spinner Baits and most of all my wife Melissa and all of my family for being so supportive.