More of this Feature • Part 1: Why I Taught School • Part 2: Some Outdoor Possibilities

Join the Discussion

"I always wanted to work outdoors.  Have you ever considered a job outdoors, or do you have one? What are the good and bad things about doing what you love for your career?"  Ronnie

Related Resources • Making Money Outdoors

Past Articles One Year Ago - 02/19/01 - Taking Fishing Pictures Two Years Ago -2/21/00 - Fishing Polls Three Years Ago - 02/22/99 - Fishing with Randy and Wanda Four Years Ago - 02/23/98 - Knot Tying

I have some suggestions for kids if you want to be a professional fisherman, too. Stay in school! Get a college degree, preferably one that will help you learn about fish - fisheries biology would be good.

Learn all you can about fish. Read all you can about fish and fishing. Read magazines, books and the internet to learn what others know. Go fishing every chance you get and go to learn. Keep up with every fish you catch, noting all you can about catching it.

Start out fishing with clubs as soon as you can. Go to learn. Try to fish with good fishermen and learn from them. And think while fishing. Exercise regularly so you will have the stamina to stand on one foot in a rocking boat for 8 hours a day, day after day.

Mainly, have rich parents that can support you, or get a good job with lots of time off. That way you can support an expensive hobby. Most pro fishermen just barely make enough money to pay expenses.

I fished with a man from South Carolina two years ago while working on a magazine article. He had to quit the pro circuits. He had dedicated two years to fishing the pro circuit and in 1998 he won 41,000, but had expenses of 40,000 above what sponsors paid. "Take home" pay of $1000 a year is not enough, even if you do get to fish every day!

Last year I fished with a pro fisherman from Alabama. He told me he won $60,000 during the year but said his contracting business is what kept him going. He could not win enough or get enough sponsors to really make it worthwhile, even winning that much in one year!

Trying to be a professional fisherman is tough - as tough as being a professional ball player - maybe even tougher. Being a game warden is not quite as tough, but those jobs are very competitive. You need to get a degree and make good grades. And I am not suggesting staying in school just because I am an educator.

Talk to local game wardens and find how they go their jobs. Contact some of your fishing heroes and see what they suggest. If you want either of these kinds of careers, go for it. But be prepared for hard work, lots of study, and a long time getting to where you want to be!

Page 2 > Why I Taught School > Page 1, 2 

Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.

Previous Features