Tommie Robinson is a pro bass fisherman with over 25 years of experience and has qualified for and participated in several tournaments, including the FLW Tour, Bassmaster’s Opens, FLW Series, and the Michigan and Mississippi BFL. He was also a former fisheries research technician.
Tommie Robinson joined Tonia Becker, the host of PartsVu Xchange Talks Boating, to discuss his career before tournament fishing, share insights from his experience as a pro bass fisherman, a bit about his fishing strategies, and a little advice.
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Could you start by sharing an overview of the fishing and boating aspects of your career?
Tommie: I grew up in Mississippi around Ross Barnett Lake. Growing up, I fished with my grandmother and some of the other ladies in the neighborhood. I used my first fishing rod and reels, which my friend’s father passed on to me.
I was lucky to have the opportunity to work for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, specializing in fisheries research on rivers, streams, farm pond management, and so forth. I’m also a certified outboard mechanic. That’s come in real handy over the years to keep my bass boats in top performance.
Marine conservation is critical for allowing anglers to enjoy the sport they love for decades and generations to come. Can you share your thoughts on effective conservation?
Tommie: First, preservation and management are entirely different. Preservation refers to the act of keeping something in its natural state without any form of alterations. This includes never removing any fish from the pond, never fertilizing, allowing the growth of weeds, and so on.
Management, on the contrary, allows manipulation. By manipulation, I mean removing fish from an impoundment, improving water quality through fertilization and watershed liming, and so on.
However, realistically, you aren’t really managing the pond – it’s the people you are managing. I mean, it’s a problem to get people to take fish and an even bigger problem to get them to take the right size. Also, another aspect of management is ensuring you don’t get carried away when removing the weeds in your lake. When you get carried away, you may make the mistake of removing all the weeds, which ultimately causes other problems.
Why would an environmental management organization overkill weeds or make other unproductive decisions?
Tommie: There are several possible reasons. You get pressure from homeowners around the lake who probably don’t fish but frequently weed, depending on the type of weed is present in their space.
So, when the department contracts contractors to do the job – because they don’t typically do it themselves – the contractors often overdo it. These companies want to do their best while ensuring they work for as long as possible. And by doing this, they tend to overkill weeds.
Also, more often than not, some water bodies aren’t managed for fishing – they are managed for either flood control or to save power plants. Completely removing weeds in these places is often the most efficient management strategy.
What are some of the things marine management organizations get right, and what are some of the things they get wrong?
Tommie: Understandably, nothing is perfect, and there are multiple problems and mistakes I’ve seen in the past. For instance, grass carp made their way into the waters that feed Lake Michigan, risking introducing this invasive species to Lake Michigan itself.
A while ago, they tried to use a chemical that attaches to fishes’ hemoglobin, preventing them from taking oxygen from the water. This chemical is typically used when the atmosphere is extremely hot during the summer. However, they tried to use it during the winter and fall, which was somewhat catastrophic.
Another mistake I’ve seen marine management organizations make is draining a lake past where it should be drained. Even worse, this is often done at the wrong time, which can also cause problems.
Basically, mistakes are made here and there. But, of course, it’s impossible to always know the driving motivation behind such efforts.
How did you end up fishing for a living as a pro bass fisherman?
Tommie: As I said, my grandmother and other women in the neighborhood first introduced me to fishing, but my father sparked my interest in bass fishing.
After purchasing my rod and reel, my friend – we worked together – taught me how to work with those reels.
Technically, I started like everybody else: I had a little aluminum boat with a trolling motor, and I stood up in the front of it and fished for bass. Not long after, I joined a bass club that included a famous fisherman and skilled pond master, Alfred Williams, among its members. I continued to fish with the club, learning some of the best tools to use, traveling to a few other ponds, and lots more.
As I perfected the craft, I got the opportunity to fish the FLW Series full-time for four years. I won some money and other accolades. For instance, I won a trucking boat in the BFL Regional, and I’ve been to the All American. I also represented Michigan twice in The Bass Federation (TBF) Nationals and have fished in many other tournaments.
What’s it like fishing against great anglers, and how did you continue to improve your skills?
Tommie: I did electroshocking while working in fisheries research. That taught me a lot about bass: the habitat they like, the best time to catch them, how to catch them, what they like to eat, when they feed, the best weather condition for them, etc. Learning these things significantly contributed to my knowledge base and added to my experience.
Also, the several days and late evenings on the lakes, sometimes even under bad weather conditions, helped a lot. I fished both alone and with other people, a few of whom are the best anglers out there.
What are your favorite things about tournament fishing?
Tommie: A lot keeps me motivated, ranging from the thoughts of what’s under the stump to how to make a fish bite. Also, I am competitive, which has served as the primary source of my motivation.
I always look forward to learning a new lake, having interesting conversations with different people, and so on. To me, that’s what really matters.
Do you have any advice for anglers who want to start competing in bass tournaments at a semi-pro or professional level?
Tommie: Well, there are a couple of things. First, ensure you prioritize time on the water, and nothing beats repetitiveness and personal experience.
Another thing is, when considering to become a pro bass fisherman, it would be unwise of you to leave school. This is because the school itself can help kickstart your career in the best possible way. They offer activities like college fishing and high school fishing teams. Interestingly, even the big leagues now recruit from colleges. But above all, it simply pays to continue your education.
Also, marketing is an essential aspect to consider on your way to becoming a pro bass fisherman. Technically, it’s going to be your strongest tool. So, when looking for sponsors, stay approachable – if they don’t like you, they’re not going to deal with you.
