20 Questions with Justin Lucas
Q: Where were you born?
A: Sacramento, CA.
Q: Where did you go to school? ( high school & college )
A: I went to Folsom high school and went to a junior college for a couple semesters until I won my first big event as a co-angler. Then I was all in on making fishing happen.
Q: What age did you start fishing?
A: I started fishing when I was 11 years old. I used to hate fishing before that age. Crazy!
Q: What age did you start tournament fishing?
A: I fished my first tournament when I was 13.
Q: What body of water would you consider to be your home lake?
A: At this point I would have to say Guntersville. I have been here for 5 years now. It used to be Folsom Lake in California.
Q: What is your favorite technique and bait to fish?
A: Easy one…Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait on a jig head.
Q: What is your least favorite technique?
A: Carolina Rig for sure. Just a pain to tie up!
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a professional angler?
A: Besides getting to fish all the time I would have to say being able to travel all over the United States. It is cool to see how different all the regions of our country are from each other.
Q: In your opinion, what is the hardest part of being a professional angler?
A: Without question it is being away from my wife and family.
Q: Who was your first major sponsor? And in your opinion how did you land that sponsor?
A: My first major sponsor was the National Guard through FLW. It was really just a right place right time kind of deal and I was extremely fortunate for it.
Q: Do you keep track of your tournament winnings? If so, what is the running total at as of 2014?
A: I know I was over $100k for 2014, but I don’t know the exact number.
Q: Have you experience financial hardship at any point in your fishing career? If so, can you go into a little detail?
A: I have been extremely fortunate to not experience any financial problems. I started out like everyone else with hardly any money, but as soon as I got out of high school I won 2 boats within a year so that really built a financial backing for me.
Q: What professional angler(s) do you look up to and why?
A: I probably look up to Aaron Martens the most. He grew up in California and moved to Alabama and has been so solid over his career. Just a stud.
Q: What is your least favorite thing about being a professional angler?
A: Not having enough professional tournaments. I look at the PGA Tour and NASCAR and the amount of events they have compared to us…we don’t have enough. I would like to see 15 a year.
Q: If you could change anything about the sport of tournament bass fishing, what would it be and why? IE tournament rules, where tournaments are held, weigh in, blast off, pay outs etc.
A: Obviously the payouts! Lol. But seriously, I would like to see a weather delay during tournaments. Nothing scares me more than fishing around lightning. I don’t think it should be who is brave enough to stay out there and catch fish…I think we should all take a break during stuff like that.
Q: If you weren’t a professional angler, what would you be doing?
A: I honestly don’t have a clue. I imagine I would be working in the industry or working with some kind of weather related job.
Q: Do you follow any other sports? If so, what teams do you follow?
A: I think legally living in Alabama I have to say I pay attention to college football. Ha! But yes, college football and golf. I’m not crazy about it but enjoy watching it.
Q: What do you do during the off season? ( unrelated to fishing or family ) IE video games, party, travel, sports etc.
A: I always travel back to California to see everyone, but honestly other than that it is a lot of prepping to make sure I am ready to go the next season. I don’t hunt so I spend my time staying organized with my gear.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Hopefully holding up some dang trophies! Honestly at this point I just want to win some events. I have been consistent and am thankful for that, but I want some trophies badly!
Q: Most successful anglers have left their mark on the sport. IE Paul Elias – Kneel and Reel, KVD 4 time classic champ, Bill Dance – Television, What will Justin Lucas’s mark be?
A: I have no clue right now…I’m still trying to just make my mark. Ask me again in 5 years!