Can I Really Make A Living Bass Fishing?
I took my daughter. Rebeckah, to the Revolve Tour this weekend. I had my daughter, Hannah there a month ago. It's a conference for youth/teen girls. Christian bands, speakers and dramas cover topics around typical teen issues. If you have girls, check them out, it's an amazing weekend for them. I might have been one of about 3 men it the entire audience! I was privileged to be there. Their topic for this year is, "DREAM ON!". Got me thinking.
Back in 1987, I caught my first Delaware River smallmouth bass on an in-line spinner and that fish hooked ME for a lifetime. A lifetime of what? There was a time when that question was kind of hard to answer.
Back in 1999, I decided, with the help of a couple friends, I had to make some changes in my life. I was not happy. I was working in the medical field 4-6 days per week, indoors, and thinking about how I "wished" I was on the river or on some lake catching bass, or even in a stream catching trout. "But," as my thoughts told me,. "I cannot make a living fishing". So I stayed unhappy, where I thought I belonged.
Having waded the waters of the Delaware since 1987, I finally bought my first jetboat and began guiding in 2000. What an evolution since then! I enjoy many things about guiding. I'm blessed to be able to fish for a living, and blessed with the many friends I have made over the years. Many relationships do I treasure from guiding folks on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. I get to be on the water close to 200 days each year. This was what I was "wishing" for back in the doctor's office. It wasn't an easy road (few roads to success are, right?) Dealing with the negative thinking was hardest obstacle.
Now, the TV show. Backwoods Angler TV was a dream of mine since way back. I remember my buddy Matt and I setting up an old camcorder on a chair of his dock up in VT shooting stuff before we went out on his old Laser Bass Boat and tossed live minnows and in-line spinners for smallies, my mullet telling me that it was in the late '80! It's all we knew, and for us it was golden! It was a dream, but the dream flatlined underneath a smoldering pile of lies. That's where most dreams end up.
Thank God, He sent me people that helped educate me and shine the Light of truth to begin changing my thinking. I am happy to report, that although it took time, the dream is very alive and the fire is burning! It always was, but the lies suffocated the dream. There have been TONS of obstacles, believe me! We're facing the fact that in just 2.5 short months, Backwoods Angler TV will be premiering on NBC Sports/VERSUS! I am living proof that mindsets can be crushed and dreams can be realized. DREAM ON!
Good fishin!
Blaine
Back in 1987, I caught my first Delaware River smallmouth bass on an in-line spinner and that fish hooked ME for a lifetime. A lifetime of what? There was a time when that question was kind of hard to answer.
Back in 1999, I decided, with the help of a couple friends, I had to make some changes in my life. I was not happy. I was working in the medical field 4-6 days per week, indoors, and thinking about how I "wished" I was on the river or on some lake catching bass, or even in a stream catching trout. "But," as my thoughts told me,. "I cannot make a living fishing". So I stayed unhappy, where I thought I belonged.
Having waded the waters of the Delaware since 1987, I finally bought my first jetboat and began guiding in 2000. What an evolution since then! I enjoy many things about guiding. I'm blessed to be able to fish for a living, and blessed with the many friends I have made over the years. Many relationships do I treasure from guiding folks on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. I get to be on the water close to 200 days each year. This was what I was "wishing" for back in the doctor's office. It wasn't an easy road (few roads to success are, right?) Dealing with the negative thinking was hardest obstacle.
Now, the TV show. Backwoods Angler TV was a dream of mine since way back. I remember my buddy Matt and I setting up an old camcorder on a chair of his dock up in VT shooting stuff before we went out on his old Laser Bass Boat and tossed live minnows and in-line spinners for smallies, my mullet telling me that it was in the late '80! It's all we knew, and for us it was golden! It was a dream, but the dream flatlined underneath a smoldering pile of lies. That's where most dreams end up.
Thank God, He sent me people that helped educate me and shine the Light of truth to begin changing my thinking. I am happy to report, that although it took time, the dream is very alive and the fire is burning! It always was, but the lies suffocated the dream. There have been TONS of obstacles, believe me! We're facing the fact that in just 2.5 short months, Backwoods Angler TV will be premiering on NBC Sports/VERSUS! I am living proof that mindsets can be crushed and dreams can be realized. DREAM ON!
Good fishin!
Blaine
Posted by Blaine Mengel at 4/11/2011 2:47 PM 
Categories: TV Show
Tags: bass fishing Delaware River susquehanna River smallmouth bass fishing Backwoods Angler Tv Dream On living your dream Versus NBC SPorts
Categories: TV Show
Tags: bass fishing Delaware River susquehanna River smallmouth bass fishing Backwoods Angler Tv Dream On living your dream Versus NBC SPorts
Great article! I admire you and you are an inspiration to me! I love bass fishing. No matter what I'm doing it seems like I am always thinking about it. I would love to be able do it all the time and make a living. I out-fish just about everyone when we go. I have a natural talent for selecting baits and tactics for the environment we're fishing in. Good luck on your show! I am sure you will be excellent.... are you going to post any episodes online? I don't have cable but would love to watch.
Reply to this
Thx! If you go to backwoodsanglertv.com and click on the link at the top of the Home Page that says This Week's Episode, you can view shows. Or go to the show archives page for past shows. Thanks for supporting BWA TV and keep up the good work!
Blaine
Reply to this
Blaine,
This post is the best that I have ever seen. How many of us can relate to this, through failed dreams and people saying "you can't do that."
Even now after 71 years of living and learning I am truly inspired! GOD BLESS!
Reply to this
Thx Al. How many times did doubt creep in and try to steal it? How many times did circumstances, or people, or emotions get in the way of my focusing on what needed to happen. One thing is that if I didn't have a mentor to walk me thru this stuff, I would not have come very far at all. My mentor helped me build a relationship with God, put positive thoughts in my head, and better yet, get rid of the negative ones! And he taught me the ins and outs of building a business. believe me, there's nothing conventional about it either!
Blaine
Reply to this