SHORELINES

So you want to be a Bassmaster star? The perception of the gl a morous life of a professional fisher m an often isn't the re alit y The three-day tournament will award the expenses. Last year, Howell spent campground in Cropwell on the banks $10,000 and a new $50,000 bass boat $22,000 on gasoline alone chasing the of Logan Martin Lake. While the other to the winner. circuit, he says with disdain. It's 4 a.m. at the Lakeside Landing campers are deep in sleep, Randy Howell At 4:30 a.m., Howell's wife, Robin, Howell does not have a "normal" job with a paycheck direct-deposited is up making coffee and packing a into his account on Friday mornings. lunch for her husband. The couple's two the long 70 mph boat rides on the Getting a paycheck all depends on children, Laker, 11, and Oakley, 7, are Bassmaster Tournament Trail have whether his lure will attract bass that asleep in the 38-foot travel trailer that taken a toll on the 39-year-old pro he cannot see. Should he falter, the is their home away from home. The fisherman. The years of casting as expenses he has racked up playing this couple is on the road more often than many as 3,000 times a day have crazy game will be for naught. not and Robin home-schools the boys. is stretching and doing pushups. The years of being pounded by taken a similar toll on the Trussville "It takes me about an hour to get Howell has been more successful resident's casting arm. "I have to do my stretching and exercises every morning so I can move around," Howell explains. "I've been on the road fishing for five straight weeks. I'm so sore I can't hardly move." There are plenty who imagine "I've been on the road fishing for five straight weeks. I'm so sore I can't hardly move." — Professional fisher m an RANDY HOWELL the glamorous life of those who fish professionally for a living. Howell laughs and just shakes his head at in professional bass fishing than most. going in the mornings now," Howell the notion. In 21 years, he has accumulated more says. "I have to get my coffee and than $1.4 million in career winnings then Robin will drive me down to the Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on on the Bassmaster and FLW bass ramp and back the boat in the water. Logan Martin Lake. In little more fishing tours. In 1998, he collected I couldn't do this if it were not for her. than an hour, Howell will be in his $100,000 in one day for winning an This is a family business." boat and ready to do battle against FLW Tour event on Wheeler Lake. At 5:20 a.m., Howell finally is in more than 180 other professionals. That would be big money if not for his boat. The tournament begins in This is the first day of the Bass Pro Left: Photo by Billy Brown — Randy Howell holds up his catch at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Logan Martin Lake. Above: Photo by Billy Brown — Randy Howell prepares for a fishing tournament before dawn. S hor el i ne s | 2013 Vol:2 7

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