®
Spring 2019
ANGLER
spotlight
Austin Wilson
page 20
TROPHY TIME
Austin Wilson of Citrus Heights, Calif. is the most recent winner of the “Livin the Dream” package from The Bass Federation, also known as the TBF.
The TBF is a grassroots tournament organization that hosts events across the United States. The tournaments offer a low-cost entry fees with the chance to move on to regional and national events to compete for big money and what they call the “Living the Dream” package.
Wilson’s prize package granted him entry in the Forrest Wood Cup, paid tournament entries as a professional in the FLW Tour and the BFL All-American events, a truck and boat to use for the 2019 season as well as some expenses.
Wilson’s win put right in the middle of the competition with the pro anglers that he used to root for on TV.
“It is exciting to fish with a group of guys that I’ve grown up and watched on YouTube and stuff,” said Wilson when asked about his accomplishment. “It is so intense that I am fishing at their level.”
In addition to the “Living the Dream” package, Wilson also won a brand-new Ranger boat as a Ranger Boat owner that is part of the Ranger Cup program.
WILSON’S PATH
So how did a night worker for Sysco win the event that every regional bass angler aspires to
win?
First, it takes skill and second, a streak
of not having a bad tournament.
The road to the TBF National
Championship does not allow for a
misstep. To have a chance to move
on, an angler must do well in their
regional events in their state, then
at the TBF Semi-Finals and then
finally, they must win it all at the
TBF National Championship.
“It still hasn’t really set it. It is
just surreal and feels like a dream,”
said Wilson. “I still can’t believe it
happened.”
Wilson’s family are in full support
of the pro angling venture that he
claimed with the win.
“They’ve just been super-excited,”
he said. “There were a lot of things to think
about – finances, bills and stuff – and we
talked about that. But I’ve saved for the
season and am ready to give a shot at
professional angler.”
Pierson’s Pickwick trophy that earned the Bassmaster Classic berth and Elite Series invite Photo by Stephen Findley/B.A.S.S.