An undercover narcotics operation conducted by narcotics officers from the Winn and Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Departments has resulted in the arrest of three individuals connected to the distribution of illegal drugs in both Winn and Caldwell parishes.

The operation, which spanned several weeks, was launched after information revealed that illegal

narcotics originating from Winn Parish were making their way into Caldwell Parish. Through a

series of coordinated efforts, narcotics officers from both departments were able to gather evidence that led to the arrest of three individuals:

 

• Daniel Bearden of Winnfield was arrested and charged with three counts of Distribution of

Methamphetamine.

• Kesha Parker of Jonesboro was arrested and charged with one count of Distribution of

Methamphetamine.

• Brandon Sullivan of Castor, LA, was arrested and charged with one count of Possession of

Schedule II Methamphetamine and one count of Possession of Schedule I Marijuana.

 

Sheriff Josh McAllister emphasized the significance of the operation, stating that the issue of illegal narcotics remains a persistent challenge not only in Winn Parish but across the state. He

expressed his appreciation for the partnership with Sheriff Clay Bennett and the Caldwell Parish

Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff McAllister commended their narcotics officers along with Winn Parish narcotics officers for their dedication to combating the growing drug problem.

”This joint operation exemplifies the power of cooperation between law enforcement agencies,” said McAllister.  “Our goal is clear: to curtail the selling and use of illegal drugs and to protect our communities. This is just the beginning, and we plan to continue working closely with surrounding sheriff’s departments in future operations.”

He also stressed the importance of public awareness, reminding the community

that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  “I want to assure the public that these efforts will continue,” he said, adding, “We will continue sharing intelligence and resources to reduce the impact of illegal narcotics in our communities.”

The three individuals have been booked into the Winn Parish Detention Center, where they will

await further legal proceedings.

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Winnfield’s city jail has been closed for several years due to deficiencies.  Repairs and corrections have been made to fix those problems and staffing hired in anticipation.

In special session this past Thursday evening, the City Council approved purchase and installation of an HVAC unit for the jail at a cost of $116,573.  Mayor Gerald Hamms said installation of the climate control unit should be the final requirement before the jail can be put back into operation.  “Soon,” he said.  “Soon.”

The contract for the Carrier unit was awarded to Alberitton Service Co. of Ruston.

The jail can house 32 inmates.  There are 12 cells in the front area that might be opened earliest.  Once the HVAC work is completed and accepted, the 20 cells in the back could be ready for use, the mayor indicated.

During this interim, city inmates have been housed in the parish detention center on Thomas Mill Road or out-of-parish, with costs billed to the city department.  That housing space itself has become a problem recently. City Attorney Clay Carroll told the members that since space in those alternative facilities is less available, the City Court’s options are limited.

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The Winn Parish School District maintained an ongoing record of ‘clean’ audits, members heard in committee session Monday night when CPA Nicholas Fowlkes gave the audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

Fowlkes, with the Alexandria firm Kolder, Slaven & Company, stressed to members that within the course of an audit, not every transaction can be verified but their study of the system’s records indicated no areas of noncompliance with state or federal guidelines.  His report to the members was more specific but he concluded in layman’s terms that this was a “clean audit.”

In another board item, members agreed to retain Kolder, Slaven & Company to continue Winn’s audits for the years 2025, 2026 and 2027, citing satisfaction with work over recent years.

A lot of information was shared around the table through questions & explanations during Monday’s two-hour session.  Of particular interest was the proposed 2025-26 school calendar likely to be approved in regular session February 3.  Supt. Al Simmons explained that various options were put out to educators, each fitting the required number of teaching days into the calendar framework.  “No single option showed overwhelming support.  This showed the most.”  Full details will be given in the Journal once approved.

The night’s discussions began with discussion on the grant application and award process.  Supt. Simmons gave an overview on state & federal grants, private grants and local grants, explaining that the rules vary with each on both application and spending.  Federal Programs Director Bridget Bartlett stepped up to further clarify the process and to address some specific instances.

The board also asked and received information on the possibility of issuing general obligation bonds for the Calvin and Winnfield taxing districts.  There has been discussion of a new sports complex for Winnfield and talk of efficient heating & cooling units in some schools.  Members received printouts showing the maximum taxation the current assessment would allow as well as a listing of the millage that would be required for increasing bond amounts in each of the districts.  Simmons said a tax election could be put before voters in October this year but the board would need to begin action on that by March.

Monday’s session also saw the declaration of some school surplus property for sale or disposal; discussion on advertising for positions and placement of personnel; and compensation of non-certified personnel.

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In a short special session January 23, the Winnfield City Council covered a lot of ground as they took action on the Louisiana Political Museum renovation project and the $1 million Main Street sidewalk project.

During Regular session the prior week, the council heard from State Rep. Jack McFarland and museum Director Shonna Moss on $1.2 million in state funding dedicated to a major renovation of the museum housed in the old L&A depot at 499 East Main Street and the adjacent commercial building.  But for the plan to move forward, the buildings must be donated to the state.

The council introduced Ordinance No. 1 of 2025 that would make that donation of the depot.  But according to state law, the council must wait 30 days before approving that ordinance.  And City Attorney Clay Carroll confirmed that there is no way to hurry that process.  “The donation must be made by ordinance and that requires the 30 days.”

Apparently once the donation is made to the state, there’s another 60-day waiting period.  Museum officials showed some concern over the timeline as related to the state monies.  The adjacent Youth Shop/Girlfriend building is owned by “Friends of the Museum” which has also agreed to the donation.

The city also agreed to cooperate with the State of Louisiana on a federal aid “Downtown Winnfield Sidewalk Project” which has been described as a “$1 Million project.”  Discussion at the table indicated this had been viewed as stretching from the Methodist Church eastward to the railroad tracks but Mayor Gerald Hamms told members he hopes to see that expanded from one end of Main to the other.

The plan has been in discussion for a year and a half, said Hamms, “and it’s time to move forward.”  Costs to the city could be around $50,000.  Included would be lighting, wheelchair access and “a sidewalk wide enough that people could walk from one end to the other without having to get in the middle of the street.”

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On the dance line at Winnfield Senior High School, she once dreamed on pursuing dance in her postsecondary studies “but deep down, I knew I was going into pharmacy.”

Chemistry teacher Ms. Freeman was the educator who put Yasmeen Davis on that career path, the Journal learned during an interview with Davis, the Pharmacist in Charge at Pharmacy Services of Winnfield on Main Street which is now part of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana.

Yasmeen was born in Winnfield and graduated WSHS in 2008.  She attended UL-M where she received both her undergraduate and PharmD degrees.  Before returning to her hometown she gained valuable experience in the pharmacy field, working 7 years at Kroger Pharmacy in Shreveport before moving to Georgia, also with Kroger.

Moving back to Louisiana, she started with Walgreens in Pineville in 2023 but found no job satisfaction there and began praying and fasting.  “There were a lot of opportunities but they didn’t feel right.  A friend told my mom about Pharmacy Services, Steve Shelton’s old place.  Initially, I wasn’t sure about being back in smalltown Winnfield but the more I prayed, the more the Lord showed me it was right.”

She interviewed with Trinity CEO Deano Thornton, Mallorie Gardner and pharmacist April Boyett, knowing she’d enjoy working at what she’d know as “Steve’s store,” yet still uncertain about the move.  But, during her years in metro city environments, she had worked away from home, she didn’t know the people and there was no sense of community.  She agreed and signed on with Trinity for the change.

Now as she looks across the counter, she sees people she knows, even family.  She talks directly with the leadership of Deano and Mallorie rather than working up a chain of command.  “Honestly, there’s a lot of work but there’s less pressure.  There’s a comfort level working here.  I can breathe.”

Part of that breathing room comes through the professional staffing at Pharmacy Services.  Yasmeen has worked in the chain pharmacy environment where understaffing is often the norm.  Here, there are 6 pharmacists at Pharmacy Services including Steve Shelton and veteran Sharon Barnett.  “I’ve never had such a staff.  Usually there are 3 to 4 pharmacists on a shift.  At Trinity, they don’t mind hiring.”

Winn Community Health Center, the first of the Trinity family of health centers, also has a pharmacy with additional pharmacists, used primarily by patients of the clinic.

Yasmeen continues to make her home in Pineville where she lives with her daughter Jariyah, 2.

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Brad Cooper, U.S. Forest Service District Ranger at Kisatchie, spoke to the Kiwanis club Tuesday, January 28, in his role as President of the Louisiana Forest Festival Board. The Forest Festival was not held in 2024 for a lot of reasons but Cooper as U.S. Forest Service District Ranger was disturbed by that and wants to do something about it. Forestry is a major industry in Winn Parish and in Louisiana.

He went to the board meeting for the La. Forest Festival to determine how to make it happen this year. The board is made up of previous board members Michael Brister, Brieanna Howell, and Kelley Skains Holmes and new board members Brad Cooper, Buddy King, Randa Williams, Victoria Carpenter, and Kayla Martin. Cooper ended up as head of the board. The Forest Festival needs to have strong ties back to the forest industry.

There is not a lot of money for the festival so they need strong community support. They need organizations such as civic clubs, churches, businesses, industry and other organizations to help out. The Forest Festival dates are April 25-26, 2025. This is the last weekend in April. On Friday evening they want to have activities on Main Street. What those activities are remain to be seen. Some ideas thrown out were bed races, cornhole tournament, street dance, food, and more. 

On Friday there will be activities at the Fairgrounds for 4th grade students. On Saturday there will be collegiate skills competition. Hopefully they can attract some professionals but because they canceled last year that area will have to be built back up. But there will be plenty of activities for all ages. There are also plans for a stage and musical entertainment during the day Saturday.

The theme is “Future of Forestry”. They will have vendors displaying showing technology of the future in forestry. There will be T-shirts. The school art students will have a competition for the t shirt design.

Social media and the website for the Forest Festival will soon be updated with plans for this year.

Sponsors are being contacted and a new sponsor this year will be Duck Commander.

Cooper is excited about the plans for the Forest Festival and would like participation from as many groups as possible.  Contact him at the U.S. Forest Service office on Highway 84 West.

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Hunt Forest Products CEO Richie LeBlanc and Vice President of Operations Paul Williams were introduced to Winnfield Rotarians by Rotarian of the Day Kiah Beville at their meeting on January 22. Hunt has recently purchased the Winn Lumber mill on Thomas Mill Road in Winnfield. Williams grew up in Winnfield and attended Winn Parish schools.

LeBlanc gave a little history of Hunt Forest Products and brought copies of the book, “Pioneers of the Piney Woods,” which recounts the development of Hunt lumber mills in Winn Parish for the Rotary members to take home with them. According to LeBlanc, Hunt established mills in Dodson in the late 1800s which were sold to Willamette around 1973. This transaction prohibited Hunt from competing in the lumber business in this area for five years.

In 1978, Hunt established a veneer plant in Louisiana which is now a plywood plant. Since then, Hunt has built or acquired mills in Pollock, Olla, Urania, Bienville, and Taylor. These mills produce up to about 3-1/2 million tons of raw forest products in a year. Everything was being sold rough because Hunt had no drying capacity in any of its mills. 

When Winn Lumber came on the market, Hunt was interested because of its kilns, and a satisfactory agreement for Hunt to purchase the mill was reached in the summer of 2024. The plant when Hunt took possession of it was not in good condition, so Hunt tore out the old sawmill because it was not needed. Hunt has plenty of sawmill capacity in its other plants. It is focused on refurbishing the kilns and adding more drying capacity to fulfill the need for drying the products from its mills in nearby towns. They also moved the sorter from the Winnfield plant to Olla and installed a new stacker in Winnfield.

Roy James is the manager of the Winnfield plant as well as the Olla plant, and the Winnfield plant currently employs 25 people. However, as the drying capacity of the plant increases, they expect to increase the number of workers employed here. Hunt expects to be here in Winnfield for many years to come.

Following announcements regarding Rotary activities, the president adjourned the meeting with the Rotary motto, “Service above Self!”

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Change is on the way for phone-calling in north Louisiana.  A new code with be added to the 318 code that’s already here.  Additionally, callers will be dialing the full 10-digit number, even if calling someone just across the street here in town.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) has announced the introduction of a new area code “overlay,” 457, to provide relief for the 318 area code region. This overlay ensures sufficient telephone numbers are available to meet future demand while minimizing disruption for customers.

The LPSC notes that customers with 318 area code numbers will retain their current numbers.   It will be the new phone lines or services activated after September 25 this year that may receive the 457 area code. But the LPSC stresses that customers will soon need to use a 10-digit dialing procedure—the area code plus the seven-digit phone number—to make local calls.

Key Dates for the Transition:  (1)  February24: Begin using 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number) for all local calls. Calls made with 7 digits will still be completed during this initial period.  (2)  August 25: 10-digit dialing becomes mandatory. Calls dialed with only 7 digits will not go through and will receive a recorded message to redial with the area code.  (3) September 25: New numbers in the 457 area code may be assigned.

This change necessary because the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) forecasts that the 318 area code will run out of new numbers by early 2026. The LPSC reviewed NANPA’s recommendations, sought public and industry input, and approved the overlay to address the shortage.

In summary, LPSC reminds north Louisiana residents that their current numbers will stay the same: If you already have a 318 number, it will not change, nor will others you call in the 318 area.  Remember to begin using the full 10-digit number to make all calls, even here in town, as early as February 24 (but required after August 25).  There will be no change in call costs due to this overlay. 

For more information, visit the Louisiana Public Service Commission website or contact your telephone service provider. The LPSC remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition and reliable communication services for all residents and businesses in northern Louisiana

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The Dodson Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter is gearing up for its highly anticipated Donkey Basketball Tournament, set to take place next Monday, February 3, in the Dodson High School New Gym. This unique and fun-filled event promises to be an unforgettable experience for the whole community, all the while raising funds to support the local FFA program.

The Donkey Basketball Tournament combines the excitement of basketball with the hilarity of riding donkeys, creating a high-energy and laugh-out-loud atmosphere for spectators of all ages. Local teams, consisting of community members, teachers, and even FFA members, will mount their trusty donkeys and face off in a series of competitive and entertaining basketball games.

“We’re really excited to bring this fun and quirky event back to Dodson,” said Nathan Underwood, Dodson FFA Chapter President. “It’s not only a great way to showcase the strength of our community but also a chance for us to raise money for our chapter’s programs, events, and scholarships. It’s a win-win.”

Adding to the local interest will be the riders participating.  Team 1 members are David Jones, Sadie Beaubouef, Kacey Johnson and Kenzie McCurdy.  Team 2 members are Kaitlyn Sonnier, John Walker, Chinna Thompson and Olivia Underwood. Team 3 riders are Dylan Womack, Nathan Underwood, Karly Stewart and Coach Wes Muse.  And on Team 4 are Coach David Lee Huckaby, Brent Fitzgerald, Ava Muse and Amanda Griffin.

Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. with the tournament games starting at 7 p.m. Admission for Pre-Sale tickets is just $10 per person.  At-the-door tickets are $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased in advance from any FFA officer, Dodson High School office, Advisor Stevenson, and from Hometown Farm Supply on Main Street or at the door on the day of the event.

Concessions will be available throughout the evening, with snacks, drinks, and more to keep the crowd energized and ready for the action.  The event also features a halftime show and an opportunity to meet the donkeys after the games, so attendees can get up close to the stars of the show!

Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Dodson FFA chapter, helping to fund student scholarships, leadership programs, and agricultural education activities. The FFA chapter provides valuable hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in agriculture, leadership, and community service.

“We truly appreciate the community’s support for this event. It’s through fundraising like this that we can continue to provide our students with the resources they need to succeed,” said Austin Stevenson, Dodson FFA Advisor.  “Get Your Tickets Today!”

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Although the weather is still cold and wet, many local gardeners, vegetable producers and otherwise “green-thumbers” are already looking ahead to the spring growing season and the Winn Parish Extension Services is ready to help.

County Agent Donny Moon has announced that the 2025 Master Gardener classes are being prepared for a three-month series beginning in mid-March.  Many have participated in the past and the Extension looks forward to working with more folks this spring.

Total cost of the program is $150 and that fee will cover a course manual, copied materials, Master Gardener nametag and a diploma after completion of the program.  Nightly programs will last from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. “For our program to move forward, we will need to have 10 participants signed up to attend by 4 p.m. March 3 or I won’t be able to offer it,” said Moon.

For a glimpse of what the Master Gardeners program offers, following are weekly topics in the proposed 2025 schedule:  Introduction & Volunteer Management; Soils; Pesticide Usage & Entomology; Ornament, Roses & Native Plants; Proper Tree Care, Pruning & Grafting; Greenhouses; Lawns & Weeds; Plant Pathology; Herbs, Organic Gardening & Foraging; Raised Beds & Container Gardening; Aquaponics, Hydoponics, Ponds & Irrigation; and Vegetables.

For details about this spring’s Master Gardeners program, contact County Agent Donny Moon at 318-628-4528.

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By Reba Phelps (of Goldonna News) 

A simple trip to the grocery store can be such an emotional experience for many reasons. When I was a much younger mother, my children were the controlling factor to decide whether the trip would be pleasant one or one that made me want to hide in the produce section and pretend I did not know who they belonged to. I would like to say as they grew older, it became easier but it simply did not. They older they became, the larger the disagreements were and their grocery requests became more expensive. 

Another all too common grocery store emotion is the sticker shock of how much every day items have inflated. A few days ago, I thought my body went numb as I listlessly stared at the cost of coffee creamer. It was two pennies shy of being six dollars. My body, soul and mind would not allow me to spend this much money on coffee creamer. I stared at cartons of half and half while I weighed out the monetary and taste differences. My tastebuds were screaming, “Pay the six dollars and lets move on with our life.” I even momentarily considered going to straight black coffee but my tastebuds started acting up again. 

Even when the stars align, the children behave and the prices are agreeable, one of the most stressful aspects of the grocery store is always the awkward, unknown condition of the shopping cart you will be pushing around the store. Will the cart have a flat tire, or a missing wheel, or will it shimmy and shake so loud that it announces your arrival before you turn a corner? Will it be drenched in liquid from a recent rain or a toddler that made himself at home in it? 

So many variable factors can contribute to the success or downfall of an innocent trip to purchase groceries. 

On a recent trip to the store, I exited my vehicle with so much hope as I prayed that God would bless my little family with good deals and no drama. As soon as I uttered that prayer and closed my door, a lady approached me in the parking lot and said, “Ma’am, you need this buggy. It rides so good, smooth as glass. I wont even charge you and it probably has new shocks!”

This was literally the most humorous thing that has ever happened to me and how could I even consider telling her no? She had me sold the minute she bragged about it being free and offering a smooth ride. I gleefully took her up on her offer. It only took me a few seconds of pushing the cart before I turned around to thank the stranger with the excellent sales skills, however she was already shaking her head in agreement. 

She knew. I knew. It was a rare grocery store blessing. 

As I was shopping with the golden shopping cart I couldn’t help but notice how nice it took curves, how quiet it was and how clean it was. It was everything the happy stranger told me it would be. I even found myself lingering longer on the isles, taking my time and enjoying the grocery store scenery. When my time was coming to an end and I made peace with the fact that the store would frown upon me bringing the grocery cart home, I frantically looked around for someone to bless with the special buggy. This blessing couldn’t go to waste. 

By the time I made my way to my car, unloaded my groceries and started to bring the cart back, I ran into the perfect person who would appreciate the value of the free gift that was given to me. As soon as I started my sales pitch, I could see the look of disbelief. How could this fantastic buggy be a free gift with so many benefits? Once he accepted it for himself, I could see the look of sheer surprise in his face. He was delighted as he bounced away with the newly upgraded buggy. 

Much like the gift of salvation, it is free and open to anyone who will accept it. Newly saved Christians will always feel like it is too good to be true, it has to be a catch or it simply can’t be available to anyone who seeks salvation. A true gift is always a blessing, free with no strings attached. It is an overwhelming thought to know that a simple free gift will earn you an eternal life with the true gift giver. 

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5

 jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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In the whirl of President Trump’s first few days back in office he is securing our borders, fully freeing the oil and gas industry to explode with growth and ridding our public institutions of the poisonous Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE) doctrine to name just a few.  He has also done something that only a distracted First World nation like ours would need to have done—he has again declared that there are only two genders, male and female.

The “golden age of America begins now,” Trump said again last week.  What does he mean by that and how does his hope for our country tie into our American Exceptionalism?

 American Exceptionalism includes a strong economy, a strong national defense, secure borders, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and guaranteeing each of us the opportunity to fully utilize our lives and God-given abilities in an environment in which every American has the opportunity to excel.  I believe it also includes being proud of our national character and our extraordinary history.  However, American Exceptionalism can be reduced to the most granular level.

We recall instances after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in which the owner/driver of an 18-wheeler in Oregon said he had awakened one morning and felt powerfully moved to drive a truck load of bananas to Louisiana to help with the food problems.  FEMA wouldn’t accept them; finally, a group of churches did. Same story for an enormous number of donated McDonald hamburgers and over one hundred Lea’s pies. These kinds of examples are too numerous to count.  

What about the flooding of New Orleans? What about the hundreds of Louisiana sportsmen who drove to the outskirts of New Orleans planning to help rescue as many stranded people as they could but were told by government agencies to turn around and go back home.  American exceptionalism? Who filled many of these great needs after those hurricanes and other natural disasters? Churches, families, and private businesses virtually all of whom donated their time and resources because they wanted to help their fellow Louisianans and Americans.

American exceptionalism? Internationally, how about the billions of dollars the United States has spent through American international health programs designed to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, which have saved the lives of over sixty million human beings.

After WWII, America was the world’s lone superpower and could have become an imperial one and essentially governed the world.  Not only did we not seek global dominance, we did the opposite.  Through the Marshall Plan and tremendous American aid and resources we helped other countries rebuild. Why? because unless provoked or endangered, the American spirit has never sought to subjugate other countries.  

How about the miracle of our U.S. Constitution which gives rise to our Rule of Law; how about our shared belief that we are endowed by our Creator with certain rights that cannot be taken—all of which gave rise to a government instituted for the preservation of liberty? Our Bill of Rights which ensures our many freedoms including the guarantee that we cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law? Our 2^nd Amendment?

That we cannot have our doors kicked in at 2:00 am without probable cause and a warrant? That we are guaranteed, every one of us, equal protection of the laws? Do we remember how rare all of this is?

No nation is perfect because nations are ruled by governments and governments are comprised of flawed human beings. Yet, throughout our history, we have always sought to correct our flaws as we strove for The Good, and, however imperfectly, the good was attained.   

The American spirit is sterling as are the foundational ideals of liberty and equality to which we aspire.  American kindness and generosity are unbounded.  De Tocqueville observed that “the position of the Americans is therefore quite exceptional,” in Democracy in America, “and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one.” Why would he draw this conclusion?

Because he recognized the American spirit and the moral and religious character that anchored it. President Reagan noted many times that America is the greatest country in the world.  Again, it’s not perfect but it is, and remains, the last best hope of Earth. This exceptionalism is the basis of the new golden age to which Trump refers and aspires.

RoyalAlexanderlawfirm@gmail.com

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January 29, 2025

When it comes to bass tournament anglers and sponsors, the winds are changing, and the opportunities are diminishing. Today we’ll take a look at what many young anglers are facing with regards to landing sponsors while trying to compete on one of the professional bass tournament trails. If you’re looking to fish for a living, pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you. 

First, let’s address why sponsors are necessary; without them the decision to fish professionally can be next to impossible unless you have parents or grandparents willing to foot the bill. To fish at the highest level requires lots of money up front even before you ever wet a hook. Without great sponsors, it’s almost impossible to make the dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman a reality. 

In today’s professional bass fishing world, there are only so many sponsors available as anglers are constantly competing for what few there are. Not all sponsors are created equal, as some are willing to pay the angler a salary, while others just give product such as a bass boat, fishing tackle, or possibly a truck in exchange for the angler’s  promotion of these items.

But before an angler needs to worry about sponsors, he or she needs to learn how to find fish. The one mistake I see with many young anglers on the rise is that they are too worried about how to obtain sponsors rather than learning how to find and catch fish. 

Kids today are star struck by the fancy sublimation shirts that really do turn heads. But it goes without saying that unless you can catch fish, you won’t have to worry about landing sponsors. Tournament success is still important!

Another thing young anglers don’t understand in today’s professional bass fishing world, it’s not just about catching bass, it’s also about an angler’s ability to promote a product. Most sponsors could care less if you can catch bass. They’re more concerned with your ability to communicate and sell product for them.  

They want an angler who will represent their brand in a professional manner by attending boat shows, fishing seminars and doing a great job with social media promotions. My first advice to any angler looking to fish professionally is to take speech and learn how to sell yourself and communicate with people. 

Here’s the truth…once you sign with sponsors, you’re now obligated to them and must respond to their beckoning call. They’re not paying you to fish, but rather to represent their brand and promote product. 

Here’s where the love hate relationship comes into play. Every angler will tell you that when it comes to sponsors, it is a double edge sword. With success comes more responsibility and commitment to the sponsors you’re connected with. 

This means more time off the water and less time practicing, which can interfere with your ability to compete at the highest level due to the fact that your sponsors are pulling you away from what you really want to do the most….go bass fishing!

But sponsors are a necessity for a fulltime professional angler, and they hold all the cards in an angler’s ability to make a living. Every angler will tell you there’s no way an angler can make a living just off tournament winnings. Anglers must draw a salary and get help with expensive tournament entry fees in order to make a living for their families. 

So, the next time you see a professional bass fisherman wearing one of those great looking sublimation shirts with all the different company logos, understand that each logo comes with a high level of commitment and dedication, not just to the companies he represents, but his family as well.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and always believe that the fish are going bite tomorrow. The power of positive thinking is the most important ingredient an angler can have in order to achieve success. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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