Setting out on a fishing trip to the local pond with friends six years ago, Owen Stoltz, now a Pleasant Valley, didn’t realize he would become hooked onto competitive fishing.

“If you told me five years ago that I would be competing in fishing tournaments and trying to make a career out of it I would be shocked,” said Owen.

Owen began his fishing career the summer before 7th grade, absorbing anything and everything he could learn about fishing. “There is a massive learning curve in fishing. To be successful requires understanding of so many different variables that impact the way bass behave. Some of these variables are weather, season, the spawning cycle, and baitfish movements,” he said. But even with these variables mastered, Owen still needed to learn the proper techniques and areas to find bass.

Owen spent four years reeling in knowledge and skills before competing. “There is no way to get good at understanding all of these factors except for spending time on the water and making adjustments based on changing conditions,” he said.

Months of casting thousands of times into various bodies of water helped propel Owen’s drive and passion for fishing.

“I have played sports since I was young and have a burning desire to be the best at everything I do. When I first learned about tournament fishing I knew it was the next thing I would dedicate my time to and try to be the best at,” he said.

To achieve this, Stoltz spent countless hours watching YouTube videos, mastering fishing electronics, reading articles from professionals, researching different bodies of water and gaining personal experience. Everything he learned lured him closer and closer to his goal of competing in a Major League Fishing Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament.

John Stoltz, Owen Stoltz’s father, witnessed Owen’s interest develop firsthand, “Once Owen gets involved with something that he is passionate about he tends to commit to it totally,” John said.

Owen began his angling career in Major League Fishing BFL tournaments as a co-angler. Angling is the sport term for fishing competitively. Co-angling is fishing out the back of a professional’s boat. Instead of competing against the professionals, Stoltz competed against other co-anglers. Tournaments take place throughout the midwest, as most are two to four hours away in different areas of Wisconsin including La Crosse and Prairie Du Chien.

“It is a great way to get experience when you are starting out in the sport because you can learn from people with a lot of knowledge,” said Owen.

With this newly gained experience, Owen made waves in the fishing scene this last year. Owen earned multiple top 20 co-angler finishes in BFL tournaments featuring 100+ boats. This high consistency earned Owen his biggest achievement: 16th in the BFL Co-Angler of the Year standings out of more than 180 anglers.

Previously, Owen was limited to a co-angler in BFL tournaments, only fishing on his own in local tournaments. But this upcoming season, Stoltz will be fishing in professional BFL tournaments. This means that Stoltz will get to utilize his bass boat and the various electronics onboard in competition.

Owen is ready for his new responsibilities. “Boat driving is the most dangerous part of tournament fishing. From avoiding underwater hazards to the takeoff in the morning, where 100 boats are racing each other to spots and passing at full speed, you have to be aware when you’re driving to keep yourself safe,” he said.

Along with his own boat, Owen gained sponsorships going into the next angling season. “I am fortunate to be working with companies that support my dream including Dobyns Rods, Mossy Oak Fishing, Sea Clear Power, Amped Outdoors and X Zone Lures,” he said. Sponsors help lower the $250+ entry fee cost for tournaments and provide discounts and free products for Owen.

To prepare for more competitive tournaments, Owen is training more than ever. “Fishing is definitely more of a workout than you would think. Making thousands of casts or being out in extreme heat or cold for 8 hours is both mentally and physically taxing,” he said. Owen’s training takes place on and off the water, practicing every move of every cast thousands of times and researching every body of water he competes at.

The experience Owen will gain over the coming months will prepare him for the transition to college.

In college angling, anglers from universities compete with a partner in team tournaments against other colleges. The higher a team places in a tournament, the more points their school receives from that competition. The college with the most points at the end of the season wins School of the Year. Owen has hooked many offers from private and public schools looking to win School of the Year.

Owen’s parents completely support his collegiate fishing ambitions. “[Owen’s] goal is to have a career in the fishing industry so he sees this as a great way to continue to expand his connections and relationships,” said John.

Owen’s fishing journey is just getting started, but he can’t wait to see where it will take him. “How far fishing competitively takes me is yet to be determined, but I know I’ll at least have something I love doing for the rest of my life.”

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on November 17, 2023.