Mark burgess
“Tell me about the tour you were on, how long, and how did you do.”
“The first professional bass tournament I fished was a B.A.S.S. Easton Invitational on lake Hartwell in the fall of 1996. I caught one bass in three days. The following year I fished the full schedule and did well, placing high in the points and cashing a check at Santee Cooper. From then on I fished B.A.S.S. and FLW events, even qualifying for the FLW Tour from the Everstart Series. From there I fished the FLW Series and B.A.S.S. Central Opens…”
“…It was in 2008 when I qualified to fish the B.A.S.S. Elite Series for the following year. I fished 2009 and 2010 on the B.A.S.S. Elite Series. Cashing several checks, while trying to fish freely from my gut. Health reasons prevented me from competing a third year. At that point, I felt confident that I was going to fish to my full potential, if I had been able.”
“Are you glad you did it and why…what did you get out of it.”
“1000% yes! that I am very proud of competing at the highest level of the sport. Having previously qualified and been invited to compete at the then BP top 150, and turning it down, I was not going to let this opportunity pass me by…
…The friendships formed during those years will be with me forever…
…Being able to fish the best lakes across the country, at the best times of the year, is not such a bad thing either.”
“What do you miss, what don’t you miss.”
“The thing I miss the most are all the friends I made along the way, especially my campground family, the B.A.S.S. staff and service crews, and even total strangers that took me into their home away from home to cook me a meal...”
. ..I do not miss the weather we had to endure, every event there were tornado warnings, along with severe thunder storms, and even an actual tornado.”
How important is fishing, of any kind, to you.
“Fishing was very important to my family growing up. My earliest memories is of me fishing for Blue fish with my Dad in Buzzard's Bay, on Cape Cod. Fishing was passed from my grandfather to my father…
…and I have passed the love for fishing to my boys. It is more about spending time together in the outdoors, and doing something we love, than the actual catching of the fish. Although, we all love it when we catch them!”
“What are you up to now.”
“I enjoy spending time and fishing with my wife and family…
…My friend Eli and I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fishin' With A Mission, an annual event that raises money for Autism Awareness. I still compete in bass tournaments on a local / regional level with Massachusetts B.A.S.S. Nation. My plan is to return to the B.A.S.S. Opens to compete next year.”
Mark Burgess