Jimmy Washam takes on his sixth year as a pro angler

·1 hr 20 min·5 clips

Jimmy Washam describes hooking a nine-pound bass, tangling with his cameraman, and watching it tail-walk away.

Host Jody White interviews professional bass angler Jimmy Washam as he enters his sixth year on the pro circuit. Washam recounts his rapid early success, finishing second in his second event in 2020 on the Harris Chain and winning a Toyota Series event and Angler of the Year in the Central Division in 2021. He describes the mental shift after winning, moving from letting success happen to trying to force it, which led to struggles. A key narrative is the 2022 Harris Chain event where he hooked and lost a potential nine-pound bass in a chaotic scene involving his cameraman, marking the start of a difficult season. Washam then analyzes his 2023 performance, highlighting a fifth-place finish at Pickwick where an engine alarm unexpectedly helped him slow down and find a productive pattern. He discusses his parallel career as a guide on Pickwick Lake, explaining the challenges of guiding on a pressured Tennessee River fishery compared to places like Florida. Washam outlines his client pre-trip communication process, covering licenses, life jackets, and expectations. The conversation turns to his 2024 tournament schedule, which includes new venues like Douglas Lake and the Kissimmee Chain in September. He reveals the hectic process of selling his old boat and rigging a new Phoenix 921 with a 16-inch Lowrance HDS Pro for forward sonar and brakes. Washam also mentions his new sponsorship with Jenko Fishing and continued partnerships with 13 Fishing, Phoenix, and Mercury. The episode concludes with mutual appreciation for the upcoming pro circuit season.

As heard by us

Washam connects tournament success to the patient work of reading water, managing a boat, and setting up on fish.

Jimmy Washam's pro angling career comes through as a story of early momentum meeting the daily work behind staying competitive. The conversation moves from his 2020 rookie year, second place on the Harris Chain, and 2021 Mississippi River title into the quieter craft that…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get Washam in that not-quite-veteran pocket: past the hotshot rookie rush, still candid enough to rethink a minnow.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from MLF Bass Fishing Podcast