” The worst day of fishing is better than the best day of working“; that’s what any “real fisherman” will tell you.  If you can combine them both like one of our local Sacramento celebrities, Michael Bennett from Roseville, that means not only can you go fishing, you can get rich doing it.

Michael Bennett Million Dollar Winner

In August Bennet won the top prize of one million dollars at the Forrest Wood Cup, a national tournament at Lake Murray in South Carolina, by bringing in nearly 25 pounds of largemouth bass.  He has earned $1.4 million in fishing events this year.  This has made him a real celebrity.  If you don’t believe me just Google him.  He really is the Tiger Woods of fishing, and from right here in Sacramento.  The most amazing part of this Cinderella story is that he is only 24 years old.  He said in an interview that he was hooked (no pun intended) by the time he was five years old.  By the time he was a high school senior he was fishing in 15 to 17 toutnaments a year.

Michael Bennett Fishing

It may surprise you to learn that nearly 40 million Americans fish.  A fact, according to the American Sportfishing Association, that makes fishing more popular than golf and tennis combined.  Who knew? 

Why in the world didn’t I pay more attention when my grandfather took me fishing with him all those years ago?  I didn’t want to touch the icky worms, or get mud on my shoes, or sit still in the boat.  If he had only told me I could make a million bucks, I’m sure I would have learned to like icky worms.  People on those reality shows eat icky worms for less than a million bucks, and all I had to do was touch them.  I like sushi, that should count for something.  My friends in Houston refuse to eat it because they say that in Texas that’s called bait.  Maybe it’s not too late, I think I’ll go out and look for some icky worms.

Gone Fishing