As seen in…

By Paul Strege

All photos courtesy of FLW Outdoors

Every angler has a story… for Kellogg’s Pro Dave Lefebre, the challenge of becoming a professional fisherman was a competition he refused to lose.

Two annual family vacations formed Dave’s fishing persona at a very young age. The destinations included a one-week trip to Canada and a two-week stay in Florida. The Lefebres invited grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends to join them on their retreats where a large portion of time was dedicated solely to fishing. Fishing fascinated young Dave. The challenge of catching and understanding the catch sparked an internal quest, a competition of sorts, to learn the process better than anyone else.

Dave recalls, “The vacations I spent with my family are where it all started. I always looked forward to those trips every year, and that is what kept me fired-up about fishing. It also made me want to travel and see more of the country.”

On those getaways, it was easy for family members to recognize Dave’s competitive drive. They knew he hated to lose, whether it was a game of Yahtzee or an informal bet on who would catch the largest fish of the day.

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By Paul Strege

Every angler has a story… For Bass Tackle Depot Elite Series Angler James Niggemeyer, it is one of unwavering perseverance.

Like many other professional fishermen, James Niggemeyer started fishing at a very young age. He grew up in Glendale, California, exploring area lakes such as Castaic, Pyramid, Perris, and Silverwood with his family. James, his older sister, and parents also spent one to two weeks each year vacationing in the Mammoth Lakes area. As James reminisces, it was an annual trip that provided plenty of opportunity for him to fish.

“We fished and that was about all we did. We would wake up in the morning, go out fishing, come back in for lunch, and then go out fishing again in the afternoon. Just about everyone that was a relative or friend of the family has been on one of those trips with us. I’ve even taken my wife and 3-year old son there as well. That was really how I got bit by the fishing bug. That trip has always been very important to me, at every phase of my life.”

Up until high school, James’ angling pursuits were focused on trout and panfish. When his father read an article about fishing in the San Diego lakes area, however, his piscatorial world suddenly expanded. Lakes Hodges and Otay were new destinations and provided the chance to hook feisty, football-shaped largemouth bass.

“I still remember one of those first trips. I was walking along a bank, fishing with a spinnerbait, when I hooked into a 4-pounder. It hit the spinnerbait so hard that it just about took the pole out of my hand. That bass was more exciting than any fish I had ever caught at that time. Back then we kept our fish, so I placed it on a stringer to show my parents. And then I caught a second one, about 2 to 2-1/2 pounds, on a little soft plastic split-shot rig. After that, all I ever wanted to do was bass fish.”

West Coast Roots

Soon thereafter, James and a close high school friend, Uwe Nill, started working for Johnny’s Sport Shop in Pasadena and fishing team tournaments together. By the age of 21, James had acquired his first bass boat and fished money tournaments as his income would allow. With an enthusiasm for the sport which he outwardly displayed, he developed friendships with several prominent West Coast anglers, the likes of which included Don Iovino, Reggie Carra, Fred Borders, and Russ Meyers, among others. One of those contacts, Larry Hopper, introduced James to another aspiring professional – Dean Rojas. The two immediately hit it off and became friends. Rojas eventually moved east to pursue the Bassmaster Top-150 tour, while James continued with WON Bass and Anglers Choice Pro-Am tournaments out west. A couple years later when B.A.S.S. established a new Western Invitational circuit, James reconnected with Rojas who offered timely advice.

“When Dean and I got paired-up at one of those Western Invitationals, he asked me what I had been doing to pursue my dream. I told him that I was fishing as much as I could and working the rest of the time. He then told me that I should consider a move to Texas to work with his friends at Lake Fork Tackle and to start a guiding business. He said that guiding would give me the money and time on the water that I needed. I would be closer to the action and the tournaments that could qualify me for the Top-150’s, too. He said that I really needed to think about that. It was an idea that I had been toying with already, so I took his advice very seriously. Later that year, I loaded up my little Chevy Astro Van and drove to Lake Fork.”

Packed and Headed for Texas

James headed for Lake Fork, without a place to stay, without a job, and only a few contacts made through friends. Two of those first contacts were Lance Vick and Kelly Jordon. Both anglers helped James establish his guiding business. Around the same time, he also started working for Mark Pack, owner of Lake Fork Tackle.

“Lake Fork Tackle really helped me out. I was able to work for them and get time off as needed to guide. It was a perfect scenario as I was trying to build my guide service. At the time, Mark was a FLW tour pro and Classic qualifier, so he was able to offer some great advice. Kelly Jordon was also hanging around a lot back then, and through him, I met Jay Yelas. It was a really growing period for me. I was spending just a ton of time on the water and meeting several great anglers. Lake Fork was really a training ground for taking the next step of fishing the tour.”

The first couple years were not easy ones for James in East Texas. To make ends meet financially, he lived in a barn, rent-free, in exchange for tending cows. When a full-time farm laborer was hired a year later, he was forced into another move. He established his second impromptu residence in the Lake Fork Tackle warehouse. Those initial sacrifices allowed James to save enough money to purchase a mobile home a little while later.

James returned to competitive angling in 2001 through the Bassmaster Central Invitational circuit. Despite the experience gained on Fork, financial success did not immediately follow in competition. He struggled to win money and expenses were accumulating at an accelerated rate.

“I was doing everything my way and tried to do everything that I could to get ahead. I would get a little bit ahead at times, and then slide back and go into debt. I was kind of at the end of my ropes. I really didn’t know what I was going to do, or how I was going to do it. At the same time, I also felt like I was away from home and pretty much alone. That was when, with support from Jay Yelas and Kelly Jordon, I decided to give my life to the Lord and become a Christian. That was the point when I got my priorities straight. Prior to that, everything in my life revolved around fishing. From that point on, fishing was not the most important thing in my life anymore. It was a turning of the tide, really.”

With a new-found spiritual faith, James did not feel the same financial burden or pressure to succeed as he had before. Shortly thereafter, his guide trip business picked up, he started to win more money, and he met his wife. James downsized his tournament fishing schedule as well. In 2005, he pulled out of the Bassmaster Central Opens and started fishing smaller Wal-Mart / FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) and Bassmaster Weekend Series tournaments. He quickly regained self-confidence and qualified for both regional championships.

Back-to-Back

Two weeks before the BFL Regional on the Ouachita River, James’ wife gave birth to their first child, a baby boy. Although he felt increased responsibility to provide for his expanded family, he remained composed. Just days later, James won the Ouachita River Regional and, in the process, qualified for the BFL All-American.

“After they cut the field after Day 2 to the Top 6, I called my wife to tell her that I had made the All-American. I can remember tears welling up in my eyes because it was such a big accomplishment. I had never really fished the BFLs all that much before that year, but I still knew what winning one of the Regionals and qualifying for the All-American meant. Even as a teenager, I had read about fishing the All-American and dreamt about competing in it one day. And to win the tournament, the truck, and the boat, that was a huge boost to my confidence. The whole deal was such a blessing.”

Still, James was not finished. A couple weeks after his BFL win, he traveled down to the Red River in Louisiana to compete in another championship: the Bassmaster Weekend Series Regional. The outcome was nearly identical. He won the tournament and took home a first place prize of $50,000.

“It was funny because I found myself thinking immediately after my son was born, ‘How am I going to provide for my family financially?’ I really did not know if I had an answer. Then, I won those two tournaments. It was such an incredible blessing in my life and took quite a while to set in. I was so blown away that I believe I was just numb to it all.”

The following season, James ascended the next rung in the professional fishing ladder by competing in both the Stren Series and the Bassmaster Southern Opens. Although success in the Strens was elusive, he instantly established himself as a top contender in the Southern Opens. In the first two tournaments of a three-event series, James placed fourth and ninth. In the season finale which determined tour eligibility and Bassmaster Classic qualification, James won at Santee Cooper. The victory secured his position as the Southern Open Angler of the Year – a title which provided free entry into the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series.

“I was really just having a tough time just trying to make it. Then, all of the sudden, there it was. Everything was falling into place. I had won Santee Cooper, my entry fees for the following season were paid, and I had a spot in the Bassmaster Classic. It was just a phenomenal season for me. There were so many goals that I had achieved within those couple years. It was a dream come true.”

At the Bassmaster Classic, James faced the daunting task of competing against the most talented anglers in the world. There, he would finish a respectable 17^th. His Classic performance combined with the years logged in the Bassmaster Open and Stren Series trails would later help to alleviate any anxiety experienced as an Elite Series rookie.

“My first event as a Pro was on Lake Amistad, and I had just a terrible tournament there. I can remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what did I get into? These guys are incredible!’ But, I was able to put those worries aside and follow that up with a Top-12 at the California Delta. I saw the bottom and saw the top in my first two tournaments.”

Since his rookie season on the Elite Series, James has achieved even greater success. He has amassed earnings approaching $500,000 in his career. Most recently, he was victorious on Toledo Bend Reservoir in a Bassmaster Central Open fish-off. To start the current 2009 Elite Series season, he has already tallied several high finishes: 15^th, 13^th, and 7^th.

Sponsorships and Relationships

James’ success in fishing was built upon long-standing relationships with his fishing mentors and peers. Similarly, he has formed loyal and committed relationships with businesses and sponsors within the industry. The oldest of his sponsorship team is BassCat Boats and Mercury Marine, dating back to 1997. James’ initial placement on the BassCat Pro Staff was first recommended by another Elite Series Pro, Byron Velvick.

“Bass Cat has supported and encouraged me since the beginning and even in those times when they didn’t have to! They talk about the family atmosphere at Bass Cat, and it truly is. They were such an integral part of making my jump to the tour level.”

The newest member of James’ sponsorship team, Bass Tackle Depot, is providing additional support for the 2009 tour season. The new relationship, as he explains, allows him to reconnect with his western roots.

“I am really excited to partner with a company like Bass Tackle Depot. Their dedication to their business and affiliations with BassWest magazine and the Anglers Choice Tournament Trail has really brought them to the forefront of the industry. It is very exciting to be a part of their team while fishing on tour.”

Recipe for Success

James believes that his rise to the tour level was the direct result of several factors in combination, the most notable being: spiritual awakening, mentorship by other successful anglers, and experience gained as a fishing guide. Close friendships with Kelly Jordon and Jay Yelas allowed him rediscover his faith, while kinship with other tour anglers reaffirmed his belief that he could one day achieve his dream of being a tour professional. Lastly, the time spent while guiding allowed him to learn to become a more versatile angler.

“There was not any one single person or thing. When you surround yourself with the right people, they will start to pour into your life. I was able to spend time around champions – guys that are not just incredible fishermen, but great people as individuals. Really it was a setting that I was privileged to be a part of. And guiding on Lake Fork helped me mechanically. The routine and repetition of finding fish for clients helped me to perfect my angling skills.”

The last factor of James’ success is one that cannot be taught – perseverance. A positive attitude and optimistic outlook on life allowed James to persevere even in the most challenging times. That trait is clear to anyone that he talks to.

“There is a point in bass fishing where you simply go out and fish, believe, and hope. And when you do that, you can turn just about any dream into reality.”

James Niggemeyer

1997 – First season fishing Bassmaster Western Invitationals.

2001 – Moved to Texas. Started fishing Bassmaster Central Opens.

2005 – First season fishing BFL Cowboy Division.

2005 – Won BFL Regional. Qualified for All-American.

2005 – Won Bassmaster Weekend Series Regional. Qualified for Championship.

2006 – Won Bassmaster Southern Open – Santee Cooper.

2006 – Won Bassmaster Southern Open Points Title. Qualified for Elite Series.

2007 – Bassmaster Classic Qualifier. First Season on Elite Series.

2009 – Won Bassmaster Central Open – Toledo Bend.

1 Win and $63,000 in career FLW winnings.

3 Wins, 9 Top-10’s and $394,000 in career B.A.S.S. winnings.

By Paul Strege

Dave Dudley AOY

Every angler has a story… For Castrol Pro, David Dudley, it is one of legacy.

Like most of today’s touring professionals, David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia dreamed of being able to make a living in competitive fishing since his youth. His father, James, regularly took his three children fishing. But it was young David in particular that displayed the insatiable appetite for the sport.

“I knew from a very early age that fishing was what I was going to do. It was almost like I was purpose-driven. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God had given me the talent to fish, but it was up to me to determine what to do with the talent. So, I was driven to do anything and everything I could to make it happen. I even used to answer the phone, ‘This is the Bassmaster Classic Champion. May I help you?’”

Tuesday Niters

With determination to achieve his dream, David fished every day that he could. By the age of 11, he was eager to start fishing tournaments and finally convinced his father to enter a Tuesday night team tournament on nearby Smith Mountain Lake. Prior to entering the tournament, however, James required David to earn his seat in the boat.

James recollects, “I told David that the entry fee was 25 dollars and that if he wanted to enter, he had to cut some grass to pay for his half of the entry fee. He worked hard and earned enough money for us to enter. We fished it, but did not win. The next Tuesday night was the same thing. He cut some grass and paid half of the entry fee. But, that time, we won. So we split the money down the middle, and he put his half in the bank.”

For David, winning meant more than simply banking money. It was all about besting the competition.

David recalls, “I can remember coming to school the next day to brag that I had won $100 in a fishing tournament. I even saved the little yellow envelope that they placed the prize money in to show my friends.”

David continued to develop his skills throughout school and built an impressive collection of other colorful prize envelopes. Upon graduation, when classmates were poised to enter college, David seized the opportunity to take his shot at competitive angling. To support his ambition, he served as a roofer by weekday and tournament angler by weekend. He fished three separate divisions of the Red Man Tournament Trail that year, acting on his father’s advice to diversify his tournament experience. Although the schedule was very demanding, competing in three separate divisions offered a real-world dose of the hard life of professional fishing. He lived paycheck to paycheck and cut expenses wherever he could so as to afford entry into the next tournament.

“I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was the biggest tightwad you had ever seen. All I was focused on was tarring roofs so that I could make enough money to go to the next tournament. I never really did great on the Red Man trail, but I did good enough to cover my expenses and complete the season.”

As a successful angler on the local level, David’s father, James, was aware of the elements that would place David in the best position to succeed for the future. One of the key principles that James would impress upon David was that of earning his way. So it only seemed natural for James to hand over the keys to his rebuilt 1985 Ranger – Mercury bass rig when David appeared ready. That moment would arrive when David, at the age of 18, had successfully competed in Red Man tournaments and had a burning desire to compete in the B.A.S.S. Invitationals. Everything from that point forward fell into place. James helped David secure a sponsorship to cover entry fees, and a friend of the family waited in person at B.A.S.S. headquarters to guarantee registration for the Invitationals. Without the monetary pressure of living event to event, David would quickly focus on the fishing and gain the necessary confidence to compete against the seasoned veterans.

Whooping the Pros

In 1995, David completed his first season on the B.A.S.S. Invitational circuit. The circuit would be his first true measure against tour-level competition.

James remembers the challenges that David faced, “He got into the B.A.S.S. side at a very young age. He had the ability more than several of the people he was paired with, and gaining respect from them was difficult. I’m sure some of them were thinking, ‘You are young, I am more experienced, so I am going to take control of the day.’ I can remember David telling me that some of his partners would not want to go along with ideas, even though they were good ones. Earning the respect that he deserved was the most difficult challenge that he faced.”

David fought through the rookie stereotype and won the points title, qualified for the tour, and earned a birth into the Bassmaster Classic. He achieved all of those milestones by the age of 19 and was the youngest to do so in B.A.S.S. history.

David is still amazed at what he accomplished that first season. “Just think about it, I was a young kid who just whooped Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, Roland Martin, Kevin VanDam, and won Angler of the Year. Would you be pumped up? I was. That there reassured me that I had the God-given talent to fish and compete on tour.”

Later that same year, as a true touring professional on the Top 100 circuit, David won the James River event and had finally earned the first of many future lucrative honors. He continued fishing B.A.S.S. events until his career path would redirect him to the, then upstart, FLW Tour. David’s early FLW career would be marked with modest success and his share of ups and downs. He continued roofing to supplement his fishing income and eventually moved to the outer banks of Virginia in 2000. Shortly thereafter, he started a salt water guiding business. The benefits were twofold: he gained valuable time on the water and earned more money. And, he caught lots of fish.

“In fishing you will get burned out in a heartbeat solely bass fishing. If you want to make it in the fishing world, you cannot be prejudiced to a certain type of fishing. Guiding helped me to not only spend time on the water, but it also helped me to learn to adjust to different situations. I found that it helps to fish for a species that you can get a lot of bites going after. I’m not lying when I say that we used to average 300 to 400 Striper bites a day when I was guiding. From feeling the bite to landing the fish, the repetition of catching lots of fish was great practice and it definitely improved my bass fishing.”

The success that David experienced through his salt water guiding would indeed carryover to his fishing. He would soon become a household name after winning the 2002 Ranger M1 Tournament on the Mobile Delta just two years after his move towards the Virginia coast. It was at the M1 with a purse of one million dollars on the line, where David also showcased his ability to succeed under the most pressure-intensive settings in competitive angling. His $700,000 payday was the largest for a single event in bass fishing history.

Ups and Downs

Since the Ranger M1 tournament, David has accumulated career tournament winnings in excess of $2.5 BLK_PAA, won Stren Series, FLW Series, and FLW tour events, taken home the FLW Championship Trophy, and earned the FLW Angler of the Year title. It wasn’t all that easy, however. David, like other competitors, experienced performance slumps and the ensuing financial hardship. Those difficult times, as David will argue, now allows him to better cope with the stress of competition.

He explains, “I’ve been through the slumps. I’ve been through the hard times. I’ve been through every pressure situation that I think I could go through. So, hardly anything rattles me anymore. That’s why people say I have veins flowing of ice. You are not going to be as level-headed and successful if you let the pressure get to you. Once you’ve been through the hard times, it makes you work ten times as hard because you never want to get back into that situation again.”

The greatest pressure, as David identifies, stems from the financial commitment that is required of both aspiring and established professional anglers alike. The effort involved in balancing the wide assortment of bills, monthly payments, and daily costs associated with tournament fishing can easily detract from an otherwise successful performance.

David advises, “You can’t fish tournaments with a budget in mind. If you start letting money affect your decisions on the water, it will only hurt you. If possible, save enough money to fish the way you want to. I am not ashamed to admit that there have been times, even this year, where I have felt that pressure.”

Dudley’s Rule

David’s influence on the sport of bass fishing is not just associated with cashing big paychecks. He has been a maverick in the context of tournament strategy. In a risky move at the Ranger M1 tournament, he abandoned his primary fishing area and trail blazed his way into an untouched oxbow. And he did so going into the final day of competition seated second. Three years later, David made national headlines while exercising a unique practice strategy for the 2005 Bassmaster tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes.

That year, B.A.S.S. had instituted a new boat launch order system where contestants’ position was predetermined prior to the start of the event. The new system was touted to benefit anglers by equalizing the boat draws over the course of an entire season. The second event that year was to be held on the Harris Chain at the tail end of a bass spawn. David approached the event just like any other tournament where spawning fish would be a factor. He spent time looking for beds that other competitors would overlook. When located, he determined the aggressiveness of bedded fish by quickly flipping a lure to the fish without hooking it. In a well-known channel on the final practice day, he spotted two beds with bass that were willing to bite virtually any lure tossed in their vicinity. With a near-last boat position for the first day in the back of his mind, he decided to catch the fish and buck conventional practice strategy. Much to the dismay of a witnessing Roland Martin, David hooked, landed, and released two bass. Later that day, he was protested for “catching fish during practice”. Media sources caught onto the story and sold the plot as defensive fishing.

Some people dismissed his actions as foolhardy to defensively fish against so many other competitors. Others theorized that it was an innovative strategic move. David, however, felt that the situation was pretty straightforward.

“I knew I was basically the last boat. With that in mind, I went into a channel to look for deeper beds that other guys could not see. When I was in there, I spotted a couple of beds that were the size of big inner tubes. The beds were so easy to see that I knew that every single person driving by spotted them. And the bass were just sitting there, waiving a flag, shouting, ‘Here I am. Come and catch me. I weigh five pounds.’ I knew that everyone going out in front of me were passing those fish, and that there was no way that I would get to those fish first. So when I flipped into the bed, and the fish went down on the lure, I decided to set the hook. I didn’t concentrate my practice on catching fish so that other competitors couldn’t catch a fish. I just knew that someone else would catch those fish the very first thing the first day.”

Although the protest was quickly dismissed, an alteration to B.A.S.S. tournament rules was instituted. One veteran angler congratulated David on the new rule policy.

“After the tournament, Rick Clunn came up to me, shook my hand, and said, ‘Congratulations, Dudley.’ I said, ‘For what?’ And he said, ‘There’s been rule changes because of me, there’s been rule changes because of Roland [Martin], and now there will be a rule change because of you.’ Rick was just joking, but when he came up and congratulated me, I found it pretty funny.”

As a direct result of the controversy surrounding the Harris Chain event, the boat launch order grid was scrapped for subsequent seasons.

Beyond the Stage

David’s success in fishing extends beyond the glamour of the weigh-in stage. It is also evident in his community. He has given back to those people, communities, and organizations that have supported him along the way.

One person who paid for David’s entry fee into the 2002 Ranger M1 tournament was not only reimbursed for his original investment, but was given half of David’s winnings – a commitment that David had made when he learned about the generous sponsorship. In addition, he has contributed to the One Body in Christ ministry set to start in the next year.

Faith has always played a big role in David’s life. From his original recognition that God had provided him with the talent to fish, he has always been cognizant of the role that faith plays in his fishing.

On www.DavidDudley.com, he summarizes, “Because of being on the water so much I have a lot of quiet time. Through my years of fishing I have seen God work so much in my fishing career and life in general! I sometimes sit back and laugh when I am on the water thinking about the situation that just happened, the fish I just caught, or how the decision I just made could only have come from God.”

In addition to his faith, David gives credit for his success to his family.

“I have a very supportive wife who understands my occupation. She supports me through thick and thin. And, my kids are my biggest fans. It is the greatest feeling in the world, to come into a weigh-in, have my kids run up to me, and ask me how my day was. They are always proud of their Daddy no matter how I finished.”

Never Be Satisfied

With unwavering faith and a loyal family, David most recently attained one of the most coveted titles in bass fishing: FLW Angler of the Year. The title completed his quest to achieve every honor that FLW Outdoors offers. So, what’s next? For David, the explanation is simple.

“So where do I go from here? That’s a no-brainer. I want to be a two-time champion. And, what is after that? I want to be a three-time champion. That’s what you have to do. My favorite motto is, ‘Never be satisfied.’ If you are ever satisfied with something, you will hit a plateau, and never improve. If you are working towards a higher goal, you will always strive to be the best.”

There is no telling where one of the best anglers on the planet will go with the desire and motivation to achieve even more. In the meantime, other competitors can only hope that “Dudley’s Rule” is short-lived.

Dave Dudley FLW