Local Angler Is One Of Top 100 In Nation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
If you want to meet a professional bass fisherman, go introduce yourself to Ken McIntosh, North Webster.
McIntosh has been one of the top 150 bass fishermen in the nation for the past five years.
"I was really the first guy from Indiana who made the top 100 - I made it after the first year," McIntosh said.
"Bass fishing is no different from anything else. You have to perform at some of the lesser ones (tournaments) to get to the bigger ones," he said.
To get to the ultimate bass tournament, the Bassmasters Classic, McIntosh and other bassmasters like him have to compete in many smaller tournaments. The Bassmasters Classic will be held in New Orleans this year.
The first goal before getting into the Bassmasters Classics is to become one the top 150 bass fishermen.
It all begins with the divisional tournaments. There's the Eastern division, the Central and the Western. Each division has four tournaments during the year. The fishermen with the highest points accumulated from the four tournaments get ranked in the top 150 bass fishermen.
"There's thousands of guys who want to get into these," McIntosh said.
Those in the top 150 compete in seven tournaments during the year. After those tournaments are over, the top 25 fishermen are invited to the Bassmasters Classic the following year.
McIntosh came in second place out of 150 in a 1998 tournament. Only Denny Brauer, a well-known professional bassmaster, beat McIntosh. McIntosh ranked 31st last year overall for the year, he said.
"I missed (getting into the Bassmasters Classic) by a slim margin," he said.
Even doing as well as he is, McIntosh said, a bass fisherman who does well can't live on prize money alone. It's important for professional fishermen to have sponsors, he said. McIntosh's sponsors include Westlake Boat Mart, Pro Craft Boats and Mercury Motors.
"They're my main sponsors who help me to do what I'm doing," McIntosh said.
When McIntosh isn't winning prize money or talking at seminars, he does take people out onto the lakes as a guide.
"What I do is take people out and teach them the things they need to know," he said. "My No. 1 guide tip is education. I'll take you out in a day and teach you how to fish.
"Any fishing secrets I have is to gain knowledge and keep going."
McIntosh is a licensed and insured guide. He received his charter boat captain license six years ago.
Anyone interested in being taught how to fish by McIntosh can call him at 834-3711. But no one should call him after Saturday - he will be leaving for two tournaments in Alabama. If he wins first prize, he'll come back with $100,000.
McIntosh has been seen on the TNN show, "Bassmasters." But, the fame and fortune take their toll, he said.
"As far as the likes and dislikes, you spend a lot of time traveling, a lot of time alone," McIntosh said. "It's got its ups and downs.
"I used to think I worked a lot of hours at my regular job, but that was nothing," he said.
"I spend a lot of time away from my home and family."
McIntosh began bass fishing about 10 to 12 years ago.
"A guy over in Warsaw took me to a local bass tournament," he said. "A day after that I bought a small bass boat. Thirty days later, I bought a large bass boat."
He said he could see himself bass fishing and in tournaments for the next three to five years. After that, he said, it's up in the air.
"If something really big hits, I would extend it a couple more years," he said. [[In-content Ad]]
If you want to meet a professional bass fisherman, go introduce yourself to Ken McIntosh, North Webster.
McIntosh has been one of the top 150 bass fishermen in the nation for the past five years.
"I was really the first guy from Indiana who made the top 100 - I made it after the first year," McIntosh said.
"Bass fishing is no different from anything else. You have to perform at some of the lesser ones (tournaments) to get to the bigger ones," he said.
To get to the ultimate bass tournament, the Bassmasters Classic, McIntosh and other bassmasters like him have to compete in many smaller tournaments. The Bassmasters Classic will be held in New Orleans this year.
The first goal before getting into the Bassmasters Classics is to become one the top 150 bass fishermen.
It all begins with the divisional tournaments. There's the Eastern division, the Central and the Western. Each division has four tournaments during the year. The fishermen with the highest points accumulated from the four tournaments get ranked in the top 150 bass fishermen.
"There's thousands of guys who want to get into these," McIntosh said.
Those in the top 150 compete in seven tournaments during the year. After those tournaments are over, the top 25 fishermen are invited to the Bassmasters Classic the following year.
McIntosh came in second place out of 150 in a 1998 tournament. Only Denny Brauer, a well-known professional bassmaster, beat McIntosh. McIntosh ranked 31st last year overall for the year, he said.
"I missed (getting into the Bassmasters Classic) by a slim margin," he said.
Even doing as well as he is, McIntosh said, a bass fisherman who does well can't live on prize money alone. It's important for professional fishermen to have sponsors, he said. McIntosh's sponsors include Westlake Boat Mart, Pro Craft Boats and Mercury Motors.
"They're my main sponsors who help me to do what I'm doing," McIntosh said.
When McIntosh isn't winning prize money or talking at seminars, he does take people out onto the lakes as a guide.
"What I do is take people out and teach them the things they need to know," he said. "My No. 1 guide tip is education. I'll take you out in a day and teach you how to fish.
"Any fishing secrets I have is to gain knowledge and keep going."
McIntosh is a licensed and insured guide. He received his charter boat captain license six years ago.
Anyone interested in being taught how to fish by McIntosh can call him at 834-3711. But no one should call him after Saturday - he will be leaving for two tournaments in Alabama. If he wins first prize, he'll come back with $100,000.
McIntosh has been seen on the TNN show, "Bassmasters." But, the fame and fortune take their toll, he said.
"As far as the likes and dislikes, you spend a lot of time traveling, a lot of time alone," McIntosh said. "It's got its ups and downs.
"I used to think I worked a lot of hours at my regular job, but that was nothing," he said.
"I spend a lot of time away from my home and family."
McIntosh began bass fishing about 10 to 12 years ago.
"A guy over in Warsaw took me to a local bass tournament," he said. "A day after that I bought a small bass boat. Thirty days later, I bought a large bass boat."
He said he could see himself bass fishing and in tournaments for the next three to five years. After that, he said, it's up in the air.
"If something really big hits, I would extend it a couple more years," he said. [[In-content Ad]]