Posted: 11/15/06
North Branch native is living his dream
 Derek Remitz holds two large bass he caught during a Stren Series Central division tournament at the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas. |
By Steve Morris
A North Branch native has decided bass fishing is a keeper of a profession. In February of 2007, Derek Remitz will compete in the superbowl of bass fishing tournaments and have a chance at winning a $500,000 first place cash prize.
Remitz, a 2000 graduate of North Branch High School, qualified for the Bassmaster Classic through the Northern Tour on Oct. 28. The Northern Tour consisted of five tournaments on lakes in Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Iowa and Virginia. Qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic has been his dream ever since he was a little boy, his mother Judy said with pride.
ìWhen he found out he won, he had a grin on his face for three or four hours afterwards,î Judy Remitz said. ìHeís living his dream; itís all heís ever wanted to do.î
The Bassmaster Classic will be held on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Ala., and features the top 50 bass fisherman in the country. In the bass fishing world, itís considered to be the most elite professional tournament in the country.
The tournament will be aired on ESPN2 and $1.2 million will be given away in prizes.
Fishing is big business and the opportunity to make a living and feed a family is available. Remitz said the top bass fishing professionals earn $200,000 a year from tournament earnings, and that does not include sponsors.
If Remitz happens to win the tournament, a tidal wave of opportunities will come rushing his way. However, if he doesnít win this time around, chances are Remitz will have another shot at bass fishingís Holy Grail. At 24, Remitz is the youngest sportsman in the tournament. Judy Remitz said many of the people in the tournament are twice his age.
ìHeís achieved something at a young age that a lot of guys who have been fishing for 20 years have not accomplished,î Judy Remitz said.
Derek Remitz is equally amazed at his accomplishment.
ìItís kind of incredible to be going there this early in my life,î he said.
On top of qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic, he earned a paid entry into the Bassmaster Elite Series which starts in March 2007.
THE RESUME
After spending a short while as an amateur, Remitz decided to take a stab at becoming a professional bass fisherman. So with the full support of his family, he packed his belongs and moved to Hemphill, Texas, to pursue fishing full time.
ìI believe if you have a dream you should do it when youíre able,î Judy Remitz said.
His decision to turn professional and bypass more time in local tournaments may be a bit unorthodox, but it seems to be paying substantial dividends for Remitz.
In 2003 he signed up for the non-boater side of the Bassmaster Tour and notched three top 10 finishes which qualified him for the Open Championship, where he finished 27th.
This year Remitz entered 16 tournaments and earned about $30,000 in cash prizes and a $30,000 Triton boat.
Being an accomplished professional fisherman isnít a leisurely stroll in the park, as some may think. The former North Branch farm boy fishes from sunup to sundown during tournaments. Many days he will fish between 12 to 13 hours. When heís not in a tournament he is researching lakes and getting ready for the next tournament.
ìFishing consumes my life, especially during tournaments,î Remitz said.
His next tournament isnít until January.
BORN TO FISH
For Remitz, fishing started at a young age. While most children his age were racing around on bikes, he was entering local fishing tournaments. He caught the fishing bug when he was just two and half years old and hasnít put down a rod since. Before he turned five, his grandparents, Harley and Margie Johnson of North Branch, took him on fishing trips to Canada, which allowed him to hone his skills early.
ìBy the time he was six, he could handle just about any rod and reel and tie all of his own lures,î Judy Remitz said.
As a child, he spent many summers and weekends fishing at his parentsí cabin on East Rush Lake. Even after seeing many of the best lakes in the country, Remitz still is biased toward Minnesota.
ìAfter fishing all over the United States, Derek still agrees that Minnesota bass fishing canít be beat,î Judy Remitz said.
Soon enough, his recreational fishing blossomed into tournament appearances. At age 10, he had to get permission slips signed in order to enter tournaments with his Uncle Wayne.
Remitz is putting his past accomplishments on the water behind him and focusing on the Bassmaster Classic in February.
ìI am not too nervous ... I am just really excited about it. The worst thing is just waiting.î
Comment from Mark Schutz, 11/29/06
Great article. Good luck at the Classic. We will be going to Lay Lake Alabama to watch. Really good story.
Good Fishing
Mark Schutz
Midwest Regional Director
Fishers of Men
Comment from Scott Campbell, 11/29/06
I fished the Tour this year and got to know Derek pretty well. He's a top-notch guy and one heck of a fisherman. I qualified for the Elite Series as well (at 23 years old), so Derek and I will have to show the veterans what new blood can do!
Comment from Todd Hollowell, 12/4/06
Great story! Thanks for covering this and promoting this young man. Good luck to him and following his dream.
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