Expanding the sport is always on the minds of bass fishing’s big players. Sponsors, media and tournament organizations look to anglers who move the needle. At one time, the crown rested on the head of the year’s Bassmaster Classic champion. Today, a number of top performers share the role as top influencer.
While guys like Jacob Wheeler, Scott Martin and Jordan Lee duke it out for attention, I argue that the fastest-rising star isn’t one of the guys at all. It’s Kristine Fischer.
Bassmaster fans can’t help but know Fischer – she’s been the subject of a recent media blitz that finds her all over B.A.S.S. media. But, before you discount Fischer out as a one-off, consider her story and the companies that back her.
Fischer’s sponsor list includes mega-brands like Yeti, Pure Fishing, AFTCO, Bass Pro Shops and Toyota. Additional partners include outdoor lifestyle players like Case Knives, Hobie and even tourism and visitor bureaus.
Fischer entered the scene as a competitive kayak angler, where she continues to dominate the niche. Winner of a dozen or so major titles and recently second at the 270-angler Bassmaster Kayak event at the Susquehanna River, Fischer ranks at the top every year. Her first win in 2018 was an eye-opener.
“Brands came to me right away,” Fischer noted. She couldn’t help but assume that much of the attention came from her unique demographic, but that didn’t sit well. “The guys before me didn’t get that kind of attention.”
I’ve worked with and interviewed Fischer a number of times throughout her career. And I can honestly say, she has never used the “girl card” to further her status or demand attention. If anything, she’s worked in the opposite direction.
Fischer comes from a very unique background, one built on a foundation of hard work in an American small town. Both of her parents are entrepreneurs, accustomed to thinking outside the box and taking risks. Not surprisingly, Kristine decided to do the same, jumping into a traveling fishing career early and not looking back.
Fischer is never home. When she’s not competing, she now finds herself engaged in major sponsor obligations or on an adventure to an undiscovered mountain stream. Her story is compelling and authentic. Her media perpetually uplifting.
Sponsors have taken note. Rather than dabbling in controversy or rehearsing the same boring sales pitch, Fischer is out there doing it. Along the way, she’s empowering a new generation of anglers.
“I get messages all the time from people who got into kayak fishing because of me. Women and men,” Fischer stated. “And not just the competitive landscape.” Oftentimes, Fischer confirms, she literally introduces brand-new anglers to bass fishing.
People are fascinated by Fischer’s story. When things go well, she celebrates. When they don’t, it shows.
Despite being one of the most celebrated kayak anglers in America today, and having an ever-increasing portfolio of supporters, Fischer is searching for more. Next season, she’ll compete as a boater in a division of the Bassmaster Opens, where she may be the only female in the field.
But why?
“Logically, it doesn’t make any sense,” Fischer confirmed. “But I’m not afraid of getting my ass kicked. And I want to show that.
“I want to try to open it up and get more women competing,” she added. “And if women need to see me get chewed up and spit out, so be it. “
Fischer sees a parallel from the early days of competitive kayak fishing. “I was the only female angler,” she remembered. “But other women saw me step out of my comfort zone and they did the same.” Today, while numbers are still low, most professional kayak fishing tournaments feature several female anglers.
Fischer also admits that she “never stays comfortable in any one place too long,” and that the big-boat game will be a worthy new challenge. Still, she’s driven by a new future for female anglers.
“I want to see a female qualify for the Bassmaster Classic in my lifetime,” Fischer declared. So do I.
No one is doing more to work toward that goal than Kristine Fischer. And when we all celebrate the day a female qualifies for and wins a professional event, she’ll be the first one deserving thanks.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
