Dean Rojas, Bass pro

Glenn: Hi! I'm Glenn May with BassResource.com and I'm here with Dean Rojas. Dean, it's great to have you here today. Dean: Thanks. I'm happy to be here. Glenn: Dean, what does it take to prep for a tournament like the Classic? How far in advance do you start looking? Dean: It started the day that I qualified for it back in June. Gathering information and getting prepared for the spring time, which is what we're in now. Getting your tackle and getting an idea of the areas that you're going to need to look and scout and find out where the fish are at. Glenn: And what types of things are you looking for? Dean: Basically maps are a good key to start with. The satellite imagery is very good. Google Earth is a great tool to use. You can look at all the canals and where they go to, where they lead. It's such an advantage to see everything on a aerial view as opposed to just driving down the canals. Glenn: And when you finally get to that body of water, what kind of things are you looking for? When you first get on the water do you start motoring around and checking things out or just put the trolling motor down and just start fishing? What's your approach? Dean: A lot of it has to do with the seasonal things. In the spring time you want to look at the dead end canals, that's where they come to spawn. And obviously the clearer the water the better. Clean water, time of year, and then bait selection is basically up to the angler and what he wants to throw. Glenn: All these years you've been fishing or tournament fishing and moving on up the levels, I wondering, what do you think tournament fishing needs the most these days? Dean: I think participation. Young kids coming in. I know there's a big influx of college fishing coming in and getting involved. Just taking your kids fishing. Dads and Moms out there taking them to the local pond and getting them involved and fishing early and it will pay off dividends in the long run. Glenn: So if a young angler wants to become another Dean Rojas, what's the single most important piece of advice you could give them? Dean: Stay focused on your goals and your dreams, whatever it might be. And just believe in yourself and keep working at it and good things will happen. Glenn: In all these years of working to become a much better angler, what types of things have you learned that you've been able to take away and apply it to your life outside of fishing? Dean: Just dealing with people. It's the professionalism that we bring to this sport, it does translate into every day life and treating people the way you want to get treated. It's been a great learning experience for me and it is who I am today. Glenn: When you first became a pro, what's one of the most surprising things to you that you weren't expecting? Dean: I think that you have in your mind, you perceive what it is to be a professional angler and what it all entails. It really hits home when you walk into the arena at the Bassmasters Classic and there's 30,000 people screaming and chanting. There's no better feeling than that one. Glenn: I bet. So do you think you've changed at all since you started as a pro? Have you changed your approach in any way? Do you think you're a different man now than you were when you started? Dean: I don't think I've changed; I think I've evolved into what I am today. Just learning, you know. I made a lot of mistakes. I made a lot of errors, but that's how you learn. You learn what not to do. I try to do the right thing all the time and it's taken me this long and I look forward to the future. Glenn: What's the best thing about being a pro? Dean: I get to live my dream every day. I get to wake up every day and I'm a professional angler and I love what I do, I love my job. Glenn: Awesome. One thing I want to do right now is called the shameless plug moment. This is where you can talk your sponsors in any way you want to. If you want to say "Hi" to your family or friends or to your fans. Anything you'd like to say to anybody, the floor is yours. Dean: Well, first of all, I want to thank my sponsors Skeeter Yamaha, Gander Mountain, Oakley, Quantum, it's going to be a long list. Big Box, SPRO, Gamakatsu, Make My Frog, Gale Outerwear, SunLine, is my fishing line company. I just want to say thank you, thank you everybody, thank you to the fans that are tuning in to professional bass fishing, we need all you help and support. Thank you. Glenn: And there you have it ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Dean Rojas. I'm Glenn May with BassResource.com.