ESPN

ESPNOutdoors

  (3:00 PM)

Hey everyone we're about to begin here - Skeet is making his way in the room and getting comfy as we speak...

J-man (Benbrook, TX)

How hard is juggling a successful angling career and your family life?

Skeet Reese

  (3:04 PM)

That is without a doubt the most difficult thing I do as a pro angler. Being on the road 200+ days a year means that there's a lot of time away from my family and to compensate that for when I am home I try to make sure when I am home that the time there is family time and I take time to take my girls to the park and to school and to play to build that relationship when I am home. I don't think it'll ever get easier but I'm in the same position I guess a lot of other athletes are where you have a lot of passion and love for it and trying to live your dreams while balancing a family life. Most of my fans know how important that is to me, my family, and the fans see that in the emotion that comes out and I try to make it a part of everything I do.

Ron from Athens, GA

Who is your greatest inspiration in fishing? Or in any other aspect of your life? Why?

Skeet Reese

  (3:05 PM)

Early on my dad was my inspiration to teach me to love the outdoors and fishing, itself. As I grew up, got older, and learned about tournament fishing, Rick Clunn became my inspiration to become a pro angler and is still an inspiration because of his outlook on fishing including the psychological side of it. It's pretty cool that the guy who inspired me to get into professional fishing is now one of my good friends on the tour.

karmachameleon17, Provo UT

are you single??

Skeet Reese

  (3:06 PM)

No, I'm not single. Married with two children.

homeskooled

What's the funniest thing that's happened to you this year while on the circuit?

Skeet Reese

  (3:09 PM)

It's not something that happened to me but it's something I read recently was the story by Don Barone on ESPNOutdoors.com - it was by far one of the funniest pieces and most realistic things I'd read about bass fishing and I was sitting in my office laughing and crying so hard and my wife couldn't even understand it. Being a pro and knowing what we do and seeing someone who isn't used to it coming in as convoluted as he, it was by far the most entertaining thing I've read in a long time. As far as personal things...I can't think of anything offhand but there's always a lot of funny stuff on the tour. Don Barone's Story

Kyle (Little Rock, Ark.)

Is there any chance the Raiders will win again with Al Davis running things?

Skeet Reese

  (3:10 PM)

There is a glimmer of hope, being a diehard Raiders fan I HAVE to be optimistic and hope they'll be in the winners circle at the end of the season...in the next hundred years.

Stinky (Grove, OK)

Do play any video games in the off season?

Skeet Reese

  (3:11 PM)

Only electronics I know how to use are my Lowrance electronics. When it comes to video games I'm pretty ignorant to them. I've tried playing with friends kids who have the games and they take me out in about 30 seconds.

Helga Varlden

Which places around the world have you always wanted to go fishing?

Skeet Reese

  (3:12 PM)

South Africa is probably my first and foremost choice. They have some incredible fishing over there...a lot of different species.

Japanie Mation

Do you like sushi? Sashimi? Or do you just say no?

Skeet Reese

  (3:13 PM)

You can't PILE enough sashimi on my plate. It's one of my favorite foods of all-time. We go tuna fishing down in Mexico and the first tuna caught gets whacked and eaten straight out of the boat.

Robinne Leach

What's the worst place you stayed during the tournament season this year?

Skeet Reese

  (3:14 PM)

I've stayed a LOT of good places over the years but I've stayed in a lot of roach coaches too but I'd rather leave them unnamed so my rig and equipment are still there in the morning. Don't want any revenge takers coming after me for being outspoken about certain hotels.

Dwight (Barston, CA)

What did the 2007 angling season teach you about yourself and as an angler?

Skeet Reese

  (3:15 PM)

It proved to me that I can win and if I keep applying myself in pursuing my goals and that I can accomplish them if I stay focused. It proved that I can make better decisions but it is always a never ending learning process whenever it comes to fishing.

Miss Understood

Everyone sees the photos on the web and the winning video moments, but what are the behind the scenes-type things you would want fans to be aware of that you go through during the season?

Skeet Reese

  (3:18 PM)

We spend a lot of hours traveling - it takes a toll - countless hours away from family, countless hours on the water practicing, staying in cheap hotels and eating fast food. Everyone thinks we live a glamorous life but we live in a different world than the PGA players. Still an individual sport where we take care of ourself and aren't catered to constantly. Lots of blood, sweat and tears that people don't see.

Don Barone Bristol CT

Hey dude, thanks for the props, hope you are as good a TunaMaster as you are a BassMaster. See you on the ocean.

Skeet Reese

  (3:19 PM)

Hey Boner, good to hear from you! Looking forward to meeting you in Boston and seeing you chum to the fish gods out on the Atlantic...

Rachel S

Tell us what you see as the future of the sport -- do you think it will have more crossover appeal, and will start to interest people from a wider cross-section of America?

Skeet Reese

  (3:22 PM)

I think there's a lot of potential for our sport to be a little more mainstream than it is now. I don't think it'll ever be the PGA tour but with the help of ESPN and what they've done to help grow our sport it is becoming a little more mainstream and given us an opportunity to showcase our personalities to America and see that it's not the stereotypical sport a lot of people thought it was. We've brought some entertainment and emotion to it that's helping to attract new fans and grow the sport.

Bill (Port Arthur, TX)

At what point did you know that winning Angler of the Year was something you were skilled enough to do?

Skeet Reese

  (3:24 PM)

Well, at every level of competition growing up I feel like I'd managed to achieve an AOY title from a local club to team tournaments to the one and two day Western Pro-Am's - as far as the Elite Series AOY title...I feel like I've been in position several times over the last five or six years. It was something I always wanted, but I never knew if it was attainable. If it would ever happen or not. To have the season I had this year and to win it was pretty satisfying. Don't know if I'll ever be able to do it again but I know if I don't it won't be from lack of effort...

Ida Slapter

What do you do in the off-season?

Skeet Reese

  (3:25 PM)

I don't do much bass fishing, that's for sure. I like to chase Steelheads on the coast in California and chase bluewater fish down in Mexico. The rest of the time is spent with the family doing "Honey-do's" and getting ready for the next season.....and doing ONLINE CHATS!

Tom (Syracuse, NY)

What do you do for the next four months? Will you ever make a stop at Lake Hartwell before it goes off limits?

Skeet Reese

  (3:26 PM)

I will spend one day on Hartwell just driving the lake. I won't fish I just want to drive around and know what it looks like. Probably 4 or 5 hours driving around and that's all I'll need.

Mike (Tuscon, AZ)

What percentage of fishing is being in the right spot and what percentage is presentation of the bait?

Skeet Reese

  (3:27 PM)

Wow....first and foremost you have to put yourself around the fish and bait selection and presentation is absolutely part of the equation you can't do one without the other and be successful, so, it all goes hand in hand. 50/50.

Patrick (Lincoln, Neb.)

Who do you think is the third best angler on tour behind yourself and KVD?

Skeet Reese

  (3:30 PM)

I would say...and this is my opinion, is Terry Scroggins. He's proven without a doubt he's one of the best anglers on tour. Look at where he finished in the points the last four years...he's pretty strong. Of course, then go look at the "Spin Doctor" Aaron Martens...he's right there too. 50/50 tie. Martens or Scroggins.

Mike - Pinckney, MI

First off, congrats on edging out a fellow Michigander. Leave to a Cali guy!What's your favorite technique to use fishing? Never mind the conditions, just in general.

Skeet Reese

  (3:31 PM)

I don't have one favorite technique and that's how I built my career. Being versatile in everything I do. As long as I'm catching fish I'm happy...I think I'm pretty proficient in all techniques. I like it all!

Bill (Palestine, TX)

Bass fishing seems a lot like golf in the sense of, what do you do when you retire?

Skeet Reese

  (3:32 PM)

When I retire from the sport, I'll still be fishing. Just won't do it competitively. It's part of my life and I enjoy being out on the water. Doesn't matter if it's a stream, an ocean, or a lake. Long as I have a fishing pole, and I'm chasing fish, I'm happy.

Peter (Debuque, Iowa)

What will it take to become known as better than Kevin VanDam?

Skeet Reese

  (3:34 PM)

I think I need to keep doing what I've been doing the last five years, and that's statistically staying on top of the standings and get more wins and more titles. This year I definitely made a presence for myself, and I don't think I'll be outshadowed by Kevin, at least for a little while but I'll just have to keep winning.

ESPNOutdoors

  (3:34 PM)

Ok, everyone - Skeet has to make some other appearances so he's gotta go. Thanks to everyone who's participated!

Skeet Reese

  (3:35 PM)

Thanks everybody! See you all out on the tournament trail.