Drew Haerer
DAY JOB: RESEARCH ANALYST AT DUKE UNIVERSITY MOONLIGHTING: TOURNAMENT PRO, BLOGGER, WRITER, GUIDE
No one turns his professional strengths into fishing advantage like Drew Haerer. As a research analyst for Duke University, Haerer uses his analytical thinking skills to crunch data and write academic reports on the effect of energy use on the environment. When he’s on the water, Haerer uses the same skills to analyze the fishing conditions for an advantage on tournament day. “My work is very analytical—lots of numbers and calcu- lations,” he says. “I approach fishing from a statistical or systematic standpoint so I can develop patterns faster, waste less time in unproductive areas and pick up on more details.” Haerer keeps track of this fishing data in a detailed catch log. “I can track patterns and note anomalies that help me catch more fish,” he explains. Then he shares his observations with other anglers through his
Manpoweredfishing.com blog and as a pro guide. On tournament day, Haerer focuses his mental energy on winning. “Competitive anglers are very methodical and analytical,” he explains. “Academic work and fishing play to my ability to process data.” Haerer’s job does cut into his fishing time. “Academic work requires a lot of long weekends and overtime to meet deadlines,” he says, “but working with the environment and energy is important.”
When things at work get quiet, he sneaks away for a dawn or dusk fishing session. “Working at home allows me to set my own hours, sometimes I can work four days and fish on Friday, but when I’m under the gun, work comes first.”
DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to read Drew Haerer’s story of chasing B.A.S.S Slam.
Jeff Little
DAY JOB: DIRECTOR OF DINING SERVICES AT RETIREMENT HOME MOONLIGHTING: SPONSORED ANGLER, BLOGGER, VIDEO PRODUCER
When Little isn’t serving three square meals to residents of the Golden Living retirement community, he’s dishing out fishing advice and stories on his Blueridgekayakfishing. com blog. Managing a dining facility that serves hundreds of meals to residents each day is a long way from Little’s life on the water as a Wilderness Systems pro, lure designer and video producer. “Running a kitchen is sort of like coaching a team, whereas fishing is self-motivated.” At work, hundreds of people depend on Little, but on the water he pushes himself to fish harder and smarter. “Both work and fishing require incremental goals leading to a win, but fishing is more introspective.” Taking a full-time job cost Little his part-time job as a fishing guide. “One morning I had to cancel on a fishing client because I had to fill in for someone
at work,” he recalls. “That ended my guiding business because my first responsibility is to my residents.” Little can’t help but bring his fishing life into his work world. Every Monday, he fields questions from the residents about his weekend adventures. “They know about my passion for fishing and I enjoy sharing my stories,” he says, adding that he often breaks out photos of his catch. “Each summer I take the residents fishing,” he adds. “They get laughing like kids and talk about it the rest of the year.”
52…KAYAK ANGLER
ONE MORNING I HAD TO CANCEL ON A FISHING CLIENT BECAUSE I HAD TO FILL IN FOR SOMEONE AT WORK
PHOTOS: COURTESY DREW HAERER
PHOTOS: COURTESY JEFF LITTLE
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