Being flexible and determined are necessary for success in fishing, but to understand how Preuett has developed those traits, a little background is necessary.
He graduated from the University of Louisiana-Monroe with an undergraduate degree in management, and he earned his master’s in business.
He was a leading member of the ULM fishing team, but that wasn’t the team he always dreamed of being on. At Tioga High, he was an all-state baseball player and planned on playing in college, but a freak accident after high school costing him the sight in one of his eyes.
That’s when he turned to competitive fishing.
If you check him out on Facebook, you’ll find more about his story and what makes him go — in life and in fishing.
“I’m just so blessed,” he said. “I thank the Lord every morning that I have the opportunity to do this. I also want to set a good example and help promote this sport, especially with a heart for helping young fishermen.
“We should all do that.”
Some of the highlights of Preuett’s first year include a sixth-place finish in the Bassmaster Central Open on Missouri’s Table Rock, where he caught 34 pounds, 15 ounces to pocket $8,512.
His favorite thing besides catching bass, cashing checks and working from his front deck?
“It’s just been amazing that after I had some success on the tour, having a lot of Elite Series fishermen that I’ve seen on TV and read about all these years coming up to me and talking to me like I’m part of the group,” he said. “They made me feel at home and, even though we are competing against each other, they respect what I’m doing.
“That’s the favorite thing that has happened to me.”
