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FEATURED PRODUCT
Hometown: HOT SPRINGS, AR
Birthdate: 04-28-1966
Classic Appearances: 7
BASS Tournaments Won: 1
Career Highlights: 24 Top 10 Finishes. 90 Times in the Money.
Total BM Entries: 175
Primary Fishing Strength: SHALLOW WATER (ANYTHING)
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JOURNAL
May 2011
I have to say that this year’s Bassmaster Classic was the one of the worst I’ve ever had. It was one of those events I would just as soon forget. When you don’t do well, when you get outfished — you just can’t dwell on it.
Everybody has bad days and bad tournaments, that just the nature of the game. I always try to take something positive from them and turn the experience into something good for future tournaments. It’s worked for me so far this year. I’ve made good decisions through the first four tournaments, and that has allowed me to be in the top 15 in the race for Angler of the Year.
So far this season we’ve been fishing grass lakes, which plays into on of my strong points — fishing shallow. When I’m in my comfort zone, fishing shallow vegetation, I just feel real comfortable.
The next few tournaments are in places where there’s not a lot of vegetation. So I’m going to have to change my techniques and expand my repertoire the last half of the tournament schedule.
My Wiley X sunglasses have played a big role in my good start to this season. I’m a visual, target-type fisherman. I like to see where the fish might be, so I can make the best presentation. High-quality polarized glasses like my Wiley X Jakes allow me to see a dark spot in the water, a clump of grass on the surface or grass beds under the surface. These are places other people might pass over, but I can see them. I’ll find the sweet spots, thanks to Wiley X.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming tournaments, especially the Arkansas event that’s in my backyard. Looking ahead for 2011, I’m focused on getting back into the Classic, which will be in Shreveport, only about three hours from my house. I’m working on staying focused and staying positive, so hopefully I can achieve this goal.
September 2010
This has been my best overall year since the start of the Elite Series — I finished 21st overall. I owe this to solid fishing throughout the course of the year. I really worked on consistency, and it made a big difference. In the past, I’ve really bombed in a few events. But this year, I was able to fish without a lot of pressure and earn a spot in the Classic.
I was disappointed in my performance at the Delta in Sacramento, not being able to bring home the victory. It taught me a big lesson — one I think all anglers can learn from. Don’t get hardheaded and stick with one thing too long. Try to change as the week goes along. Many anglers (myself included) get stuck in a rut and have to find their way out. As the year went along, thinking back on that Delta tournament really helped me to not get bogged down on a particular pattern. I did a better job of re-adjusting as the season went along.
As for techniques I’ve used and things I’ve learned, I go back to the Smith Mountain Lake tournament in April. It was a sight-fishing tournament, and not surprisingly, my Wiley X Jake glasses played an important part in my success. I learned not to stay on one fish too long. I don’t usually have a lot of patience, but I had too much patience with that fish. You have to “listen” to what a fish is telling you to learn if it’s going to bite or not. I wasn’t listening to that fish and I burned valuable time. It won, and I lost.
I’m a shallow water fisherman, which makes vision one of the biggest weapons in my arsenal. I do a bunch of flipping and pitching to cover areas. Wiley X not only helps me see, it gives me confidence in knowing my eyes are protected. I’m never afraid to set the hook, even when I’m not sure if I’m really bit or not. Most people don’t think about it until it’s too late, but a jig or crankbait flying back at your face can do serious damage to your eyes. Wiley X’s high velocity protection helps with my “short string” techniques and takes a lot of stress out of my life.
I’m already on my way to practice fish for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic. It’s going to be a shallow water event, which fits very well with my experience. I’m looking forward to a great event and another great year.
April 2010
Looking back at the Bassmaster Classic, it’s one of those events where you swing for the fences on every cast. The top four or five guys all fished in the same creek, and that made it tough for the rest of us to compete. But it’s always an honor to be there, fishing with the best of the best.
I started out on fire at the Duel in the Delta in California, then had a tough third day and a decent final day. I ended up getting 6th Place — a solid finish — but somewhat disappointing because I was leading after two days. My Wiley X Jake glasses with amber polarized lenses were key to my fishing strategy in California. The action at those events was always in and around vegetation. My Wiley Xs helped me identify the darker spots on the bottom (vegetation) from a distance. Being able to identify targets from far away was also a big advantage. The further away you are from the fish when you see them, the better chance you have of catching those fish.
Another key was locating certain vegetation areas during low tide, then being able to find these vital points again when the water came up. I was waiting for the tide to reach a certain level to make the fish a little more active. It takes superior vision to get in position and take advantage of this small window of opportunity. This worked out well for me on three of the four days.
Another thing I like about the Wiley X Jake sunglasses is that the wrap-around frame style and wide temples serve as an added sun blocker. By keeping sun and glare from sneaking around the sides, these glasses really help you identify underwater targets.
Every trip to California is special, as we don’t get to go there too often. The people out there are really nice and receptive to professional bass fishermen. We meet up with the same friends every time we head out west; it’s kind of like a family reunion.
I’m happy overall with the season so far. Any time you can go fish unfamiliar water and still make the cut, that’s a good thing. I didn’t do as well at the second event. Still, I’m very satisfied being in the Top 20 and I’m looking forward to three of four next stops on the tour. I’ll be looking for some redemption at those events, for sure.
May 11, 2009
I'm really excited, this season has started off with a bang -- I grabbed 4th
place at Lake Amistad, 10th at Wheeler and am sitting in second place in
Bassmaster Angler of the Year race going into Smith Mountain Lake later
this month. I really enjoy fishing in shallow water, anything with low
covering such as wood, rocks, trees or logs, and although Smith Mountain
is a deep and clear lake, I managed to finish 16th last time, so I'll most
likely return to the same spots.
I always carry about 3-4 pairs of Wiley X Eyewear with me, that way
I have a range of lens options to choose from. I really prefer to fish
in shallow, dingy water, and Wiley X
polarized lenses help my eyes cut
through the glare and see deep. For
example, Amistad was a deep and somewhat clear lake, and my Wiley Xs
helped me spot fish there. Kentucky Lake is my favorite scheduled tournament
this year, so I'm really looking forward to that. I like to fish visible cover, but I
need a good pair of optics to see that kind of stuff. My favorite pair of
sunglasses is the Wiley X Jake with Polarized Emerald Mirror lenses. The hidefinition
and high-contrast lenses are phenomenal for sight fishing.
At this point I'm just staying focused on qualifying for the Classic and the AOY
race. I hope to throw another log on the fire and keep things rolling.
Bassmaster Classic:
It was Thursday night and it was all I could do to try to force my food down. I sat at the window, watching it rain extremely hard, and thinking about how I’d been fishing in the back end of some creeks during practice, and I knew it would be a muddy mess when I got there the next day. I’d put all my eggs in one basket, the handle broke and so did my eggs.
However, I did my best, and that meant using a shallow diving crank bait, fishing in four to six feet of water, sticking to lay down and stumps.
Usually I wear the brown lens and I feel like they enhance underwater objects better than any other color we have, and when you’re trying to visually fish pieces of structure, a good pair of glasses is very important, not to mention being able to identify objects in dingy water and clear water.
Sunshine Showdown:
I spent most of my time flipping in shallow reeds and ended up getting a few big ones — the biggest was 6.12 pounds.
On day 2 I caught a bag that was 16.9 pounds, the biggest stringer of fish that I’d caught on that lake in the last four events I’ve participated on there! I normally don’t catch anything on that lake, so as you can imagine, I was extremely excited!
By being able to ID clear water, and there were a mixture of grasses in the area I was fishing, and being able to look through the water, and see up to a few feet in dingy water to identify a mixture of different grasses — it made a huge difference.
BIO
It’s been said that one should never be content with being average, as average is as close to the bottom as it is to the top. Stephen Browning couldn’t agree more, and is one pro angler that’s never been afraid to go his own way. “I do my best in fishing dingier water, and in shallow water,” reports the Arkansas native. (This 5 time Bassmaster Classic qualifier formerly worked for the EPA as a wastewater treatment plant inspector, so go figure.)
Being a shallow water angler, he relies on Wiley X’s superior lens technology to give him an edge over the competition. “Wiley X’s lenses provide fantastic depth perception in the water, plus, they’re so lightweight and comfortable, you don’t have the fatigue on your ears and nose that comes with other brands,” he says.
He was introduced to the joys of fishing when he was four years old, with his father and grandfather. “Fishing has always been a part of my family’s strong, outdoor heritage,” he says. “My dad and grandpa were crappie fishers, but they didn’t pull hard enough for me! So I eventually moved into bass fishing and have been there ever since.”
He now lives in Hot Springs, AR, a mere 80 miles away from where he was born, but it’s pretty clear that as far as his career goes, he’s not in “Ar-Kansas” anymore.
He started in the Bassmaster circuit in 1995 (quitting the wastewater rat race in 1997 and working fulltime as a pro angler ever since) As for a preferred lake, he can’t pick just one. “I love them all! I really don’t have a favorite, they’re all so much fun. I enjoy a challenge, and there’s a challenge to be found at every place I go.”
Stephen has clearly risen to the challenge of the competitive circuit, with a career that includes 20 B.A.S.S top ten finishes, currently ranked 66th in the world. He was the winner of the 1998 Alabama B.A.S.S. top 150, along with numerous wins in redfish and saltwater tournaments.
Fans may have even spotted him as the winner of the recent ESPN Wild Rules games, and he’s also an avid whitetail bowhunting enthusiast.
When it comes to protecting his eyes, he knows that safety is the name of the game. “Eye protection is key — not only for me, but anyone who fishes — it’s as important as your rod and reels,” says Stephen. “It’s a must, as you don’t want to set the hook on a fish and then have a bait come back and hit you or your partner. I preach that, at all seminars — you just have to have it.”
Stephen’s preaching to the choir, but watch for him to testify on Wiley X’s behalf in yet another amazing season!
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