Skeet Reese: World-Class Bass Angler

“I have felt for a long time there was an opportunity for a new apparel and
accessory line that solely focuses on durability and performance on the water.
HUK Performance Fishing has filled this void.”
- Skeet Reese

Skeet Reese is one of the most successful bass fishermen in the country. He has been winning tournaments and events for years, creating a career that rivals any bass angler in history.

Skeet Reese’s Career Stats and Highlights:

Skeet Reese has one of the most successful careers in the history of professional fishing. Take a look at his current stats and you can see why he is considered one of the best bass fishermen in the world.

First Year as Pro: 1997
BASS Angler of the Year: 2007
Bassmaster Classic Champion: 2009 (Shreveport, LA)
Bassmaster Classics Fished: 15
Career Earnings: $3,005,653.64
Total Weight: 9,949lbs., 14oz
1st Place Finishes: 8
2nd Place Finishes: 12
3rd Place Finishes: 4
Top Ten Finishes: 66
Top 20 Finishes: 101
Top 50 Finishes: 155

Although Skeet Reese was born in the state of Mississippi, he grew up in Auburn, California where he started fishing for bass on Clear Lake, a large body of water in northern California. Reese says that Clear Lake is his favorite place to fish. It’s his home lake and it inevitably brings up memories of fishing as a child. According to Skeet, he caught his first bass when he was eight years old, and it sparked a passion for fishing that has lasted a lifetime.

Skeet didn’t wait long to start fishing in bass tournaments. By the age of 14, he was competing in local tournaments, learning how to locate more fish in a small amount of time and developing skills that would propel his career. By the time he was 17, he had his own boat and was ready to become a highly successful professional fisherman.

In 1997, he launched his career by turning pro. He competed in tournaments all over the country, sharpening his skills and eventually earning Angler of the Year in 2007. Two years later, Skeet was still competing at the top of his game, winning the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, which was held in Shreveport, Louisiana.

While he is one of the most accomplished bass anglers in the country, he says he still has many goals. He would like to win the Bassmaster Classic at least one more time, and winning a 2nd Angler of the Year trophy would be a special victory for his career.

Before tournaments, Skeet says he doesn’t get nervous, but has more of an anxious feeling. He hates the unknown factors, and claims that not knowing what to expect really drives him nuts.

Skeet is a fishing influence for thousands of anglers across the country, but he claims that one of his own influences was angler Rick Clunn, a highly successful bass fisherman who won the Bassmaster Classic four times. Clunn first in won the Classic in 1976, when Skeet was about 7 years old. Like many anglers, Skeet’s other influence is his father, who took Skeet fishing during his childhood and helping him become a success in the sport.

While Skeet loves being a professional fisherman, he says that the hardest part of competing is being away from family. The bass fishing season lasts practically all year, and it can take anglers all across the country. That said, Skeet wouldn’t change a thing. He can’t imagine himself doing anything other than professional bass fishing.

Fishing Techniques that Make Skeet a Success

Skeet Reese uses many fishing techniques that have helped him become a successful bass fisherman. He claims that versatility is his strong point, and that he can use many different techniques to catch bass in almost any body of water.

Two of Skeet’s favorite techniques are flipping and pitching. Flipping and pitching are unique and challenging ways to present lures to bass who may be hiding near structures and hard-to-reach areas. While they share similarities, flipping and pitching are two distinct ways to fish. While pitching, you hold onto the lure with one hand and use an upper-hand motion with the rod to pitch the lure. This is an especially handy technique for getting the lure under docks and around stumps. During flipping, you actually grab the line, pulling out a given amount before using an under-hand motion to toss the lure. Keeping these techniques in his arsenal, Skeet Reese has been able to become a highly-successful angler.

With flipping and pitching, it helps to have a long rod, somewhere in the line of seven to eight feet. Skeet Reese often uses an eight-foot flipping sticks to give him maximum casting ability. This technique is difficult, however, and most anglers, including Skeet, recommend patience and practice when flipping and pitching.

While he has had lots of success with flipping and pitching, he does claims to have a weakness. Skeet says that he hates using Carolina rigs. He calls it boring, and says it’s a “pathetic” technique. He would rather use any technique, including drop shot, split shot, and throwing jigs before he would ever use a Carolina rig.

There are a wide variety of techniques, but Skeet Reese says his greatest strength is his versatility. In order to be consistently successful in bass fishing, you have to master many different techniques and lure types. Versatility, according to Reese, is what wins you titles.

Providing Top-Quality Apparel for Top-Notch Anglers

Huk is proud to have Skeet on our team. His dedication and commitment to success is paralleled by the uncompromising quality of our fishing apparel. As you will see, Skeet Reese is a special angler who understands the importance of having quality fishing gear and apparel.

At Huk, we are proud to work with top-notch anglers of all kinds. From commercial tuna fishermen to elite bass anglers, these people need high-quality gear that keeps them comfortable.

“I am backing this brand and great group of founders because I truly believe it is the best product on the market. I am fired up about this opportunity and am looking forward to working with the team to develop the best performance products in the space."

- Skeet Reese