Interview with Citgo Pro Tim Carroll
By Dustin Lester

After only his second year of fishing as a professional angler, Tim Carroll finished fifth in the FLW Angler of the year race. He has proven himself to be among the elite in the world of tournament bass fishing.


• Name – Tim Carroll
• Hometown – Owasso, Oklahoma
• Age – 41
• Major Accomplishments – 2003 FLW Championship, 2003 FLW Rookie of the year, 2002 All-American, 2001 BFL Regional Champion, 3 time BFL Regional qualifier, 1998 B.A.S.S. Federation National Championship qualifier, 5 time B.A.S.S. Federation Regional qualifier.
• Marital Status – Married with two kids ( Wife-Lori, Daughter-Rebecca 18, Son-Zach 17)
• Favorite Lake – Sam Rayburn and the Red River
• Favorite Lure – 1/2oz. F5 Red River Spinnerbait
• Favorite Movie – O Brother where art thou
• Favorite Music – Contemporary Christian
• Favorite Sport – Other than fishing it would be hockey
• Favorite Food – Seafood
• Favorite Fishing Technique – anything shallow- Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Brushogs, and shallow crankbaits
• Favorite Cover – Hydrilla
• Favorite time of the year – Spring (Prespawn)
• Current Sponsors – Citgo, Skeeter/Yamaha, Red River Tackle, Morton Marine, and Falcon Rods

OBF – How did you get into fishing tournaments?

Tim – I started fishing tournaments 19 years ago, a friend ask me to fish a
tournament on Grand and we got a check in my first tournament.
The next one we won and I was hooked. After that I have donated
a lot of money over the years, but I have also made a little too.

OBF - Do you believe learning to fish in Oklahoma has played a big part
in your early success on the professional level? Why?

Tim – Absolutely, I have fished most every lake with any size in Oklahoma,
and over the years I have learned to pattern active fish. On the Pro
tour that is the only way to survive. The seasonal pattern is the most
important part of fishing.

OBF – What would you say is the single most important determining factor
in your success this season verses last?

Tim – I would have to say learning how to practice on a new lake. I usually
only get two and a half days of practice, so you have to learn to
recognize productive water very quickly.

OBF – How do those “Pros” compare to the stiff competition here in
Oklahoma?

Tim – Those “Pros” are very good at what they do. The only difference is a
local only fishes locally, fishing the same old holes. A touring pro
not only will find those same holes, but often fish them with a
technique those fish may not have seen. For instance drop-shotting
maniac Aaron Martins will expand an area or use a different
technique in some other part of the lake.

OBF – Do you see similarities between the different lakes we have here and
the ones you encounter across the country?

Tim – To quote Ray Scott, “A bass is a bass no matter where he lives.” I
see similar lakes to ours, but not out East or South. There is some
kind of grass at most all the lakes on tour. There is also very little
rock. I have found, if there is grass you better be fishing it. “Where
there is grass-there are bass.”

OBF – Do you refer to lessons learned on the Oklahoma lakes to help adjust
to the different lakes around the country? For instance?

Tim – Constantly, for instance when I get to a strange lake, the first thing I
do is establish seasonal pattern. I refer back to my experience on
home waters to do this. Other ways may be to recognize a good flat
or ledge or stump row in a field of timber. Does this lake sound
familiar?

OBF – What would you suggest to an aspiring young Oklahoma angler with
dreams of fishing professionally?

Tim – I would suggest getting an education in Business management and
Public relations. Professional fishing is a business and one of the
most important aspects is sponsorship, that type of education really
will help attract sponsors. Start out fishing Pro/Ams on the Amateur
side to learn the ropes and fine tune your skills. I know several young
fisherman who have done this and are doing very well.

OBF – Does having all of those major sponsors really help? How do those
types of arrangements really work?

Tim – I thank God everyday for providing me the opportunity to do some-
thing I love to do for a career. I take great pride in the Sponsors I
have worked so hard to obtain. Sponsorship plays a huge roll in Pro
fishing, not only financially but also with individual recognition.
Take for instance my sponsorship with Citgo, this opens the doors for
other sponsors. I am a new member of the Red River Tackle Pro-
Staff, though this is not a financial sponsor, I get to help with the
design and colors of these great baits. This really helps when it is one
of your “go to” baits.

OBF – What trails have you fished in Oklahoma? How many years?

Tim – I think I have fished every major trail at one time or another. The
first real circuit I fished was U.S. Bass. This was about 18 years ago.
Joel Baker and I got into these tournaments thinking we would tear
the bass up. I remember the first tournament at Fort Gibson. We
fished hard all day and caught one keeper and thought that nobody
could have caught them. Boy was I wrong, some guy named Tommy
Biffle had six fish that weighed 31pounds and he got 2nd, everybody
had a big bag of fish, that’s when I thought I might be in over my
head. But I stuck with it and now look I am fishing with the best
fisherman in the world. And yes that guy Tommy Biffle is still
kicking my butt.

OBF – Do you and other Oklahoma Pros stick together or assist each other
with life on the Professional tournament trail? How?

Tim – This past year I fished the B.A.S.S. Tour and the FLW Tour, with
this kind of travel schedule it makes it very hard to stick together
with anybody. In the FLW Tour Joel Baker and I share information,
like patterns, depth, and technique, but we don’t share water unless
we find the same water which did happen at Lake Murray. This
happens, but with a friend you trust it is not a big deal, you just set
boundaries and keep fishing. In the B.A.S.S. Tours I share with
Edwin Evers. Edwin is a great guy and a good friend as is Joel.
Edwin actually told me to go check this flat when we were at
Lake Eufaula Alabama. I drove through it and never made a cast,
I did not like the looks of it. Yes you guessed it, Edwin won
$100,000 on this very flat. When you are a rookie and don’t know
anyone it really helps just to have a good friend to talk to and share
your day with.

Tim, thanks for such a great interview, and taking time out of your crazy schedule for OklahomaBassFishing.com. I wish you the best of luck in the 2003 FLW Championship and the remainder of your long Professional career of Bass fishing.