MILLE LACS, Minn. _ Parking their rigs a half-mile or so from this lake in a haphazard circle reminiscent of a gypsy caravan, these fishing-tournament pros spend much of their time waiting, with no intention of casting a line or catching a bass.
Some don't even fish, and at least one wouldn't eat a walleye or other piscatorial delicacy if it arrived on a silver platter.
Yet with their pickups and trailers stuffed with tools, their cellphones always within reach and their mechanical prowess on a par with NASCAR'S best pit bosses, they play a vital role in the success of big-time fishing tournaments, such as the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year competition that concluded last weekend on Mille Lacs.
"My anglers have my number and they can call me any time, day or night," said Steve Catlin, who travels the U.S. for Evinrude.
As Catlin spoke, he installed new spark plugs in a 250-horsepower Evinrude E-TECH G2 that swung from the transom of a metalflaked Ranger bass boat owned by pro staffer Andy Young of Mound.
Young isn't fishing in the Angler of the Year contest, but he stopped by for the tune-up work, knowing Catlin had been assigned to support the Evinrude-sponsored Bassmaster pros who have plied Mille Lacs in recent days.
Not far from Catlin's fix-it trailer, which is wrapped with fancy decals promoting the Evinrude brand, are similarly decked-out rigs representing Mercury and Yamaha outboards, as well as Power Pole anchor systems, Skeeter, Ranger, Phoenix, Nitro, Triton and other boats, and a host of fishing-electronic brands, including Humminbird, Lowrance, Garmin and Ray Marine.
The goal of each is to keep their sponsored anglers on the water and fishing every allowed minute of every day of every tournament.
It's a job that gets both easier and more challenging by the year.
Easier because boats, motors and fishing electronics are constantly improving. More challenging because boats, motors and fishing electronics are ever more complex _ and because the prize money and associated glory for angler and equipment manufacturer alike can be huge.
Not only are winning anglers in the spotlight at these tourneys, the equipment they use is, too. Manufacturers spend a lot of money each year vying for the attention of everyday anglers who in some form or fashion want to emulate the pros, if only by using the gear they promote.
So it is that the marine techies who travel the country to support tournament anglers are in many ways as much a part of a manufacturer's marketing department as its repair department.
Said Catlin, "I'm here to make sure my anglers fish every day, and by doing so, to promote a positive image for our motors."
