Collection: About Cole Bailey

I was born into a family that was heavily involved in fishing and still remains that way to this day. I have over 20 years on the water fishing experience, and just over 10 years in the fishing retail industry. I have fished everything from freshwater lakes and rivers, to inshore and offshore saltwater fishing. I would consider myself a multi-species freshwater angler for the most part, but specialize in tournament bass fishing. Some of my career highlights include:

• Multiple Local Tournament Wins Including 2016 TBBA Classic Champs
• 2018 TBBA Team of the Year
• 2018 Bassmaster Team Championship Qualifier Harris Chain of Lakes, FL
• 2 FLW Everstart and Costa Series Top 10’s
• Competed for Team Canada Bass Fishing in 2018
• Won Silver Medal as a Team and Placed 3rd Individually at 2018 Pan American Championships on Lake Okeechobee for Team Canada
• 5th Place Individual Finish at 2018 Black Bass World Championships El Cuchillo Lake Mexico for Team Canada
• Competed in the Bassmaster Eastern Opens in 2019

My favourite types of fishing throughout the year would be float fishing Steelhead, casting Musky in the fall, and catching giant Smallmouth on the Great Lakes in the Fall. Mixing it up between ice fishing perch and crappie in the winter, to travelling South and Bass fishing in the winter too. In the spring time, I can’t get enough of the vertical jigging deal for Walleye on the big rivers around us and really enjoy finding post spawn Crappie’s on outside weed lines. Summertime is all about tournament Bass fishing for me, you will not find me doing anything else during the summer months.

If I had to pick an all-time favourite technique to do regardless of the species, it would have to be punching matted up vegetation for Largemouth Bass. The best piece of advice I can give to any angler, is that nothing replaces time on the water. If you want to be successful in this sport, you need to put in the time learning and understanding the seasonal patterns and mannerisms of the species you want to target. And time on the water is the best tool to build these understandings of fish behaviour, and time on the water allows you to perfect the techniques to catch them. Always keep an open mind when it comes to fishing and never stop learning. Conditions change from day to day and it is a constant chess match and puzzle to solve each day. Learn to enjoy the process and keep your rods bent!