His whole life, Bryce Kalen has been motivated by competition.
The Greenwood resident is on water as often as possible either practicing for or taking part in any number of bass fishing tournaments. Kalen’s objective each time out is to catch fish he’ll measure, weigh and ultimately release.
Kalen, 26, is determined to become successful enough at competitive bass fishing to make it his full-time job. He currently takes part in two leagues: Fishing League Worldwide’s (FLW) Hoosier Division and Indiana BASS Nation.
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“I would say I take my competitive drive from my dad (Bryan),” Kalen said. “The drive to be the best and always try to come out on top no matter what the conditions are. That’s how my dad is. He’ll race you to the mailbox to get the mail.
“The outdoors is what got me. Hunting and fishing are things that have been in my family for years. For me, the fishing part is the chase. Trying to be the best is one thing, but I also enjoy trying to understand what the situation is for that day.”
Kalen works in Fishers as a residential national consultant for EasyWater, a developer of products to improve the quality of residential, commercial and industrial water without the use of chemicals or salt.
Some days he’ll arrange to leave the office early to be part of a jackpot tournament on Geist Reservoir less than a 10-minute drive away. The $40 entry fee affords Kalen the opportunity to take home prizes ranging from $400 to $500. He said he’s won such events multiple times.
Win or lose, being on a boat with something at stake forces Kalen to strategize.
“Time on the water is the No. 1 thing that I could say has helped me,” he said. “You get better by learning different techniques, but confidence is what truly makes fishermen. It’s no different than a pitcher in baseball having his favorite pitch. If he knows he’s going to throw it and that’s where his confidence is, if he throws it enough he knows he’s going to be successful.”
Kalen’s best pitch, so to speak, is fishing at a methodical pace in shallow water. He looks for shallow water structure such as lily pads and grass.
Another local bass fisherman, Bill McDonald, 59, has been a mentor, as has McDonald’s son, Brandon, 37, a close friend of Kalen’s. The elder McDonald said Kalen still needs more confidence while fishing offshore, but he believes such a day is coming soon.
McDonald was in his late 20s when he began fishing tournaments in an attempt to make a name for himself. He’s now a professional who benefits from everything from sponsorships to appearance fees to, yes, award money.
“Bryce has all the right skills. I’m trying to help him and coach him along the way,” McDonald said. “It’s just his whole mentality. He prepares very, very well. What Bryce does, he does well.”
Indianapolis resident Matt McCoy, a competitive bass fisherman since 2002, is another Kalen holds in high regard. Despite their 17-year age difference (McCoy is 43), the men have forged a friendship during and away from competition.
McCoy quickly noticed Kalen’s potential.
“I could just tell Bryce knew what he was doing,” McCoy said. “He could put a bait under a dock from 40 feet away. It was just his mechanics in general. Talent-wise, he’s already where he needs to be. It’s a lot about catching breaks. It’s a very tough industry.”
In a calendar year, Kalen fishes in approximately 50 competitions from early March until late December. Kalen sticks to bass fishing for sake of competition. However, he enjoys the challenge of trying to catch blue gill or crappie having virtually been raised on two Brown County lakes — Sweetwater and Cordry.
He remembers the first bass caught during a competition like it was yesterday. Kalen was 10 and his catch factored into the total weight of his dad’s haul that day at Cordry Lake.
“That was a huge turning point for me in terms of being able to contribute against grown men,” Kalen said.
