Andy Seaton – Illinois Co-Angler
Name: Andy Seaton
Age: 33
Hometown: Pekin, IL
State Federation: Illinois
Division: Northern
Occupation: Service Engineer for Caterpillar Inc.
Family Members: Wife, Lilli and 1 son, Augie (4 yrs old), and two dogs, Laken and Lucy
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: My biggest strength is fishing any river system. Being able to adapt the conditions is something I enjoy. The technique I have the most confidence in is fishing grass with a frog.
Favorite body of water to fish: Mississippi River
What has it taken for you to get this far in your fishing career? 12 years of tournament fishing. I’ve made it to two divisionals this will be my first national qualifier.
Dennis Hastings – Texas Co-Angler
Name: Dennis Hastings
Age: 46
Hometown: Flower Mound
State Federation: Texas
Division: Central
Occupation: Trane Air Conditioning – Contracting Project Manager
Family Members: Wife – Shelly, Son - Nick
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Power fishing (flipping/pitching plastics), Sight fishing and Crank baits.These techniques worked best for me in the wood/dock filled lakes in Texas.
Favorite body of water to fish: Lake Falcon – You have to love a place you can swing 7lbers all day.
What has it taken for you to get this far in your fishing career? As crazy as it sounds my wife and job have allowed me to get time on the water which helped me adapt to the conditions and fishing patterns more than anything. I fished 182 days in 2010 on 22 different bodies of water in 6 different tournament series. We had a very cold winter in 2010 which had fishing off by 2 months; I think the tougher the conditions played into my favor since I had more time on the water to figure the fish out. Then it was taking advantage of the opportunities as they presented themselves and focusing on what worked.
John Hill – Utah Co-Angler
Name: John Hill
Age: 38
Hometown: Grand Junction, Colorado
State Federation: Utah
Division: Southwest
Occupation: Truck Driver in the oil industry
Family Members: Wife- Jana, Son- Jacob (cobe), Daughter- Jordan, Stepson-Kyle, Stepson-Derek
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Spinnerbaits, Jigs, Drop Shot
Favorite body of water to fish: Lake Powell
What has it taken for you to get this far in your fishing career? A very understanding wife , great kids along with other family and friends who have been a great support , and of course a lot of time on the water.
Ron Proia – Rhode Island Co-Angler
Name: Ron Proia
Age: 41
Hometown: Saunderstown, RI
State Federation: RI
Division: Eastern
Occupation: Supervisor for a communications Co.
Family Members: Beautiful wife Michelle, 3 Daughters, Riana, Marissa and Michaela
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Love to go deep and fish offshore structure. Can adapt to any style.
Favorite body of water to fish: Lake Champlain
What has it taken for you to get this far in your fishing career? Practice, and a supportive family. Could not have made it this far without them!!! Also, at the divisional, I was only able to fish 2 out of 3 days due to blowing my motor on the way to check in on day 2 morning. I was really down and out after that and thought my run at the championship was all but over. I was able to allow my non-boater to fish for about an hour while I held the boat on high in 4 footers just outside the off limits zone. He was from NH and was very grateful! On day 3, I was able to go out and catch 16lbs of smallmouth to earn a berth to the Nationals. Just a ½ pound away from the boater spot, even though I fished only the 2 days! Can’t believe it went down this way!!
Ed Loughran – Nations Capitol (DC) Angler
Name: Ed Loughran
Age: 40
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Virginia
State Federation: Washington D.C.
Division: Mid-Atlantic
Occupation: Attorney
Family Members: Wife: Alison, Children: Katie and Tommy
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: Focus, research before I ever hit the water and catching fish when it’s tough. Shallow Cranking and Pitching
Favorite body of water to fish: Anywhere there’s off-color water, shallow wood and a low tide.
What has it taken for you to get this far in your fishing career? A supportive family, friends across the country that are some of the best fisherman in the world, and time on the water from 27 years of tournaments and 12 years of guiding 100+ days per year.
Dean Hill – Ohio Angler
Name: Dean Hill
Age: 53
Hometown: Oxford
State Federation: Ohio
Division: Northern
Occupation: Retired from construction
Family Members: My wife Toni, daughters Lacey Hill and Holly Hill-Robertson (who is expecting our first grandchild in May) along with her husband Corey.
Fishing Strengths/Techniques: I fish the Ohio River. We don’t have a lot of fish so you learn patience and slow presentation. I believe this helps me when I go to lakes that have a lot of fish as I adapt to slowing down when the fronts move through.
Favorite body of water to fish: Kentucky Lake. I love it in the spring, summer and fall. It has loads of 3-5 lb. fish. You can catch them so many different ways. When we go fun fishing it is usually Ky. Lake or Okeechobee.
What has it taken for you to get this far in your fishing career? I put in a lot of time on the water. I usually fish 5 days a week once the weather permits. I travel with a couple of friends that fish the tour and fishing different lakes keeps me versatile. Also, I have to confess having an extremely supportive and understanding wife that can completely relate to my passion for fishing.
|