Lee Livesay had options, but he committed to a singular game plan based on patience and execution to win the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake with a four-day total of 58 pounds, 2 ounces. Photo courtesy www.chattanoogan.com
Livesay, who lives in Longview and guides on Lake Fork, won the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Chickamauga near Dayton, Tennessee on Oct. 19. Livesay turned in daily limits of 13-0, 13-3, 16-13 and 15-2. Notching his first career victory, the second-year Elite Series pro won the top prize of $100,000.
“It was an exciting tournament because it was so tough,” Livesay said.
As a boy and a teen, he fished in Lake Gladewater and Lake Fork.
“I fell in love with Lake Fork,” Livesay said. I loved being around fishing guides."
Livesay’s first fishing boat was a small Jon boat. Since then, he has been steadily upgrading.
No one is really surprised that he became a professional fisherman. After college, he worked seven years as a full-time fishing guide on Lake Fork. While he did that, he fished in local and regional tournaments.
Matt McMillan, one of his clients on Lake Fork who is now one of his sponsors, once told him, “Man, you’re really good. You ought to try fishing professionally.”
He was hooked after he almost won the first Bassmasters tournament he fished in, adding, “I think I got 5th or 6th.” In his his rookie season as a full-time professional angler he earned Rookie of the Year honors.
“It’s a lot of travel, but I like it,” Livesay said. “I enjoy traveling across the country, seeing new places, and meeting new people. I also love figuring out new bodies of water.” As a professional angler, Livesay has fished in lakes all over the country – mountain lakes, desert lakes, lakes in wooded areas, clear lakes, and muddy lakes.
“I give back to the kids as much as I can,” Livesay said. “I love talking to them.” Livesay said he’ll continue working hard and perfecting his craft. He also plans to keep growing his brand and his business. “Success comes with hard work.”