CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (June 27, 2025) – On Wednesday, before the world’s best bass anglers hit the Potomac River for Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Athletic Brewing, four Major League Fishing (MLF) pros took time out of their schedules to meet with local fans and discuss a topic not often covered in the fishing world – money.
Hosted in partnership with the Jamaur Law Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating students and their parents on financial literacy, the event took place Wednesday afternoon at the Charles County Public Library–Waldorf West Branch, and brought together a small but enthusiastic crowd for an engaging hour-long discussion on financial literacy and the realities of chasing professional fishing dreams.
Bass Pro Tour anglers Matt Becker, Mark Daniels Jr., Britt Myers and Dean Rojas formed the featured panel, with foundation founder Jamaur Law serving as moderator. The discussion focused on everything from early career expenses and travel costs to building credit, budgeting for tournaments and the emotional highs of earning that first sponsor check.
Mark Daniels Jr. drew laughs from the audience as he recalled the moment he realized just how important credit was, shortly after trying to buy his first truck. “I had no idea what a credit score really meant,” Daniels said. “I can tell you – it didn’t me take long to learn.”
The anglers all emphasized that the road to the top isn’t easy, and financial discipline plays a major role in sustaining a career in professional fishing. For fans in attendance, the personal stories helped demystify the sport, and made the anglers’ success feel even more real.
Law, who launched his namesake foundation to promote financial education to students and the local community, said working with the Bass Pro Tour pros was a milestone moment. “Getting to host these guys – this feels like I made it,” he told the audience. “It means so much to see this type of conversation happening in our community.”
After the panel, the anglers stayed well beyond the planned hour, answering individual questions, posing for photos and signing autographs for attendees. Despite the summer heat outside, fans cooled off inside with cookies and lemonade and left with smiles and stories to share.
Excitement is already building in Charles County for Stage 6 of the Bass Pro Tour. With the “Hooked! on the Potomac” festival set for this weekend and the full tournament unfolding across four days, the region is bracing for a celebration of fishing, family and community.
For those who attended Wednesday’s session at the Waldorf West Library, the tournament may not have started yet, but the memories have already proved that sometimes the best catches happen off the water.
The four-day event, hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, officially kicked off Thursday morning and runs through the weekend. Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Maryland. The takeout will be held at the same location beginning at 3:45 p.m. daily. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Village Green Park, located at 100 Walter Thomas Road in Indian Head, Maryland for the Hooked! on the Potomac Festival and MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free dessert, enter to win giveaways, listen to live music from country music artist Megan Barker, and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The event also includes a youth casting contest. The Bass Pro Tour anglers, along with the PAW Patrol’s Skye and Marshall, will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.