GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Before the first cast of the 2026 Bass Pro Tour season hit the water this week, Major League Fishing (MLF) anglers spent Wednesday morning investing in the next generation, not on Lake Guntersville, but with a group of 5th grade students inside Cherokee Elementary School.
Three Bass Pro Tour pros – Bradley Roy of Lancaster, Kentucky, Jake Lawrence of Paris, Tennessee, and Alabama native Greg Vinson of Wetumpka – joined MLF Sr. Director of Communications Joe Opager for a high-energy, hands-on visit with fifth-grade students, using fishing as the hook to teach lessons about conservation, careers and following your passion.
The visit took place prior to the start of B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 at Lake Guntersville Presented by Mercury, the four-day season-opening event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, which officially began Thursday morning.
Photos from the event can be found here.
“For a lot of these kids, Lake Guntersville is part of everyday life,” said Vinson. “They see boats and trucks coming through town all the time, but they may not have ever met a professional angler. To be able to come in, share our experiences and show them what this sport is really about, that’s special.”
Students were introduced to MLF and the Bass Pro Tour through video highlights and Q&A sessions with the anglers, who shared stories about their hometowns, the biggest bass they have ever caught and what it takes to compete at the professional level.
“I was about their age when I really started falling in love with fishing,” said Roy. “So getting the chance to talk to them about how I got started and where fishing has taken me is pretty powerful. You never know which one of these kids might take that spark and run with it.”
From there, the focus shifted to conservation, a cornerstone of MLF’s catch, weigh, and immediate-release format. Using fishing gear and hands-on demonstrations, the anglers explained how fish care, clean water and habitat protection are essential to sustaining fisheries like Lake Guntersville for future generations.
“We take conservation seriously, and it’s important the kids understand why,” Lawrence said. “If we want places like Guntersville to stay great, it starts with education.”
Students also learned that pro fishing extends far beyond what happens on the water. The anglers discussed the wide range of careers tied to the sport, including media, marketing, event operations, conservation science, and product design, opening eyes to possibilities many had never considered. The visit wrapped up with fishing gear demonstrations, a casting challenge that turned the gymnasium into something resembling a sporting event and some fishing trivia that saw some lucky students taking home some new gear and MLF swag.
“It gives me chills thinking about it,” Vinson said about the cheers he received after winning the casting contest for ‘Team Greg’. “It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was their age and just getting excited about bass fishing. Seeing their faces light up reminds you why opportunities like this matter.”
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.