Years Pro: 19
Family: Wife Jimmye Sue, Little Alton, 17, Kristen, 14, Jamie, 11
Boat: Skeeter
Tow Vehicle: Toyota Sequoia
Other Sponsors: Skeeter, Yamaha, Ardent Reels, Kistler Rods, Costa Del Mar
Dog’s name and breed: two Yellow labs, Sandy and Grace (Ephesians 2:8)
What do you consider your biggest tournament win?
Obviously the 2008 Classic was the biggest win for a lot of reasons – it changes your career, gives you more recognition in the fishing universe, gives you the opportunity to touch peoples’ lives. Other than that, I’d have to say my first victory in 1997 at Neely Henry. That was the first time that I felt like I belonged as a pro bass fisherman. I felt like I could, but... Had that win not happened I was probably a year or two away from having to choose a different career path. It allowed me to take my sponsorships to a new level so that at least it s a break even deal. We only had two little babies then, and I love going back and looking at those pictures. Ray Scott was still doing the tournaments then and to be handed the trophy by him was a big thrill.
What’s your go-to when nothing else seems to work and how to you work it?
Soft plastics; I can’t be more specific than that. One is the Mega Tube. I love to flip and pitch visible cover and it’s a bait that I can catch a lot of fish on. Second is a Yum Dinger. When I push the panic button -- and sometimes when I ‘ m not pushing the panic button -- you’ll see those baits in my hands.
What do you like most about tournament fishing?
The search is what I love. I love the pursuit of finding a fish, the thought process of finding fish and catching them. When practice is over and you know exactly where you’re going and you’re going to whack them, that’s a great feeling.
When I started out in tournament s I didn’t know I’d like succeeding, because I hadn’t succeeded. Early on the anticipation of being successful really drove me. As I’ve matured the love of finding fish has taken over, and that’s a good passion to have.
What’s your fishing goal?
I have a lot of different goals as a fisherman. Right now its to win the Angler of the Year title, but stepping back more broadly, I see fishing as a means to achieve this end: To bring glory to Jesus Christ. He’s given me the ability to do that and to touch others. I want to make a difference in the lives of people in my life. One’s a fishing goal and the other is more of a life mission.
What’s something few people know about you?
Between tournaments I day trade. I’ve always been interested in the stock market but in the last few years I’ve really gotten into it. I love computers and it’s an opportunity to use technology. Also, a lot of people don’t know that I spent two months in Peru doing mission work and became pretty good at Spanish. Still get by.
Editor’s note: One other thing folks may not know about Jones is that he’s a Mexican food addict. While at Falcon, it was breakfast, lunch and dinner. I never thought I’d be sick of Mexican food, but…LT