RYAN

FRIEND

WILD WEST BASS TRAIL

PROFESSIONAL

ANGLER

RYAN FRIEND

THE ANGLER

My dad, Grampa and I spent countless hours on the water when I was a kid. My dad and I still fish together in some team tournaments just for fun. Fishing is my home away from home, my happy place. I love the peacefulness of being on the water, the camaraderie of the people you meet fishing, the innovation of the industry and honestly, I love the competition. I have had a competitive nature and pushed myself in sports my entire life. Throughout my fishing career I have been fortunate enough to have very good anglers around me. I have learned a lot from many of them and compete against them on a regular basis. They are the driving force that makes me want to become better and better with every event. I also have a support group of friends and family that believe in my abilities and push me to do my best and chase my dreams.

Years Of Experience

First Place wins in Pro/Ams

YEARS WITH WILD WEST BASS TRAIL

RYAN FRIEND

OFF THE WATER

I was born and raised in Chico, CA, and currently live in Oroville, so I have always had lots of opportunities for hunting and fishing. I used to do a lot of bow hunting, but the more I fished, the more it’s taken over most of my free time. As much as I love tournament fishing, I get almost as much enjoyment out of the actual preparation for the tournaments, getting gear ready, building baits and rods, learning lakes, etc. I try to live a pretty simple life – eat, sleep, fish.

SKILLS

Always keeping my nerves down and making good decisions is by far my best attribute followed by finesse fishing. I can fish shallow or deep, you name it. I’m a big fan of spotted bass fishing as well.

MOTIVATION

I love the peacefulness of being on the water, the camaraderie of the people you meet fishing, the innovation of the industry and honestly, I love the competition.

  • Reaction Baits
  • Flipping/Pitching/Punching
  • Frogs/Topwater
  • Swimbaits/Big Baits
  • Finesse Fishing
  • Shallow Water
  • Deep Water
On the water, what do you consider being some of your weaknesses?

Crankbaits, big baits, swimbaits & glidebaits

What are some of your notable accomplishments?

1st place, lake Oroville for 2012 Anglers Choice Pro-AM
1st place, Lake Oroville for 2013 FLW
1st place, Lake Shasta for 2016 Wild West Bass Trail Pro-AM
4th place, Lake Don Pedro for 2017 Wild West Bass Trail Pro-AM
AOY for “Nor-Cal 90” 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017

What are some of your favorite baits?

Homemade hair jigs
Spinnerbaits
Keitech swimbaits
Robo Worms

What are your favorite lakes to fish?

Oroville
Shasta
Don Pedro
Trinity
New Melones

What are some of your favorite set-ups? (rod/line/hook)

Homemade rods, 7ft 6in-8′, 4- 6lb Sunline Sniper, homemade hair jigs, Gamakatsu hooks
All Powell baitcast rods, 12-20lb Sunline Sniper, spinnerbaits, underspins, chatterbaits
Dobyns Fury spinning rod 702/703, 15lb Diawa J-Braid with 8-12lb Sunline Sniper leader, dartheads, shakeyheads

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