At 61, Houston Keeps Plugging Away

Perhaps the most recognizable face — and certainly the most recognizable laugh — in fishing belongs to longtime tournament competitor and television show host Jimmy Houston. The personable blonde pro has long been an icon on the BASS scene.

In fact, now in his 38th season, the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series pro is enjoying the longest-running active career in BASS history.

It began with a sixth-place finish in Ray Scott’s Eufaula National tournament in June 1968, in the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society’s infancy. Since then, Houston has competed in 242 events, collected two CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles (10 years apart), won two tournaments and made 15 appearances in the CITGO Bassmaster Classic.

With little left to prove, the Oklahoma pro, who turns 62 on July 28, was asked why he continues to compete.

“One of the things about it is I do over 100 personal appearances a year,” Houston said. “The one thing that I have at a BASS tournament is (wife) Chris and I get to spend the week together. She practices all three days no matter what kind of weather and what kind of fishing. Then I fish the tournament. So we really get to spend the week together. That’s a bonus because I work so hard.”

Off of the water, Houston is likely the busiest of the Bassmaster Elite Series pros.

He runs a television empire in Cookson that produces 52 weeks of programming each year. He oversees six Ranger Boat dealerships, runs a tackle store, and he operates a large travel agency.

Is tournament fishing at the highest level still fun after all these years?

“Oh yeah. If you catch them it’s fun,” he said. “It’s not really a whole lot of fun if you don’t get a bite. But I still like the tournaments.”

Houston has endured routine injuries like tennis elbow and carpal tunnel in his wrist. But he still stays in top physical shape that allows him to match casts with his 30-year-old competitors. He was asked his secret to maintaining his health.

“I run stairs and, of course, I fly incessantly, and if you fly you can do a tremendous amount of walking every day, which I do,” he said. “I never take escalators. I walk stairs at the airports and I don’t do the trams or anything. I walk. If I have to change in Atlanta from (terminals) E to A, I walk it.
 

From BASS