Nordbye turns passion into profession
COURTESY PHOTO
Northwest Missouri State University graduate Andrew Nordbye holds up a 9.63 pound bass he caught on Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee. Nordbye is part of the FLW professional fishing tour.
For as long as he can remember, Northwest Missouri State University graduate Andrew Nordbye has been on a fishing boat in some body of water.
After being part of the Northwest Missouri State University Bass Fishing Club, he turned his long-time hobby into a profession by getting on the Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) Costa Series.
“There’s no better feeling than reeling in a nice five-pound Largemouth bass,” he said. “It’s really one of the best feelings in the world.”
He graduated from Northwest with degrees in business management in marketing. Nordbye said he planned on getting those degrees for a very specific reason.
“I went to school for those degrees to be able to become a professional bass fisherman and market myself to companies,” he said. “That’s why I went to Northwest and why I graduated with those degrees.”
Nordbye, who is from St. Joseph and went to Central High School, started attending local tournaments and competitions and did well enough to the point where he was able to join the FLW Costa Series. Costa is a brand of sunglasses that sponsors the tour.
Getting on a professional fishing tour is similar to trying to get on a professional golf tour. Place well enough in the right tournaments, and one will find him or herself with a professional ticket.
Nordbye is sponsored by seven different companies that help him with everything from snacks to eat while out on the boat to fishing lures. He is currently sponsored by Sundog Eyewear, Tightlines UV, which is located in Maryville, Fish Hog Tackle, LIVETARGET LURES, Savannah Marine, Woodstock Line Company, and Interstate Bait.
FLW is the pro fishing tour that sits opposite of Bassmasters. Though Bassmasters is the more well-known brand to the general public, Nordbye said that doesn’t mean FLW is taking a minor-league seat.
“There’s more publicity for Bassmaster, but it’s not as good of payout,” he said. “FLW has a little better payout, and it’s actually older. You don’t get quite the publicity fishing that side of things. It’s all about how you finish. Some people say the Bassmaster anglers are slightly ahead of the FLW ones, but it’s all a matter of opinion.”
Nordbye said there is likely a rivalry between the two brands at the corporate level, but it doesn’t extend to the anglers themselves.
While both are considered pro tours, there is still a step. Both have a higher level that can be attained. Bassmaster has the Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW has the FLW Wal-Mart Tour. Only 150 anglers nationwide compete on each of those tours.
Much like the James Bond Casino Royale poker game, it’s invite only.
Nordbye said there’s more to it than just qualifying for those tours.
“You have to have around $50,000 worth of sponsorship money, and I don’t have anywhere close to that yet,” he said.
Since he started fishing competitively, Nordbye has competed in 13 different states. He has focused mostly on the southeastern region of the United States where the weather is warmer for longer and the Largemouth bass are more plentiful.
He has fished in tournaments in Minnesota and South Dakota, which mostly feature Smallmouth bass.
The fishing season normally runs from February to November with 15 to 20 tournaments per year, which breaks down to two or three tournaments per month, on average.
Nordbye, who caught a career-best 9.63 pound bass in Tennessee, does three professional tournaments a year with the others being local tournaments. Much like a rodeo tour, if one doesn’t place high enough in the events, it can lead to a non-monetary trip.
His first FLW event of the year took place at Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas. He placed 37th out of more than 200 competitors, which netted him $2,100.
By comparison, the winner earned $40,000 and a fishing boat valued at $70,000. His next FLW event will be in Kentucky on June 8 and then October 12 at Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri. Those tournaments allow anglers a chance to qualify for the FLW’s Costa Championship.
Nordbye competed in a local competition at Mozingo Lake on April 9. He placed 12th with only the top five earning any money. Nordbye will also be competing on the N2IT Circuit’s May 7 competition at Mozingo Lake. He said there are 10 different lakes he competes at for local tournaments, all are within an hour and a half drive of Maryville.
At the end of the day, Nordbye said, while he is earning money, he is doing it more for pure enjoyment.
“Winning the biggest tournament in the world is a goal of mine, but what is ultimately going to bring me satisfaction is my relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said. “Winning tournaments won’t do me any good if I don’t bring His name glory for what he has done to save my life.”
