First off, I want to thank God, my family and business partners for this incredible life I get to live. The 10 year old Dillon that would stare at the TV and dream of fishing around the country would be so proud of where my career has taken me so far.
While I had a lot of success fishing Jr. Bassmaster events with my Uncle around East Texas, it wasn’t until I got into high school fishing that I really started to see this childhood dream take shape. During my senior year, B.A.S.S. introduced the High School All-State and All-American program. I immediately sent the link to everyone I knew and had them fill out the nomination form. I could not believe the unwavering support that was poured out to me, as I was selected first to the All-State team for Texas along with a now lifelong friend, Jared Penton.
Shortly after the All-State team was announced, I remember sitting in class and the New Caney High School principal walked in and asked to speak to me outside. Now look, I never got in trouble in school. I knew my Mom would be waiting for me if I did, so I stayed away from that. Anyways, I step outside and I saw the entire principal staff with my mom on the phone. They all smiled and said, “Congratulations Dillon, you made the All-American team.” It took a moment to sink in, but when it did there was no way I could go back into that class. I did what any good student would do, and I went fishing that day to celebrate!
Fast forward a few weeks, my Mom, sister and I traveled to Kentucky/Barkley Lake to participate in our separate tournament held in conjunction with 2015 BassFest. Bassmaster went above and beyond to make the 12 All-Americans feel like we were absolute superstars. Being a part of the All-American team is truly a staple and strong accomplishment that I am proud to tell people when they ask.
Now it is time for college. I attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and knew there was nothing I wanted to do more than fish around the country and learn how to break down new places. College fishing really took off for me in 2017 when my teammate Colby and I won the College Classic held on Lake Houston in conjunction with the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe. Holding that trophy and staring at a crowd of people cheering for us was a feeling like I have never had before. Ever since then, I have chased that moment and I strive to experience that feeling again. In 2018 we qualified for another National Championship on Lake Tenkiller, which was the hottest tournament I have ever fished in my life. We ended up being less than two pounds away from making the classic bracket which haunts me still to this day. Unfortunately, I graduated the next year and my college fishing career came to a close.
There is a long gap from the time I graduated college to now. In between there, I had a job with my now title sponsor, saved up my money, and in 2022 decided to sell real estate with my mom and fish full-time. A lot of sleepless nights and deep talks with God helped make that decision. Just like when I went to college, as soon as I made that transition, I watched the success start to build. I qualified for a professional trail in a different organization and loved every second of the big stage. I hadn’t fished a Bassmaster event since I left college in 2019, but I knew at the end of last year that jumping into the Opens was the right move for my me, my family and my business partners.
When the schedule was announced for the EQ’s, unfortunately the final event on Okeechobee was on the wedding date my Fiancé Kaci and I set 6 months prior. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again; I am marrying the best woman in the world. She actually wanted to and agreed to move our wedding date so it would not conflict with the schedule. As if there wasn’t already enough pressure to qualify, now I really had to make sure I was busy on November 15th! As I sit and write this article at my Airbnb, it is starting to settle in that I am three tournaments away from watching that 10 year old’s dream come to fruition.
From All-American, to College Classic champ to an EQ’s angler, I am grateful for every ounce of it. I am blessed beyond what I deserve, and I can’t wait to hear my boat number called in the morning to get this show going!
