For Hunter Brown, his journey to fishing at Upperman all started with a simple cast into familiar water.
Brown said he, along with friends Weston and Tucker, has been fishing for as long as he can remember — learning the sport not on big lakes, but in the quiet creeks and ponds near home.
“My dad used to just take me to the ponds and creeks [around our house] and [we] always loved it,” Brown said. “There was a creek right behind the house and there used to be some really nice small mouth in there and I loved going down there and catching good fish.”
Those early days were not just about chasing bass. Brown said he pulled in bluegill from the same creek, experiences that helped build both patience and instinct on the water.
Now, Brown said those instincts show up in how he approaches every outing, especially in tournaments.
“Normally I just try and figure out what I’m gonna do,” Brown said. “Normally I start by trying to throw a faster moving bait and if the fish aren’t hitting, I’ll slow down.”
That adjustment often means rotating through some of bass fishing’s most reliable options. Brown said he typically starts with a chatterbait before switching to a jig or a Senko when a more methodical approach is needed. Brown said it is a strategy rooted in being thorough.
Whether he is working a pond or covering water in competition, Brown said he emphasizes making sure no opportunity is missed, a mindset that has translated well into tournament fishing.
Brown said that competitive environment is where everything comes together.
“It’s just cool to be able to show off your fish,” Brown said. “I just like doing tournaments in this area.”
From casting lines in a backyard creek to competing across the Upper Cumberland, Brown’s journey reflects a simple progression, one built on early mornings, local waters and a love for the sport that hasn’t changed since day one.