February, 2001 Angler Profile: Rick Mills

Rick Mills of Region One's Hook'em Bass Anglers has gone far since joining the Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation in 1991. His parents, in particular his mother, introduced him to fishing. Mills says she was such an avid angler that you literally "had to drag her off of the creek bank." Rick says he's fished "since he was able to walk" the banks of the New River in his native West Virginia. After arriving in Northern Virginia in the early 1980s, he gradually developed the thirst for competitive fishing that has led to a string of impressive achievements in Region One, State, and Red Man tournaments.

Rick makes clear his success would not be possible without unwavering support from his wife, Allison, whose understanding allows him the time to compete at a high level. Her support has enabled the 40-year-old Project Superintendent for Scott Long Construction and father of two (a son, 6, and a daughter, 2) to consistently remain competitive in Region One. He's had five top-five finishes in the Region's Angler of the Year standings since 1994, finishing second in 2000, third in 1996 and 1998, and fifth in 1994 and 1995. He has been Hook 'em's Angler of the Year every year since 1995 and has served as the club's Vice President since 1998.

Building upon his regional consistency, Rick took the biggest step of his fishing career to date in 1996, making the Virginia State Team by finishing third at the Six Man Chapter Team Tournament. That year's state team fished a difficult tournament at Raystown Lake in Pennsylvania. Although Rick calls it "an incredible experience" and remarks that the Virginia Federation provided him with everything he could have requested, he regrets being a non-boater in the tournament. Two boat breakdowns in his partner's boat cost him over a full day of fishing.

Rick has had some other angling experiences that have left him disappointed. At the 1998 Fall Classic on the Chickahominy River, his assigned partner failed to show at the meeting. In his partner's place, the tournament director paired Rick with Scotty Stephenson, the Vice President of the Federation. On the first day of the tournament, they went to Rick's water on the James and he says "Scotty waxed me on my fish," catching over 13 pounds from the area to lead the tournament. Rick was down 5 fish to 1 at one point but still ended the day with over 10 pounds, which put him in the top 10. However, when the launch order was reversed the next day they left the blast off later, found another boat sitting on their spot, and the other fishermen refused to move. Rick and his partner managed to scratch out a few fish that day, but he describes himself as "brokenhearted" that he didn't get a second day to work the fish he had located.
He also has lasting memories of the 1997 Red Man Regional at Lake Sinclair in Milledgeville, Georgia, where he was in 11th place after day one but ran out of fish on the second day.

Rick has his sights on fishing one of the major national tournament trails. He is cautiously optimistic that he will be able to reach that goal but wants to make sure that he has the financial support necessary from his sponsors in order to continue providing for his family. He already proudly promotes a wide range of sponsors. He runs a Basscat Cougar from Pop's Marine, powered by a Mercury 225HP Optimax. He cites the boat's quickness as critical to his fishing, and stresses that the big black outboard is highly fuel efficient and has had "zero problems." Of the staff at Pop's, he says they are "great people to deal with," and they provide reliable, efficient service. Rick fishes All Star Graphite Rods, and uses Eagle Claw fishing products and Culprit Soft Plastics. He says these products are crucial to his favorite techniques of flipping and pitching. He also represents GMCO Maps and Charts and credits that company's founder, George Martin (also a member of Hook 'em), with enabling him to secure his first sponsorships and teaching him how to effectively market for his sponsors. Rick also relies on Danny's Automotive (run by fellow Region One member Danny Huffman) to keep his tow vehicle in perfect shape.

Rick expresses thanks to Region I and Hook 'em members for their support and sponsorship in all of the state level tournaments in which he has participated since joining the Federation in 1991. Above all else, Mills says he strives to remain a "well-respected and consistent regional angler." His record has already brought him the lasting respect of the fishermen of Region One, who regard him as a worthy opponent on all of the state's bodies of water.

If you would like to contact Rick Mills, feel free to email him at millscatch5@earthlink.net