Fishing tournaments since 7th grade, Pat Schlapper is no stranger to competition. After fishing locally in his home state of Wisconsin for over 2 decades, Pat made the decision to leave his established career at Scheels All Sports to pursue his dream of fishing professionally as a Bassmaster Elite Series angler and never looked back. He qualified for the Elite Series after winning the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake in 2020.
“A winning mindset is more than just hitting the water and believing you can win… it begins long before that.”

How to Speak Pat
Hot Zone
(noun) The area of a body of water where the whoppers hang out.
Jim Jack
(noun) A versatile term to describe someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.
Quick Picks
Favorite Fishing Spots
- Chippewa Flowage (Hayward, WI)
- Lake Champlain (New York)
- Mississippi River (Alma, WI)
.
Roadtrip Snacks
- Meat Sticks and Jerky
- Lifesaver Gummies
- Wallaby Red Licorice
- Cheddar Cheese Sticks
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Nuggets
.
Vacation Destinations
- Negril, Jamaica
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Red Lodge, Montana
Grilling a Bassmaster
Scheels Outdoors Podcast: Episode 27
Sit down with two fishing pro staffers Pat Schlapper and Johnnie Candle. Pat and Johnnie talk about what it’s like fishing on the pro circuit, fishing strategies in different bodies of water and much more!
Scheels Outdoors Podcast: Episode 41
SCHEELS Pro Staff members Josh Douglas and Pat Schlapper at our Virtual Fish Series. Josh and Pat talk all things bass fishing and explore effective tactics, share some of their best kept secrets and tell their story about becoming professional anglers in the industry.
Low Budget Live – Luke Dunkin’s Traveling Circus
Would You Give Up Everything To Be a Pro Fisherman?! On this episode of Low Budget Live (Not So Live), Luke runs his mouth about Tennessee breaking records, talks the NPFL and BASS Opens’ schedules, and talks with 2021 Elite Series’ rookie, Pat Schlapper on double qualifying for the Elites, making the Classic, and giving up a career for bass fishing.
HellaBass – Breaking Down the Win on PickWick
Pat Schlapper & I will break down our Pickwick Lake tournament practices and tournaments & learn how he brought down one of the most prestigious titles in Bass Fishing and punched his ticket to the 2021 Bassmaster Classic.
The Fish Bum Podcast – Pat Schlapper: Elite Leap Taker
Wisconsin Elite Series Pro Pat Schlapper joins the podcast to discuss taking the leap from secure employment to aspiring Elite Series pro, his ability to attain his dream efficiently and life as an Elite Series rookie.
Next Level Podcast
Pat Schlapper comes on and talks about pro fishing, his mindset, and his journey. Tune in to hear a great story and amazing perspective of the pro fishing scene.