Wade Werner: Musician, Father, Fisherman
(Photo gallery at bottom)
Wade Werner began fishing as a kid before many high school and college programs even began. His father was an avid fisherman with a big influence in Wade’s life. His father also went on to win the Midwest Bassmaster Classic in 1996 (unconfirmed). After high school, Wade entered the music industry and worked hard to become a solo artist. However, as he got married and began to have kids, he started falling away from the music industry. He felt that having a family and coaching his kids in baseball had greater meaning.
Then tragedy struck. March 1st, 2017, Wade’s father suddenly passed away at 58.
“He was really one of my best friends,” said Wade. “I kinda hung it up. I walked away from fishing. I was really just kinda hurt. All the way around.”
About a year later, Wade hired a young man at his company. John Austin loved to fish, and on the first day on the job asked Wade if they worked on the weekends. Never working on the weekends, Wade replied, no.
“Ok good”, John Austin said, “cause I have a little bass tournament I’m fishing.”
This was just the push Wade needed to get back in the sport. Wade ended up sponsoring them for the weekend and even fished alongside John Austin.
They only caught one fish…
“It was all it took to get the fire built back up inside. It was almost symbolic. My dad got me into it. He was really into it, but didn’t have a mentor, perse. And so, we pursued this together as a newfound hobby amongst the two of us, and it grew from there.”
-Wade
His love for the sport was immediately rekindled and within weeks he bought himself another boat. He was fishing in tournaments on the weekends, and even fished the BFLs (Bass Fishing Leagues) that first year back.
The first boat he got was a “fish and ski.” He ended up finishing 18th his first year back, made the regionals, and realized his love and skills in a bass boat never left.
And then Covid hit…
The pandemic really stunted his venture back into the bass fishing world, but it seems to be for the better. Since then, Wade has just been getting himself back into the game, piece by piece. Wade is striking out by launching his own hard plastic lure line. Currently, it’s sitting in the US Patent office awaiting final authorization, so there’s not much we’re allowed to share. He did show us the prototype, however, and it is an original design for sure. If all goes as planned, you should see his new lure released sometime mid-2022. Wade’s also been working hard lining up sponsors, overseeing some projects, and getting ready for, in his words, “a rebirth of Wade Werner Fishing.”
2022 is coming up all Wade Werner.
If you’re wanting to know how to get in touch with Wade you can find his business page on facebook: here
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