Q & A With Jonny Schultz:

Q: How can young anglers become better fishermen and how did you get into the Junion Bassmaster program?

A: I always remember what Kevin Vandam told me when I was 8-years old — "To catch more fish, you need to be an accurate caster." It's something I've never forgotten, and I still practice my casting A LOT. The CastingKids program started it all for me. I learned the correct way to flip, pitch, and cast and it made practicing fun. When you are practicing, try to cast to small targets, like a coffee cup, or get 10 bulls-eyes in a row. Once you have the confidence to cast a bait anywhere you want, it makes fishing more fun, and catching bass gets easier.

When B.A.S.S. came out with the Junior Bassmasters, it was just the next step for me. I actually joined a Junior Club when I was eight years old. I couldn't qualify for the State Tournament until I was 11, but it gave me great experience and I was able to learn a lot about tournament fishing.

Q: As a former National Bassmaster CastingKids Champion, why do you like to compete in CastingKids?

A: I really enjoy traveling around the country and I like meeting and hanging out with a lot of other kids who love fishing as much as I do. In casting competitions, we use Zebco 33 fishing reels. I like the Zebco 33 because it is easy to use and a great reel to learn with, and I once caught a 24-pound salmon with it!

Q: You are so young, how have you learned so much about fishing already?

A: Neither one of my parents fish, so I was lucky enough to fish with several pros and federation anglers who showed me what to do. I also enjoy reading books and magazines, attending fishing shows, and watching TV shows and DVDs about fishing. I am fortunate to work with great companies like Zebco/Quantum and give seminars at the Bassmaster Classic and Bass Pro Shops. I can tell anglers of all ages about new rods and reels and other products that are just being released.

Q: What is your number one tip for new anglers?

A: Get a good rod and reel. Don't buy the cheapest, but you don't have to spend a lot either. For beginners, I would recommend the Zebco 33. It's a push button spincast reel that anyone can use. You can get a Zebco 33 rod and reel combo for $25-30 and it will last a long time. For the more experienced young angler, the new AVS series comes in spincast, spinning, or baitcast models, and is a really smooth setup. What's cool about the AVS series is they are built specifically for kids ages 6-14. Once you get really good at casting, you might want to consider checking out the Quantum PT rods and reels. My favorites are the Tour Edition PTi 20 spinning reel and the Tour Edition PT 1160 baitcast reel. You can't go wrong matching these reels up with a 7-foot medium action Quantum Tour Edition PT rod.

Remember, practice as much as you can. It will help you gain confidence throwing the different styles of rod and reel combinations. Then, it will all mean more success and more fun on the water.