As a Chicagoland native, I grew up naive to the bountiful waters that surrounded my suburban home. However, as an adult I've had take the time to seek out the hidden gems Chicago has to offer. Various forest preserve ponds, the Fox River and its Chain of Lakes, the Des Plaines river, not to mention Lake Michigan, provide anglers a variety of species to fish for. As a child, our annual family trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to visit my great uncle were the times I remember most fondly. I learned to fish with very basic tackle and equipment with my dad and grandfather fishing out of an old flat bottom jon boat, catching mostly pan fish. Later, as I grew older, we began fishing for pike and bass. After college my enthusiasm for the sport blossomed, and my focus narrowed to specifically targeting bass. As an undergraduate at Bradley University I earned a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing. After two years in sales following graduation, I enrolled in a graduate program at DePaul University, earning a masters in Mathematics Education and Secondary Education Teaching Certification. I've enjoyed a career in secondary education dating back to 2002, working with special needs students, teaching mathematics, moderating student clubs, and coaching a variety of sports. Now, sharing my love for fishing with others has become my passion, and excites me as much as landing a trophy bass.