Fishing For a Living

Today’s episode is simple: do what makes YOU feel alive—not what makes the haters comfortable.

Earlier this week, I went out to Beaver Lake and caught striped bass on the fly using Livescope for the very first time. It was electric, chaotic, and one of the most fun days I've ever had on the water. And yeah… I already know some people are going to talk trash about how I did it.

But here’s the truth:People will ALWAYS find something to hate on.They’ll criticize things they’ve never tried.They’ll judge things they don’t understand.They’ll attack anything that challenges their little bubble.

But they don’t get a vote in your happiness.

In today’s garage-session episode, I talk about:

• Why I’m expecting a wave of hate on the striper-on-fly video

• Why haters get loud when you're doing something bold or different

• How fishing every day for the Movember Challenge is reshaping my perspective

• The joy and chaos of catching big striper on a fly rod with Livescope

• Why the “noise” doesn’t matter when the mission is bigger than the moment

We’re halfway through the Movember Challenge—fishing every day, posting every day, showing up every day—to raise money and awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention. We’ve raised $307 so far, and we’re pushing hard toward the $1,000 goal.

Remember:
Negativity is loud. Support is stronger. Keep casting.

🎣 Donate to the Movember fundraiser: https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1🛒 Shop The Kurrent Supply — 10% of November profits go directly to Movember: https://thekurrentsupply.com/▶️ Watch the daily videos on YouTube🎧 Listen to the daily podcast episodes📲 Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CHALLENGESTAY IN THE KURRENT. KEEP CASTING.

If you’ve ever dreamed of fishing for a living, starting an outdoor business, becoming a full-time creator, or building a life on your own terms… this episode is the blueprint.

In Episode 2 of Fishing For a Living, Kyle McCann sits down with four of the most respected names in fishing — Kevin VanDam, Kristine Fischer, Mark Daniels Jr, and Carl Jocumsen — to answer the question everyone asks:

“How do you ACTUALLY make a living in fishing?”

These four legends share the real playbook:

• Kevin VanDam (KVD) — the GOAT — explains why attitude, belief, and work ethic are the foundation of every great fisherman and entrepreneur.

• Kristine Fischer breaks down the truth about failure, sacrifice, hard work, and keeping your circle tight.

• Mark Daniels Jr (MDJ) talks about dealing with naysayers, negativity, haters, and staying focused through the grind.

• Carl Jocumsen shares the raw story behind his mantra “Fear My Heart”, and how he sold everything, moved across the world, and chased the Elite Series with no Plan B.

Whether you’re:
- a tournament angler
- a fishing content creator
- someone dreaming of quitting the 9–5
- a dad trying to build a life with more time on the water
- or just someone searching for passion & purpose…

This episode will change the way you think about your journey.

• How to fish for a living (from the pros who did it)

• The truth about making money in the fishing industry

• How the best anglers handle failure and pressure

• Why most people quit too early

• How to deal with haters and negative energy

• The mindset behind elite tournament fishing

• How to start your own outdoor brand, guide business, or creator career

• Why belief, work ethic, sacrifice, and attitude are everything

Kevin VanDam (KVD) — 4× Classic Champion, 7× AOY, the greatest tournament angler of all time
Kristine Fischer — Hobie BOS TOC Champ, Bassmaster Kayak Champ, one of the most respected anglers in the sport
Mark Daniels Jr (MDJ) — Bass Pro Tour hammer, known for grit, honesty, and outworking the field
Carl Jocumsen — First Australian Elite Series winner & the definition of persistence

Fishing For a Living is a weekly series produced by The Kurrent Studios, sharing real stories of:

• Professional anglers

• Outdoor entrepreneurs

• Creators

• Guides

• Small business owners

• People who traded comfort for passion

New episodes EVERY WEDNESDAY at 5pm — after work, after the grind, when you’re ready to clock into the dream.

Subscribe, leave a review, drop a comment, and share this episode with someone who dreams of a different life.

To support our dream:

Shop: https://thekurrentsupply.com/

Follow: https://www.instagram.com/thekurrent/

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@thekurrent

Support: https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1

This Veterans Day, two fishermen came together for something bigger than fishing.In this special episode of the Movember Challenge & Fishing for a Living, I sit down with Jose Cinco—Army Veteran, storyteller, outdoorsman, and Relationship Manager for KastKing—to talk about mental health, purpose, and turning your passion into peace.We cover Jose’s journey from service to civilian life, how he built Fish With Intent LLC (aka @bait_n_boujee), and what it really means to build a life around the water while staying grounded in what matters most.What you’ll hear in this episode:Jose’s story of transition, struggle, and rediscovery after the ArmyHow humor, storytelling, and fishing became therapyWhat “intent” really means when you’re chasing your dreamThe realities of men’s mental health—especially among veteransA challenge to every man watching: keep casting, keep showing upVeterans Day Special:Use code KEEPCASTING at thekurrentsupply.com for 11% off through Sunday at 11:59 PM CST.Additionally, 10% of November profits go directly to Movember, supporting men’s mental health and suicide prevention.Fishing for Mental Health. Fishing for a Living.Because life’s better when you’re chasing something worthwhile.If you’re a veteran, know one who could use support or want to get involved—Jose shared a few incredible organizations doing real work to help.These groups provide everything from mental health resources to fishing and outdoor programs that bring veterans together and back to purpose: Warriors for Freedom — Programs and resources supporting veterans’ mental health and overall wellbeing. (Jose is actively involved in this one.)Cohen Veterans Network — Mental health care for veterans and their families, including therapy and counseling. (Another organization Jose supports directly.)Heroes on the Water — Uses kayaking and fishing as therapy to help veterans and first responders relax, reconnect, and heal.The Fallen Outdoors — Builds camaraderie and healing through organized hunting and fishing trips for veterans.Army Bass Anglers — A nationwide community of active duty, retired, and veteran service members connecting through competitive fishing and the outdoors.If you’re struggling, reach out. There’s a brotherhood and sisterhood out there waiting to help.

Life can be as hard or as simple as the decisions you make.

Today, I put that to the test — cleared the boat of everything except swimbaits and swimbait rods and hit the water with a simple plan: trust my gut, slow down, and fish with intent.

A couple of solid bites on the Gracely Baits Commode proved the point—sometimes less is more. Whether it’s fishing, business, or life, simplicity creates clarity.

This episode is part of my Movember Challenge, fishing every single day this month to raise awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

🎗️ Fishing for Mental Health. Stay in The Kurrent. ⚡

💰 Donate to Movember → https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1
🛒 Shop The Kurrent Supply (10% of profits go to Movember) → https://thekurrentsupply.com/

Day 8 of the Movember Challenge is about gratitude—and how damn lucky we are to have this passion.

Not everyone wakes up knowing what makes them feel alive. But for us, it’s fishing. The cast, the calm, the chaos—all of it. It’s our escape, our therapy, our reminder that purpose doesn’t have to be complicated.

In this episode, I reflect on what it means to be thankful for the water, the chase, and the community that surrounds this sport. Because when you think about it, every cast is an act of gratitude.

Fishing for Mental Health. Fishing for Purpose. Stay in The Kurrent. ⚡

💰 Donate to Movember: https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1
🛒 Shop The Kurrent Supply (10% of November profits go to Movember): https://thekurrentsupply.com/

Today’s lesson hit home.
A 13-year-old named Clayton reached out and offered to handcraft me a glide bait. It showed up in the mail, and it’s one of the most beautiful baits I’ve ever seen — not just because of how it looks, but because of what it represents.

In this episode, I talk about why I don’t see anyone as competition.
We’re all running our own race, chasing our own dreams, and if I can help someone else win, I will — because that’s how we grow as a community.

This is Day 7 of the Movember Challenge, raising awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

Stay kind. Stay humble. Stay in The Kurrent. ⚡

Check out Clayton's Baits here: https://www.instagram.com/claytons_customs8/

Support the Mission:

• Donate to Movember → https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1

• Shop The Kurrent Supply (10% of all November profits go to Movember) → https://thekurrentsupply.com

This one’s for everyone who’s ever looked at someone winning and said, “must be nice.”

Day 6 of the Movember Challenge is about destroying the myth of luck.
I sat down with former Bassmaster Elite angler Harvey Horne after a long day on Bull Shoals to talk about what it really takes to win—in fishing, business, and life.

We dive into:
How Harvey won nearly $200K on the Big Bite Baits Fighting FrogThe story behind his Bassmaster Opens victory
Why “luck” is just preparation meeting opportunity
What he learned fishing alongside legends like Rick Clunn
How the sport needs to evolve for the next generation

Even with shingles kicking my ass, I showed up—because this challenge is about doing it for the guys who can’t.

Support Men’s Mental Health:Donate → https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1Shop The Kurrent Supply (10% of profits go to Movember) → https://thekurrentsupply.com

Stay in The Kurrent. ⚡

After a decade climbing the ladder in the outdoor and lifestyle industry—working with brands like Facebook, Smith Optics, Canyon, and illycaffè—I realized I’d been building someone else’s dream instead of my own.

So I walked away. From comfort, from a steady paycheck, and from the “safe path.”

In this first episode of Fishing for a Living, I sit on both sides of the mic to share how it all began—from marinas and sportfishing boats to tech giants and marketing at some of the biggest outdoor and lifestyle industry brands, and finally, to betting everything on myself.

We’ll talk about how my passion for fishing evolved, what led me to create The Kurrent, and how I’m building a life and business around what I love most.

🎙️ Featuring a lightning-round Q&A from my wife and a transparent look at how I plan to turn passion into profit.

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5PM—after the grind, after you clock out… clock into the dream.Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Support the Dream:

👉 Donate to the Movember Challenge: https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1Shop

The Kurrent Supply (10% of profits this month go to Movember): https://thekurrentsupply.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekurrent/

Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekurrent

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekurrent

Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/hu/podcast/fishing-for-a-living/id1849510614

Day 3 of The Movember Challenge—I’m fishing every single day this month to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health and suicide prevention.

Today’s challenge?One bait. One hour. One lake. One lesson.It’s about proving that just getting outside can change everything — even if it’s only for a few minutes.

In this episode, I talk about:
The mental benefits of being outdoorsHow fishing has helped my own mindsetWhy simplicity sometimes creates the biggest breakthroughs

GIVEAWAY ALERT:
I’m giving away a brand new Bucca Brand Trick Shad!To enter, you’ll need to:1️⃣ Listen for the code word I mention in the episode the full Day 3 video on my YouTube channel — The Kurrent — and comment the code word + how fishing helps your mental health.

2️⃣ Make sure you're following The Kurrent on Instagram🎁 Bonus entry if you donate to Movember or shop TheKurrentSupply.com.

Support the Mission:

• Donate to Movember → https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1

• Shop The Kurrent Supply (10% of all November profits go to Movember) → https://thekurrentsupply.com

This challenge isn’t about the fish — it’s about the mindset.
Because sometimes… all it takes is a little time outside.

Stay #InTheKurrent.

Today wasn’t a win on paper — but it wasn’t a loss either.

I fished a tournament on Beaver Lake and completely missed the mark. The bite changed, my plan fell apart, and I let stubbornness take the wheel. But that’s exactly what this challenge is about — learning through the losses, and finding gratitude in the grind.

Day 2 of The Movember Challenge — I’m fishing every single day in November to raise awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention through Movember.

In this episode, I share 4 things worse than losing a tournament—lessons that apply far beyond the water.

Fishing for Mental Health | The Movember Challenge

Donate to Movember → https://movember.com/m/thekurrent-fishinformentalhealth?mc=1
Shop The Kurrent Supply (10% of November profits go directly to Movember) → https://thekurrentsupply.com