If there is such a thing, then Kim Johnson is a double fishing widow.
As a youngster, the Talking Rock, Ga., woman watched her father, Danny Kirk, leave home regularly to travel the country as one of the vagabond pros on the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail. As an adult, she has supported husband Michael as he established a career as a touring pro.
"(Danny) was always gone when she was a kid," Michael Johnson said, laughing. "So now we're both gone all of the time."
At least Kim Johnson has surrounded herself with winners. Kirk, 45, is a two-time Bassmasters Classic qualifier and past winner on the Tour. Michael Johnson, 29, has already qualified for the 2003 Classic by finishing fourth in the Southern Open division. That success convinced Johnson to shelve his career as a masonry contractor and become a full-time angler for his second season on the Tour.
Having a Classic invitation assured, Johnson says he is more at ease as enters this Tour season.
"Yes, it sure is (a better situation)," he said. "I just barely made it financially last year. But this year I'm in much better shape and that's made a big difference. I had a lot better year (in the Opens) and picked up some more money this year. And I picked up a few sponsors, which really helps."
Johnson, who posted a 17th-place finish in the season opener on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, works in tandem with his father-in-law on the Tour.
"We travel together and work together," he said. "That helps us. We're both pretty secretive, even though he's my father-in-law. We basically talk about what we think the fish are doing and what we're doing - but just not where we're doing it. We do share a lot of information."
Kirk hasn't shared much with his son-in-law in terms of what to expect in his first Classic, though.
"He hasn't told me anything about the Classic, besides the fact that the (Louisiana) Delta is huge," Johnson said. "I've been to the two Classics that he was in, so I got to participate somewhat in what went on. So I'll be a little bit familiar with it."
SEMINOLE'S BACK
After suffering through a period where its abundant vegetation largely disappeared - seemingly along with much of its trophy bass population - locals report that Lake Seminole is back to its former abundant self.
The 37,500-acre impoundment on the Florida-Georgia line will host the Georgia Bassmaster Tour event next week.
All indications are that the nation's top pros will enjoy some excellent fishing. A recent one-day, five-bass-limit tournament there was won with nearly 28 pounds - an impressive 5-pound-plus average.
WHALE MASTER
Occasionally you will hear fishing pros refer to big bass as hogs, pigs, toads and even whales. Of course, that is an accepted bit of slang in the profession.
But in the recent Tour stop on Lake Okeechobee there was an angler in the amateur ranks who truly knows something about handling whales. In fact, Thad Lacinak of Orlando is one of the pioneers of killer whale training and today oversees the training of all types of animals at five Sea World and Busch Gardens parks as vice president of animal training for Anheuser-Busch Entertainment.
Away from the theme parks, Lacinak is an absolute diehard bass fisherman and fishing fan who counts such pros as Shaw Grigsby, Rick Clunn and Skeet Reese among his friends. He often spends weekends competing in local tournaments where he has enjoyed some success.
And he did well at the Bassmaster event, finishing just 6 ounces short of making the top 12 amateur finals. Fishing with pros Michael Johnson and Luke Clausen, Lacinak caught 15 pounds, 6 ounces to earn a check for $1,200.
"I had a real good time fishing with those guys," he said. "But I was a little disappointed because I thought I had a shot at making the finals. Still, it was fun."
DID YOU KNOW?
A total of 442 different anglers have qualified for the coveted Bassmasters Classic over its 32-year history. That does not include 15 pros that have already qualified for the 2003 Classic throughout the Bassmaster Open route.
PRO BIRTHDAYS
Rook becomes 42 on Jan. 22, while Mark Tucker of Missouri turns 42 on Jan. 31. A pair of Oklahoma pros - Ken Cook (56) and O.T. Fears (47) - join Japan's Kotaro Kiriyama (32) in celebrating their birthdays on Feb. 2. Veteran pros Denny Brauer and Chet Douthit both turn 54 on Feb. 3.
IF I HADN'T BECOME A BASS PRO...
Michigan pro Kim Stricker would be running the family paint business while moonlighting in various nightclubs in the Detroit area. He is a talented singer and keyboard player.
THEY SAID IT
"I made myself a promise when I started that if this started getting in my pocket and started costing me then I'd quit. I've had some slow years, but then I've boomed right back and did real well for the next couple of years. I've been discouraged a time or two, but I've never really wanted to quit. I love to compete. I love the guys. And as long as I can make a living doing it, I will probably stay with it." Veteran Texas pro Harold Allen, 57, who has qualified for 13 Bassmasters Classics.