It's not uncommon for professional bass angler Dave Wolak to pack up his Toyota Tundra, kiss his wife and young child goodbye, and head out for three straight weeks on the road. Wolak says he's even completed a few five-week stretches away from home that included a string of tournaments, taping TV fishing shows, attending media events, and working retail dealer promotions.
It takes Wolak an average of 10 hours of driving to each tournament, and logging 35,000 total miles a year on his odometer isn't uncommon. So aside from all the rods, reels, spare lures, and fishing line, what else does the 32-year-old, former physical therapy professional take along to make the monstrous mix of road miles more tolerable?
Here are some of the items Wolak takes on his many road trips:
A Big Fluffy Blanket
Call him Linus if you want to, but Wolak says he has to have his own blanket instead of overused hotel linens.
A Box of Whole Grain Cereal
He eats it mostly for breakfast and dry as a snack in the truck and in the boat. It's high in protein and high in fiber. Wolak went through a stage early in his career where he gained 20 pounds by slacking off on exercise and eating junk while traveling. He vowed never to let that happen again, taking healthy foods along to keep healthy habits.
A Bin of Every Lake Map He's Ever Owned
Even for bodies of water, you may have never heard of, like Lake Lillinonah. It's a lake in Connecticut where Wolak used to fish in team tournaments.
A Monster Jug of Whey Protein
Wolak drinks it as a supplement around meals because the 'road diet' is mediocre at best in terms of good nutrition. Plus, the body readily digests whey protein and contains tons of essential amino acids.
A Bag of Unsalted Almonds
Like many of us, he also craves an evening snack but doesn't want junk. Almonds are high in fiber, protein, and good calories.
Golf Clubs
Wolak has no aspirations of trading BASS for the PGA, but he does like to visit the driving range along his travels. He hardly ever has time to play a full round of golf, but hitting a bucket of balls helps him stretch his muscles and get a little exercise. He feels less flexible when he's on the road after driving long days. To a minor degree, the mechanics of a golf swing stretch and strengthen just about every muscle.
Tools
He can use many tools, ranging from screwdrivers and wrenches to rotary cutting and grinding tools on fiberglass, wood, or whatever the job calls for.
Wherever the place, whatever the case, from body maintenance to boat maintenance, and fishing in between, Wolak is packed and ready for the rigors of life on the road.
