Marty Stone does not hesitate when asked about his relationship with fellow professional angler Gerald Swindle.
"He's like the brother I never had," he says.
Nor does Stone mince words when he talks about the importance of that friendship to his own fishing career. He willingly admits that because of their working relationship, his tournament winnings have risen dramatically. So, too, has his ability to find and catch fish under a variety of situations. And when he can't get anything going, Swindle is there to help ease the frustration and turn it into something positive.
Working partnerships have become not only a way to beat the sometimes lonely isolation that comes with life on the tournament trail, but these partnerships are a great way for pro anglers to find and catch fish they might not otherwise encounter. Although the professional fishing circuit is a relatively close-knit group, some anglers have formed tight bonds with others that not only serve to break the monotony of long road trips, but also to devise strategies that help both anglers catch more bass.
"It works best when you and your partner are from different regions or you have different strengths," says Virginia pro Curt Lytle. He and Connecticut pro, Jordan Paullo, struck up a friendship as a result of their chosen travel methods. Instead of spending nights in motels, Paullo and Lytle tow their boats in conversion vans and sleep in campgrounds. Paullo says the two were merely "friends in passing" until they were paired for a day during a BASS Invitational event on the St. Johns River.
"We just had a great time. We also caught plenty of fish, which helped ease the tension. But since then we've been great friends and we've really helped each other grow in our careers," says Paullo.
Stone and Swindle met briefly at a gas station in Alabama in 1996 on their way to a tournament. Swindle, who lives in Alabama, was well on his way to becoming the powerhouse angler that he is today, and Stone, from North Carolina, was new to the tournament scene and just wanted directions to the lake. They talked briefly, recalls Stone, and Swindle offered some tips on what the fish might be doing and the best ways to catch them. It was good advice. Stone placed 11th. Swindle, however, didn't follow his own wisdom and bombed. They met again at a different event and talked more, sharing everything they had to offer.
Since then, the two have grown so close that they travel together, eat together and spend nearly every moment helping each become better anglers. They share fishing waters, techniques and discuss strategy that might put more money in the each other's pockets. Their relationship is built not just on a common outlook on life and similar values, but an honest desire to help each other improve. All four anglers agree that the success of their professional relationships, like their personal ones away from fishing, is based on one simple ingredient trust.
"I don't think one pro could walk up to another and say, 'Hey, let's become tour partners,' and start helping each other catch more fish. You have to develop a friendship first and a level of trust," says Lytle.
Stone adds that neither he nor Swindle feels superior to the other, another critical ingredient for a working relationship that develops into a friendship. Paullo says he and Lytle can come off the water, spend only a few minutes discussing the day's results and then move the conversation into something totally unrelated to the sport. But, like Stone, he stresses the importance of unabated trust and honesty.
"I don't hold anything back from Gerald and he doesn't hold anything back from me. That's why our friendship is so solid. If you hold one thing back, then you might as well not even be friends," says Stone.
Paullo adds that he doesn't feel like he's fishing against Lytle. Just the opposite. The two work in conjunction to locate fish and establish the best patterns. Information is shared openly and each works to help the other succeed.
"Jordan has his style of fishing and I have mine. Because we share information and work together to find fish during a practice period, we're able to basically pool our knowledge to get something going," says Lytle.
"It's almost like being in two places at once during practice. During a tournament, we'll discuss strategy and help each other get on fish if one of us is and the other isn't. We'll even share water if there's enough room or enough fish."
Stone says his relationship with Swindle is such that both anglers feel like they're fishing as a team, despite the fact that they are both trying to earn more money than the other. In fact, Stone takes the team concept to the highest level.
"If Gerald comes in with 18 pounds and I come in with 5, I feel like I let him down, like I didn't pull my weight," he says.
The one-on-one team concept isn't favorable to everyone. Although most touring pros have at least a few friends they hang out with, only a handful have close working relationships like those between Lytle and Paullo and Stone and Swindle. That might lead to claims of an unfair advantage, but neither Lytle nor Stone has felt any animosity at all from fellow pros.
"I think the guys who hang out in larger groups like it that way. I don't. I would much rather have one good friend who I can share everything with than five or six who only share bits and pieces. It just works better for me," says Lytle.
Life with a fishing and traveling partner isn't perfect, admits Stone. He recalls the early days when he and Swindle started sharing rooms in cheap motels. Fortunately, neither had annoying habits that threatened the relationship. But Stone says Swindle has more friends and family members than anyone else he knows.
"They all call him on his cell phone. Day and night. Constantly. I finally put my foot down and started getting my own motel room so I could have a little peace when I needed it," he laughs. "I think that's been good. We are together so much that spending time apart only helps solidify our friendship. I still look forward to seeing him every day."