Joe Thomas has had the rare fortune of growing up along some of the greats on several circuits for competitive bass fishing.  At the age of 18, this Cincinnati native won the 1980 Ohio B.A.S.S. Federation Championship.  Almost overnight, Joe went from being an amateur angler studying Fisheries Biology in school to a legitimate professional, beating out several seasoned competitors.  From there, he never looked back.  

During his twenties, Joe competed in two professional bass fishing circuits and qualified for the prestigious Bassmaster Classic four times.  When he was 28 years old, Joe won 1990 Red-Man All-American Championship Tournament in Buffalo, NY.  This time, his championship came with a cash prize of  $100,000.

While Joe continues to compete in tournaments and circuits across the country, he does not limit himself to working as an angler alone.  For years, Joe produced a regional fishing program in his native Ohio.  He also wrote a book about his experiences as a tournament competitor called, Diary of a Bass Pro.  That book gives an inside look at the lucrative fast track of competitive bass fishing and also highlights the difficulties of life on the tournament trail.  

Adding to his long list of accomplishments, Joe has been hosting two programs for Outdoor Channel for several years.  On Stihl’s Reel in the Outdoors, Joe Thomas travels North America with friends and fellow angers sharing tips, hints and secrets learned from over 25 years on the pro tournament trail. You’ll never what you’ll learn, and where Joe will be in each episode.  “The reason I do this show,” explains Thomas, “is because I want to do something different. I want to see why Americans absolutely and undeniably love fishing.”

As host of the Telly Award-winning program Ultimate Match Fishing, Joe uses his experience as a tournament angler to give play by play commentary for this one of a kind tournament show.  Although Joe was never forced to compete from the same boat—as the competitors on this program must—his insight allows fans to understand the subtle strategies that the anglers use against each other in pursuit of the $50,000 cash prize.

Additionally, Joe's NASCAR-like Outdoor Channel Boat and Truck are fixtures at many trade shows and promotional events nationally. His one-of-a-kind rig is recognizable wherever it goes.  He currently resides in Ohio with his beautiful wife Diane, and three wonderful children, Ryan, Reanna and Gracelyn.

 Joe's MyOutdoorChannel blog and photo gallery