Gentleman Jay

Some pro anglers retire because they can’t requalify or stay competitive or muster up the entry fees – but rarely because they have something else to do. It’s one of the peculiarities of the profession. Unlike other sports, where there’s a shelf life to your athleticism, anglers don’t “age out,” and therefore don’t necessarily need to plan for life after the cheering ends. As a result, the longer that they stay in the sport, the less likely they are to have a meaningful second act – after being on your own schedule and effectively your own boss for years or even decades, it’s not simple to settle into a life of selling insurance or used cars or filling out TPS reports.

Jay Yelas is an exception to that rule. Yes, he suffered injuries that ended his 2022 season prematurely, but I get the feeling that while his physical plant might be a small part of the reason he’s quitting competition, the main reason is that he’s found a more compelling calling for this stage in his life – running the CAST for Kids Foundation full-time. Like the NFL player who studies for his MBA during the offseason, Yelas has been the organization’s Executive Director for eight years. Now he’ll get to put all of his energy into it.

Yelas is an exception in another way – he’s probably one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, not just in professional fishing, but in any competitive endeavor. I’ve long had a theory that you need to have that special gear that turns you into a sort of a jerk to succeed on the water. You don’t need to be a bad person, unethical, or confrontational, but you need to have a special kind of selfishness. Even the nicest ones off the water can kick it in when needed. But I cannot imagine “Mr. Rogers” ever getting cross with anyone or holding a grudge or pushing a boundary. He just doesn’t seem to have it in him.

After watching him perform at the highest level – a Classic win and multiple Angler of the Year awards – for parts of five decades, I have distinct memories of Yelas. I recall him fishing Fox’s Ferry on the Potomac year after year after year, patiently culling his way up to top-five finishes and even a win. In my mind’s eye, he’s wearing the old coach’s shorts and black/red/white jerseys that all of the Skeeter guys wore. More than that, though, I remember a fog delay that eventually turned into a canceled day during a Bassmaster Top 150 event on Toledo Bend in the early 2000s. Most of the pros worked on tackle, talked among themselves, or retreated to their trucks for a few minutes of shuteye. Yelas noticed that I had on a hat from Lake Winnipesaukee, and proceeded not only to introduce himself but also to quiz me about fishing on the New Hampshire lake. He showed off a genuine curiosity and kindness that I didn’t expect. As I interviewed him over the years, I experienced that same kindness over and over again. He’s one of the few pros who always made me feel as if I was doing him a favor by writing about him – often it’s the other way around – and I left every conversation hopeful about the future of the sport. With the path he’s headed on now I feel the same way.