Country music star Randy Houser spends a lot of his life on the road, but when the shows are over and the tour bus stops rolling, there’s usually one thing on his mind.
Finding somewhere to fish.
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“When I get off the tour bus, I’m literally looking for some water to get on,” Houser told OutKick OutDoors in an exclusive interview.
For the Mississippi native, that love of fishing started long before the hit songs, sold-out shows and life on the road.
“Growing up in Mississippi, that’s about all we had. We had bluegill, catfish and bass,” he said.
These days, Houser’s fishing adventures have taken him a little farther from home. He’s traded the freshwater lakes of Mississippi for the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, where he’s developed a particular fondness for fly fishing.
“I spend a lot of time bonefishing in the Bahamas. That’s kind of my thing now, as I enjoy fly fishing for bonefish and permit and things like that,” he explained. “I spend a lot of my time doing that in the winter.”
And while getting away from the demands of touring is certainly part of the appeal, Houser’s connection to the water runs deeper than simply needing a vacation.
“I think that stems from all the time I spent on the water as a kid,” he said.
It’s also a passion he shares with his wife and children, who frequently join him on the water.
But one of Houser’s most memorable fishing experiences wasn’t about the size of the fish or the destination. It was about the people he shared it with.
The country star recalled a three-day bonefishing trip to Blackfly Lodge in the Bahamas with the Navy SEAL Foundation, where he spent time alongside active and retired Navy SEALs.
“I’m a huge supporter of our military and military families and personnel,” Houser said. “To get that time with those guys and get them in a space where they’re on the water and can relax, and just to hear stories that they wouldn’t normally talk about in a different situation, was just priceless.”
For Houser, the opportunity to connect with those men away from their everyday responsibilities made the trip unforgettable.
“I got to hear just personal experiences from those guys,” he said. “I’ll remember it forever. It was really cool.”
Now, Houser is preparing to bring his love of music and fishing together in a big way.
On Friday, Oct. 30, he’ll perform alongside his friend and fellow country star Riley Green at The Pinnacle in Nashville as part of The Champions, a new professional bass fishing tournament hosted by World Bass Enterprises.
The tournament, held on Old Hickory Lake, brings together top anglers from the Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour to compete for a record $3.25 million purse, including $1.25 million for the winner.
For someone who grew up fishing for fun in Mississippi, Houser said it’s remarkable to see just how far competitive bass fishing has come.
He recalled learning that a friend’s son was competing on a college bass fishing team and thinking about how different things were when he was growing up.
“I thought, wow, what a dream,” he said. “If I was in high school, I’d have been thinking, ‘Lord, you mean I can get a scholarship to go fishing?'”
Houser compared the difficulty of becoming a successful professional angler to making it as a professional golfer, noting the tremendous skill, sponsorships and resources necessary to compete at the highest level.
And he believes Nashville is the perfect place to showcase how much the sport has grown.
“There’s a strong synergy between country music, country music listeners and bass fishing,” he said.
With Old Hickory and Percy Priest lakes nearby, Houser is familiar with the area’s fishing opportunities. He’s spent plenty of time fishing Old Hickory himself and expects The Champions to draw a significant crowd, both for the concerts and the competition.
“I think they’re going to have a lot more fans than they expected,” he said. “Not just for the music at The Pinnacle, but also hanging out at the lake waiting for the weigh-ins and things like that.”
Houser is especially looking forward to performing with Green, whom he considers a good friend. The two have spent plenty of time touring together, although their busy schedules haven’t allowed for much fishing lately.
They do, however, have plans to do some hunting together once the weather cools down.
Another bonus of The Champions taking place in Nashville? Houser gets to bring his children to the show — something he said doesn’t happen very often.
For a man who grew up with a fishing rod in his hands, it’s a fitting opportunity to celebrate just how far the sport has come while sharing the experience with his own family.
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And once the concert is over and Houser climbs back aboard that tour bus, there’s a pretty good chance he’ll already be thinking about his next trip to the water.
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