Broadly recognized and rightly revered for his back-to-back Bassmaster Basic wins in 2020 and 2021, there’s much more to this quiet pressure than most bass followers know.
To most, he reads like a slicked-off lake on a late-summer night, at the same time as complexities churn and play out inside the strata under. Some are conscious that Hank Cherry is a former high-level baseball participant who nearly went professional. Others could have learn that he fished his first bass event out of a pontoon boat or keep in mind that he was Bassmaster Rookie of the Yr in 2013 and got here very near profitable the Basic that 12 months, too. However the depth of the 51-year-old Bassmaster Elite and Nationwide Skilled Fishing League (NPFL) angler from Lincolnton, North Carolina is much larger than the sum of his headlines and accomplishments. Off the water, Hank Cherry is an ardent advocate for our US navy veterans and our nation’s first responders. He’s additionally a household man with a loving and supportive spouse, Jaclyn, and two athletic, teenage children, Bella Grace and Christian. On the water, he’s a fierce competitor who all the time digs deep. Although he not often talks about it, Cherry has been battling severe elbow and wrist accidents for the previous couple of seasons. Regardless of the ache and bodily challenges, Cherry is at present 14th within the 2025 NPFL Progressive Angler of the Yr factors race after 5 stops – an enviable place given the caliber of competitors he faces within the upstart NPFL. Six Questions with Hank Cherry Q1 – What are your favourite issues to do whenever you aren’t fishing on tour? Cherry – for me it’s about spending time with my household as a result of I’m away a lot once I’m fishing. I like touring with my son, Christian, and watching him compete in nationwide baseball tournaments. I take pleasure in going to soccer video games and watching my daughter, Bella Grace, cheer. I additionally love spending time within the woods. Jaclyn and I each like to hunt. That’s the place my serenity and recharge happen – within the deer stand. Not all the time harvesting or killing, however simply sitting, watching, spending time, and experiencing nature with my spouse. Q2 – What would you say is your best energy as an angler? Cherry – I feel my greatest energy is that I sort of fish totally different than everyone else. I like protecting the water that doesn’t appear fairly as fishy. I’ll all the time do what I must however really feel I’m at my finest throwing a jig or a jerkbait. This entire sport has turn into extra open-water oriented with the appearance of forward-facing sonar, however I choose to attain my targets by sticking near construction, particularly as a result of so many individuals appear to depart the banks alone as of late.
Q3 – What’s one factor you’d just like the bass-fishing neighborhood to grasp about you? Cherry – Oh, you recognize there may be one factor that will get introduced up generally. Folks have opinions about me as a result of I carry round this persona… I suppose the way in which I stroll or look, or as a result of I’m quiet more often than not. Actually, I’m only a watcher… all the time watching and simply taking all the things in. It’s helped me in all elements of my life, not simply fishing. I by no means decide anybody and by no means even kind an opinion about something till I’ve had firsthand expertise. There’s quite a lot of hype and pointless drama in life and positively in bass fishing as of late. I simply don’t get into it. Simply because one thing would be the norm doesn’t imply it’s finest or proper, so I are likely to quietly level myself in a distinct course. The 2 issues I like least are drama and tough water. This fall – Is that why you fish each the Bassmaster Elites and the NPFL? Cherry – Yeah, I feel so. Every collection is an enormous stage and each have the perfect bass anglers on the planet, in order that’s the place I wish to problem myself and showcase my talents. I do like that the principles and codecs are totally different. There’s little question that the NPFL’s distinctive stance on forward-facing sonar has attracted quite a lot of gifted anglers, and it’s a great match for me and the way in which I method my fishing. And going again to what I mentioned about issues not being proper simply because they would be the norm… I feel with this week’s rule-change announcement from BASS you’re seeing that group attempting to maneuver away from what has been a norm in favor of getting issues proper for his or her anglers and followers. We’ll need to see how limiting forward-facing sonar to fewer Elite occasions really performs out, however I applaud BASS for having the braveness to make adjustments. Q5 – Does your “present me” outlook apply to your fishing gear, too? Cherry – Sure, whether or not it’s a brand new lure, line, or a brand new reel… present me it really works. I could attempt one thing new due to one thing I’ve heard or seen, however I’ve acquired to get it tied on or in my fingers earlier than I’ll imagine something and even begin to kind an opinion. I’ve been listening to and seeing extra good issues about SEVIIN Reels – from folks like John Crews and others – so I’ve began fishing them and like what I’ve skilled up to now. It’s laborious to get a primary impression of a reel. Yeah, it is advisable to take a look at it and test the standard of the match and end and ensure it feels proper in your fingers. You lock it down and test the drag, spin ‘em actual quick, however then you definitely’ve acquired to spend time fishing them on the water. I’ve been fishing with the GS casting reels and all the things mechanically is basically good. I intentionally caught a 40-pound catfish with one and it by no means missed a beat. However these reels are made for bass and that’s the place they shine at a excessive stage. They’re persistently easy and quiet and I get tons of adjustability so I can get actually lengthy casts bombing a crankbait or have most management when skipping a jig at lengthy distances. Thus far, I’m actually liking what I’ve skilled with these SEVIIN reels. It’s an organization that’s doing issues proper, and I recognize that.
Q6 – Your 2025 Bassmaster Elite season is over, however you continue to have extra work to do within the NPFL this 12 months. Discuss to me about what’s forward of you. Cherry – 2025 has been one other painful 12 months for me coming off of elbow surgical procedure final 12 months and coping with some ongoing wrist issues. I knew I wasn’t going to be at full energy, however I additionally knew I’d fairly fish by means of the ache than sit the season out. Fortunately, I’ve had a number of issues go my manner with some good finishes and we’re 14th in AOY factors, so my first objective is simply to complete this NPFL season sturdy. I’ll fish Cease Six at Logan Martin on the finish of this month after which the League Championship at Lake Hartwell the primary week in October. I’ve acquired quite a lot of confidence by way of how these lakes arrange for me and am feeling optimistic. Then it’ll be time to maintain myself. I’m getting two extra surgical procedures in October, so by Christmas I plan to be within the fitness center getting stronger after which again out on the water. I’ll have all the things mounted and able to roll for what I’m planning to be a clear and pain-free fishing season in 2026. With what I’ve seen of the schedules for subsequent 12 months, my journey shall be minimal and I’ve acquired quite a lot of expertise within the locations we’re going, so there’s quite a bit to be enthusiastic about. I all the time anticipate to compete on the prime, so the previous couple years have been laborious on me and that’s not a job I’m snug in. I’m actually wanting ahead to getting wholesome once more and getting again on prime. Challenges? Everybody’s acquired them. However it’s the way in which we run by means of them that defines greatness. Fifteen years into his skilled bass-fishing profession, Hank Cherry understands that highs usually include lows, however that doesn’t imply he accepts it as fact. The person has a plan to remain on the prime. By regaining his well being and bodily energy, utilizing the information he’s gained by persistently going his personal manner on the water, and fishing with the perfect and most dependable gear out there, Cherry appears to be like ahead to persevering with to compete and win towards the highest bass anglers on the planet – below no matter guidelines and codecs are imposed. Come drama or tough water.
Observe the rest of Hank’s 2025 NPFL season at thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com. Observe him on Fb and Instagram at @hankcherryfishing. About SEVIIN ReelsWherever and nevertheless you fish, the reel in your hand ought to assist create higher experiences. Born from St. Croix Rod’s seven a long time of design and manufacturing experience, industry-leading customer support, and unbroken personal possession by the Schluter household relationship again to 1977, SEVIIN reels are meticulously engineered and purpose-built to assist anglers conquer each species on every bit of water on the planet. SEVIIN focuses on reels and reels solely, designing and advertising merchandise that enhance the angling expertise, whatever the rods anglers select. Seven seas, seven continents, seven days every week, SEVIIN reels are fueled by a collective love of fishing surpassed solely by a ardour to ship probably the most dependable and superior reels on the water. The St. Croix Household of Manufacturers contains St. Croix Rod, SEVIIN Reels, St. Croix Fly, and RodGeeks.
