A noted and inspirational orator once stated that, “Those who define the diameter of your knowledge, also prescribe the circumference of your activity.”
This means to say that if you allow it, people will try to define for you, how much you should know (diameter), and in doing so can also cause you to adopt a “stay within the circle” mentality (circumference), causing you to limit your horizons and perhaps miss out on many opportunities.
But if you know anything about Nick Lynch, you know that the notion of “limitations” is not a word in his vocabulary.
At 8 years old Nick’s parent’s world was turned upside-down as they were given the terrifying news that he had a rare and lethal form of childhood cancer known as Neuroblastoma - which had progressed to the 4th stage, and were subsequently told that Nick would not live to see his 9th birthday.
After several failed local treatment plans, his parents pulled up stakes and moved across the country to a New York City cancer treatment center, where Nick was treated with aggressive Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. With God’s grace, a tremendous measure of strength and courage on Nick’s part, and parents tenacious enough to not accept parameters set forth by others, Nick’s life was saved, with his cancer now in complete remission.
After surgery and a move back to California, Nick took up fishing as a form of relaxation therapy, and saving up his money from his gig at McDonalds, bought a small aluminum boat with a 5hp engine and began competing in the Future Pro Tour’s small boat division (which is limited to 0-90hp). It was during this time that he discovered the similarities between the patience and perseverance it took to help him fight for his life, and the tenacity and patience required to master the art of bass fishing, and using that realization and understanding as a compass, he is fast becoming a rising star on the western bass fishing scene.
To be sure, Nick’s first year experience fishing a full-blown tour was one that would have discouraged most, as after only the 2nd event of the season, his partner indicated that he would no longer be able to participate, leaving Nick to fish alone.
But Nick never flinched, and fishing the next four events alone, he came on strong, and though sheer force of will, won the small boat division’s Angler of the Year title – by himself, in his 14-foot aluminum boat.
Never one to have the diameter and circumference of his dreams defined by anyone other than himself, Nick upgraded his boat, connected with a new partner (Josh Parris), and for the 2016 season decided to compete in the ranks of the Future Pro Tour’s more seasoned big boat division (91hp and up), and has taken that division by storm, leading his team to top-ten finishes in three out of four events, amassing over $2,500 in winnings, and taking over the lead in the prestigious Future Pro Tour Coors Light Angler of the Year race.
With just 2 more events left to go on the Future Pro Tour's 2016 schedule, it is a good bet that Nick will once again beat the odds, and lead his team to become the youngest Angler of the Year winners in Future Pro Tour history.
For Nick defines his own parameters of success, and in his world… the sky is the limit.
FPT
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