About Jonathan Vinson Fishing

Meet Jonathan Vinson

I grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and if I wasn’t on the basketball court or football field, I was on the water. My best friend John and I would walk from his house down to Cross Lake and spend sunup to sundown chasing big bream and catfish. Everything changed the day we got access to a little pirogue. That small boat was a huge upgrade—it opened up pockets of water we could only stare at from the bank. Not long after, we were fishing Cypress Lake, yanking giant white perch—crappie to most folks, sac-a-lait back in south Louisiana.

Chasing New Water

As a teenager, once we got wheels, we were gone every chance we had. We’d explore all over Louisiana, searching for new water. My love for bass really kicked off at Lake Bistineau, casting a small H&H spinnerbait along the edge of moving water below the spillway. That’s where I caught my first largemouth bass—and that single bite ignited a fire that’s never gone out. About a year later, John and I took a flat-bottom jon boat onto Toledo Bend. We paddled out, got stuck on a sandbar, and decided to make the best of it. Standing there, stuck but smiling, I caught my biggest Louisiana bass so far. That feeling—that mix of effort, patience, and reward—has stayed with me ever since.

The Army Years

After high school, I followed a childhood dream and joined the U.S. Army. Wherever I was stationed, I found a way to fish. Fort Sill, Oklahoma, became a favorite—elk hunting, deer, wild boar, turkey, and, of course, time on the water. During my second tour at Fort Sill, I bought my first motorized boat. It wasn’t pretty, but it was mine, and I was proud of it. I ran to Lake Lawtonka whenever I could, chasing that next bass bite and discovering a new favorite—walleye.

Finding Healing Through Fishing

Fast forward to my assignment at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and access to the Tennessee River. That wasn’t an accident—I believe God knew I needed to be here. I got invited to fish my first bass tournament, and I had no idea how much it would affect me. Tournament fishing became more than just a competition. It became mental support—a way to keep my mind focused on the next cast instead of drifting back to the mountains of Afghanistan and the weight of those memories.

Through fishing, I’ve been blessed with incredible people and organizations in my corner. One of the biggest highlights of my year is Cast for Kids. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a kid light up over a “tiny” fish—those big smiles and hysterical laughter are the best trophies I could ever ask for.

Today, I compete on the Alabama Bass Trail, one of the top tournament trails in the state. The best anglers from across the country come here to compete. To stand in that field and launch alongside them is an honor I don’t take lightly. I approach every tournament season with the same excitement I felt as a kid on Cross Lake paddling a pirogue—just looking for the next bite, the next lesson, the next story.

Thanks for stopping by jonathanvinsonfishing.com.
Until I see you on the water —

Laissez les bons temps rouler! #huntthegoodstuff #tightlines