GILBERTSVILLE, Kentucky — It's rare in the fishing industry that you come across people who know something or a lot about everything. But recently, I found such a man.
Jason Sealock was assigned to be my “Guide for a Day” at the 2024 AGLOW Outdoor Writers Conference on Kentucky Lake. I knew the name but didn't know the man, so I researched Searock before our fishing trip. At the time, I read that he was a senior advisor to Wired2fish, a leading fishing media outlet. With 1.9 million social media followers, millions of website visitors, and over 110 million video views annually, Sealock has helped make the company a force to be reckoned with.
But when I stepped into his boat, I learned for the first time that sea rock can also catch fish.
“The brush pile is about 20 feet over there,” Sealock pointed, staring at the screen of his Garmin LiveScope.
I dropped the jig where he told me to, let it fall to the count of 10, and started a slow retrieve. After five cranks of the reel handle, I felt the telltale “thud” and immediately brought an 11-inch Kentucky Lake crappie into the boat.
In between fishing, I also learned that, as is often the case, the internet lies. After serving as Editor-in-Chief of FLW Outdoors Magazines for five years and then leading Wired2fish for 15 years, Sealock recently decided it was time to branch out on his own.
leap of faith
“I loved my time at Wired2fish,” Sealock said. “It was fun. I kind of came in on the ground floor and we were lucky to build the brand at a time when social media was growing. The algorithms were great and they were sending us a ton of traffic. But after 15 years I decided I wanted to do my own thing and the timing was right, so I took the plunge.”
In April, he founded his own company and “Current Fish'' was born.
Sealock has extensive connections in the industry and currently helps companies create marketing plans and develop social media strategies. We will then provide text and photos to help you achieve your goals. Although he's a start-up, he admits to being cautious about who he works with. Currently, we only have about 6 customers.
“I can be really selective,” he said. “I only work with brands whose products I already love and where I feel they have the potential to grow.”
Find affordable products
Sealock said there is a trend in the fishing industry toward companies that can offer high-quality products at affordable prices. He believes the days when many people spent $500 or even $1,000 on quality fishing rods, reels and other products for anglers are coming to an end.
One of his clients is a sunglasses company called “Island Optics.” Sunglasses are especially important on the water, and fishermen often boast or brag about owning polarized sunglasses from well-known companies that can cost up to $300 a pair.
“Island Optics is serious about making sunglasses that people can afford,” Sealock said. “They've only been in business for a year, but their family has been in the business for five generations of optometrists and eye care professionals. They've been doing eye care for over 100 years and are currently working with We are very passionate about making sunglasses that are super high quality and cost less than $100.
Sealock's other customers are perhaps more famous, but he believes they haven't reached their full potential.
“Leland Lures, manufacturer of crappie magnets and trout magnet lures, is an expert in crappie and trout fishing,” Sealock said. “They're a faith-based company that makes great products that are really affordable. And they've been doing it for a long time. But I feel like they haven't reached the masses yet.”
Another client is a company called “Handing Fishing”.
“They're focused on making really great fishing gear at a price point that's affordable to everyone. It's fun to work with some of these new companies,” Sealock said.
consumer news
Sealock also shares its vast know-how with consumers through the Current Fish Newsletter. I'm building an ad-free experience for my readers, and I'm honest about what works best for each season and situation. ”
Sealocks love chasing panfish (crappie, bluegill, and shellcrackers). One of his projects is to create a month-by-month timeline of how those species are found and captured throughout the year.
“Everyone goes to catch bluegills in May in the spring, but where do they go in June?” Sealock said. “Where do they go in July? Where do they go in August? I track them every month, record them every month, so I can say, 'Here's where to look in December.'” Bluegill This is what they do and that's why we work with biologists who help us bury those types of insects. There are gaps and we share them with our readers. ”
Back on the water, Sealock worked patiently with Mary Beth Long, vice president of communications for the American Sportfishing Association, but was new to crappie fishing. I stopped fishing and sat in the back of the boat watching as Sealock patiently helped Long learn how and where to cast, allowing him to detect often very subtle hits from crappie. Ta. Jason Sealock loves helping people learn more about catching fish, whether he's on the water with a fishing rod in hand or behind a computer screen with a mouse in hand. was obvious.
