“I’ll do anything you need – I’ll even come mow your grass.”
That was Justin Atkins’ response to Timmy Horton when Horton asked him what his skillset was during the interview process a few years ago for the operations manager position at Horton’s Profound Outdoors tackle company.
“I saw that he meant that,” Horton said, recalling his first encounter with the newly-crowned Forrest Wood Cup champion. “It was just cool to see that attitude of 'I’ll do whatever.'”
Atkins worked for Horton for about a year, but tournament fishing rarely came up in their conversations. That also impressed Horton. Atkins drove an old pickup truck to work each day, broken windshield and all because he had been saving for Power-Poles and upgraded electronics for his boat.
“He worked for me about a month before he told me he’d (competed) in a college championship,” Horton said. “That impressed me because around us, people tend to want to impress us. He’s not like that.
“We were all young at one time, but Justin is always quick to listen and slow to speak. He’s mature beyond his years and has a big heart. He’s a deep person with a big heart.”
Last Sunday, Horton was en route to the Major League Fishing Summit Cup and was listening through his phone to how the final day of the Cup was unfolding. His former employee was having a day to remember.
“I about ran off the road when he caught those two big ones,” Horton said.
Horton said Atkins never asked him for advice about tournament venues or seasonal patterns, even Pickwick Lake – Horton's home water – which hosted the BFL All-American this past spring. Atkins was intent on figuring things out on his own. He finished 3rd.
“All of the fishing stuff is a surprise to me because we didn’t talk competition as much,” Horton said. “He has a strong work ethic and he never wanted to compromise someone else. That’s the biggest thing that stands out to me.
“We would see each other on the water here and there, but he never pushed that part of our relationship. I’m so proud of him because people who are really going to be good at this have to understand they have to do it all on their own.”
