By David A. Brown
Special to BassFan
The first time I met Alan McGuckin, he sent me an email to invite me to a media event in Key West, Fla. Not a bad introduction, for certain, but in the 5 years since that occasion, I’ve come to know the man whom friends call “Guck” as an oak-steady, do-anything-for-ya, got-your-back guy who absolutely loves the fishing industry.
Loves it, he does, not only for the fun stuff. There’s plenty of that when you work around rods and reels and baits and bass boats. However, McGuckin digs the production as much as the perks.
Evidence that: 2015 marks two decades of earning his keep by telling the world about all things bass. Here’s a look at his career and life course.
Education and Career Course
An undergraduate degree in biology and ecology from Pennsylvania’s Juniata College laid the groundwork for the graduate work that would solidify McGuckin's course in a field that was already dear to his heart.
“I wanted to work with pro angler Kenyon Hill's father, professor Loren Hill, in graduate school, so I moved from western Pennsylvania 1,100 miles to Norman, Oklahoma to study for my Masters degree with Dr. Hill," he said. “Current B.A.S.S. Director of Conservation, Gene Gilliland, was my fisheries mentor as I earned my masters, and today, 20 years later, Gene is one of my very closest friends.”
The westward move would also connect McGuckin with the waters of Skiatook Lake, which had long intrigued him through the pages of Bassmaster Magazine and an episode of Bassmaster TV. Securing his first industry job at Tulsa-based Lowrance enabled him to explore the area that would capture his heart and become the place where he would sink his roots.
“When I discovered the Osage Hills, mature oaks and hickories and smallmouth bass around and in Lake Skiatook, I started making childhood dreams come true by designing plans to build the custom home I still live in there. An oversized 'bass boat stall in the garage area was virtually the very first portion of the blueprint that I sketched.”
McGuckin worked in Lowrance’s public relations and field promotions department for about a year before adding a solid resumé chunk at Terminator Fishing Lures. From 1997 to 2006, he got the kind of hands-on experience of which most only dream.
“That was truly the most well-rounded, in-depth, sales, marketing, advertising and product development experience of my career,” McGuckin said. “I did it all, from aiding in the design of the next football jig, tungsten spinnerbait, skirt colors; to laying out, writing copy and shooting photos for a 4-color, 30-page catalog; to working with retailers at wholesaler shows around the country.”
In 2007 McGuckin moved on to Dynamic Sponsorships, a PR/marketing agency at which he generates stories and photos for The Zebco Brands, Toyota Fishing, Leer Truck Caps and Carhartt.
Complementing his corporate work, McGuckin also contributes the occasional freelance piece to the likes of B.A.S.S. Times, Outdoor Life and Bassmaster.com.
Notably, McGuckin acknowledges two special ladies in his life for some of his professional prowess.
A lot of McGuckin's work time is spent interacting with pro anglers such as Bassmaster Elite Series angler Jordan Lee (right).
“My limited ability to write comes from my Mom – a high school-educated homemaker who uses ink pens and rarely needs to scratch out a mistake,” he said. “People would be surprised to hear this, but Bassmaster Elite pro Gerald Swindle's wife LeAnn is one of the best proofreaders I know. She finds tons of my mistakes.”
Personal Glimpses
Growing up, McGuckin hunted rabbits and trout-fished with his dad in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. The bass bug bit him at age 12 and a special relationship with one of the sport’s finest left a profound impact on a tall, skinny fan with a desire to learn.
McGuckin recalls the eager giddiness of awaiting the next airing of the Bassmaster TV show on TNN each Sunday evening, or the arrival of the next issue of Bassmaster or B.A.S.S. Times.
“I began a hand-written letter exchange with 1991 Bassmaster Classic champion Ken Cook while in high school – he was my childhood hero,” McGuckin said. “I loved the fact that he leveraged a degree/career in fisheries to become a pro angler. Admired that.
“Ken always sent me a 1-page, typewriter-generated letter in return – rich with career, education, fishing and life guidance. I bought my first bass boat from Ken Cook – a 1994 Javelin 389.”
A diehard country music fan, McGuckin’s inner wordsmith mines the lyrics of Kenny Chesney and other favorites for those nuggets of wisdom and inspiration that drive his spirit and nourish his soul.
And on that thought, he offers this self-reflection: “I start every day with several cups of dark and bold and a talk with Him. Swindle says, ‘Guck drinks his coffee so strong you could cut it like pizza and weigh it.’”
McGuckin says it’s stuff like that – the inside jokes born of close, genuine friendships – that makes working in this industry deeply rewarding.
Steady on the Path
So, has the man called Guck enjoyed the ride thus far? Seems fitting to answer that question and conclude our profile with this tale:
“A fishing trip with my dad yielded a single piece of spoken wisdom that guided the rest of my life,” McGuckin recalls. “Dad was laid-off from his job as a plumber and steamfitter.
“It was a sweaty-hot summer day in either 1986 or 1987. We were fishing the Ohio River near Ambridge, Penn. when dad started smoking his thoughts from the rear seat of our canary yellow deep V aluminum boat, powered by a 25-horespower Evinrude.
“He asked me, his only child, what I thought I might wanna do, or be, when I grew up. Like most teens, I was without a solid answer.
“He said, 'I don't care what you do for a living, just promise me you'll do something you love. Literally, those words shaped much of the rest of my life – what I'd study in college, where I'd work, where I'd live and even who I'd call my closest friends.”
Yes, Alan McGuckin loves what he does, and he does what he loves.
