By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor


Kevin Gross is fully aware of what it takes to reach the highest rung of a professional sport. As a competitive bass angler he knows he's nowhere close to that level, but he's determined to keep climbing.

"I'm trying to fish quite a bit, but I won't be going to the Bassmasters right away," said the 53-year-old who won 142 games in 15 seasons as a major league pitcher. "I've fished a couple of higher-level events recently and I did great in practice, but not very good in the tournaments.

"I've always been a big outdoorsman and I've traveled the world hunting big game and this is a new adventure in my life. But when it comes to comparing myself to the best guys out there, I feel like I'm back in rookie ball."

Epic Day at DV

Gross, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who possessed a blazing fastball early in his career, pitched for four different big-league teams. The Southern California native and resident was a No. 1 draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and reached the "big show" 2 years later.

He made the National League All-Star Team as a Phillie in 1988. In 1992, as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants, who are currently squaring off against the Kansas City Royals in the World Series.

He's fished for most of his life and pursued big largemouths on many occasions while spending 17 spring trainings in Florida. It wasn't until 2009, however, that he became totally smitten by bass.

"I wanted to fish Diamond Valley (Reservoir) because even though I lived locally, I'd never been there," he said. "A buddy I hang around with told me I needed to go and then I ran into (noted SoCal bass guide and competitor) Pete Marino at Bass Pro Shops and got him to take me out there.

"The fishing was just epic that day – we smashed them. We went a couple more times over a period of a few months, and that's basically how I got hooked."

He and that same buddy then went in on a small Ranger Boat. He later began fishing Anglers Marine events with owner Rick Grover and ended up selling his half of the smaller boat to his friend and purchasing his own 21-footer.

"I knew I was going to be fishing a lot more tournaments and I didn't want to be the one who had the other boat all the time," he said.

With help from Marino, the Grovers (Rick and his son Kyle) and 2013 WON Bass U.S. Open champion Rusty Graham, he began to experience some success in events in his home region. In his second season, he and Marino captured Angler of the Year honors in the American Bass Anglers Diamond Valley Region.

Big Step Up

Gross, who competed as a co-angler in the 2013 U.S. Open, moved to the front of the boat this year and placed 114th in a stout field of 166 anglers. Earlier this month he fished the FLW Western Rayovac at Clear Lake and finished 86th.



Courtesy of Kevin Gross
Photo: Courtesy of Kevin Gross

As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992, Gross (left) pitched a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants.

He said he still has a long way to go to become a contender in derbies of that caliber. For instance, he must learn to be more patient at times when running and gunning with reaction baits isn't the ticket and he needs to get better at using his electronics.

After bowing out of the Rayovac following day 2, he spent the final day of the event following and observing Kyle Grover, who finished 4th.

"Watching him fish that day, there was no doubt he was on another level from where I'm at. It wasn't that he was doing things super-different than I would have, but he knew where to be at the right time throwing the right bait. It's about making real good decisions.

"When the fishing's tough, the really good guys can still grind it out and I might be lacking some of that ability right now. Don't get me wrong – I'm a grinder and I don't give up. I'll be trying my hardest all day no matter what, but I might not have all the tricks up my sleeve right now and I don't always know how to put myself into the situations that'll get me better odds.

"If I was 20 years younger, I think I'd really go at this thing full-throttle."

Notable

> Gross has done some ocean fishing with fellow Southern Californian Brent Ehrler and the two discussed traveling the FLW Tour together next year with Gross fishing as a co-angler. That option will go off the table, though, unless Ehrler, who's announced his intention to compete on the Bassmaster Elite Series, opts to fish both major circuits. "That might end up being a missed opportunity," he said. "I told him heck yeah, I was ready to go."

> He formerly hosted a Sportsman Channel show titled "Hunting with the Pros."

> He's rooting for Kansas City in the World Series. "Playing 4 years for the Dodgers, that rivalry with the Giants is a part of it, but I really like to see new teams be successful. The Royals hadn't done anything for 29 years and what they've accomplished this year is so good for the sport. I'm not taking anything away from the Giants, but I'd like to see K.C. win it."