Lea Anne Powell | 13+ World Records & Fishing From a Kayak to Offshore Giants | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 982

Tom Rowland Podcast — Episode 982: Lea Anne Powell

In this episode: setting world records, racing spec Miatas and coaching in the Middle East, being a woman in a man’s sport, the forward facing sonar debate, and the ShareLunker program — in the exact words spoken.

00:00 · Cold Open

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Lea Anne Powell: Hey, guys. I'm Leanne Powell. I am a international angler, and this is the Tom Roland podcast.

Tom Rowland: Leanne, how are you?

Lea Anne Powell: I'm doing great. How are you?

Tom Rowland: I'm great. I'm great. We've been, busy around here, and you've been kinda busy setting world records, doing all kinds of stuff.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. I certainly have.

04:20 · A Stock Trout Pond, Two Losses, and a Ticket to Dubai

Tom Rowland: Yeah. So what's your what's your fishing story? How'd you get into fishing?

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, man. That's a that's a little bit of a loaded question. So I I got taken to a stock trout pond when I was young from my cousin, Ashley, and I was hooked proverbially. Right?

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: So I I kinda dabbled with it, from when I was seven or eight until, you know, until twenty fifteen, just for fun, and I didn't really take it too seriously. My father passed away at the 2014, and my mother passed away at the 2015. And, my cousin had been asking me to come over to the Middle East, And I was like, okay, you know, what's the worst that could happen? My mom always told me never to go. So when she passed away, I was like, I'm out, like, ready to go. So, I went to The Middle East and I actually, met some locals over there, and I started fishing, with them, handlining for barracuda, all sorts of different crazy species, what they call hemore, which is, snow like a snowy grouper. And I started doing tournament fishing in The US. I was 50% of the time in The US and 50% of the time in The Middle East for, like, three years.

Tom Rowland: So you say The Middle East, like, specifically, where were you?

Lea Anne Powell: I lived in Dubai, and I worked in Abu Dhabi.

Tom Rowland: Okay. I was just, I just went through, near there. I was in The Seychelles. And, so we flew into Doha, which is, I mean, it's it's near. It's a lot nearer than here. But I was I was surprised at how beautiful the water was over there.

Lea Anne Powell: It's amazing where you go.

Tom Rowland: Tell me about, where you were living and what the what the ocean was like and and and the access to, different fish.

06:19 · Fishing the Emirates with a Local Named Hesham

Lea Anne Powell: Well, so I lived in Dubai, like I said, and the surrounding countries. So, like, The US has 50 states. The UAE has technically seven states, and all the surrounding Emirates are u they're usually pretty close. So, I actually met a local, named Hesham who actually owned a tackle shop over there. I went over and we ended up talking for, like, two or three hours. And he's like, hey. You know, I wanna send you here. I wanna send you there. I wanna, you know, I wanna you like fishing. If you can do it, you know, anybody can do it. And he wanted to help sell products. And I was like, okay. What's you know? And little did I know, like, I'm going after massive fish. And it just it kinda spiraled from there. But the water the water, depending on where you go, is gorgeous like crazy blues. I actually fished in Egypt, and Egypt was beautiful. Like, think about Key West, but on a whole new level. Like, it was just insanely beautiful, and the variety of fish is insane.

Tom Rowland: What's the main draw in Egypt as far as fish?

Lea Anne Powell: Obviously, the the history behind, like, Egyptology and the the Pyramids and, the sphinx, which is actually kinda cool. It's made out of one rock. Most people don't know that. But, you know, the the food there is actually amazing as well.

Tom Rowland: Really? Well, yeah. I mean, I know that about Egypt. I I I meant what was the main draw, like, the main fish that you were after.

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, sorry.

Tom Rowland: No. It's

Lea Anne Powell: Dogtooth tuna.

Tom Rowland: Dog Okay. That's what you're going after, dogtooth? And was that with a rod and reel or hand line?

Lea Anne Powell: It it was on on rod and reel. We actually were using, steel steel leader.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: Steel braided leader. I hooked into one, and it was equivalent to being hooked into, like, a school bus, and it it frayed the line. I ended up not getting that fish. We didn't hook in in into anymore during that trip, but I got, blue spotted Trivali and yellow spotted Trivali, which are gorgeous fish.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. They are. The yellows the yellow spotted one. I don't know if we caught that fish or if that one was available to us in The Seychelles, but the, the blue Trivally bluefin Trivally Yes. That one was we caught that one. So when you go to The Middle East, what were you specifically thinking about fishing, or did that just kinda happen while you were over there?

Lea Anne Powell: So like I said, it just kinda happened. My cousin had lived over there for twenty years. And when my mom passed away, I bought the ticket and went over there. I was only supposed to be there for three months, which turned into three years. We were out on the boat on a boat. They had, like, a rental program where she could run a boat and drive around. So we were in Dubai Marina, and, there were these guys on jet skis that were, like, splashing us with water, and it pissed my cousin off. And, we actually I met the guy. He worked for the airport, but he was a big fisherman, and he said, hey. You know, call me if you ever wanna go fish. And I was like, absolutely. So I I ended up starting to fish with him, and then I met Hesham from there, and it just kinda it was I I was on a mission to fish everywhere I could once I was there.

Tom Rowland: So Okay. So that kinda, reignites the the the fishing passion. And then how do you come back to The United States and start to tournament fish?

09:59 · From Spec Miatas to Racing Coach in the Middle East

Lea Anne Powell: So, my goal I I actually used to race cars when I was younger.

Tom Rowland: What kind of cars?

Lea Anne Powell: Well, it depended on the weekend, but everything from spec Miatas to, like, Subaru BRZs or Scion fRSs, street cars that are pretty modified. So I was doing that. And when I was living in The Middle East, I was actually a racing coach at Yas Marina Circuit. And, my goal was to be at a racetrack year round. So their on season is our off season, and our off season is their on season. So when it was an off season, I was swapping, so I was back and forth a lot. And when I came back, I had a friend of mine who loved to fish, my best friend, Nick. We were hobby fishing, and we ended up going to a tackle shop in Marietta, Georgia. And I met a local guy. His name was Foster Dubrock. His nickname is Cletus. And he was like, hey. You should really come tournament fishing. Give it a shot. And I was like, you know what? No. Because I had had a mentor that told me I wasn't ready. And I was like, you know what? Like, I have a natural feel for it. I'm never gonna know if I'm ready unless I try. So I just throw I dove head first into BFLs, in for the Major League Fishing Series. And my first year, I think I finished, like, 56, which didn't put me at regionals. But the second year, I ended up going to regionals, which is a really big feat because the field at the time, was well over 250 people.

Tom Rowland: Wow. Yeah. And so you were doing this with your own boat or with as a co angler, or how would you do it?

Lea Anne Powell: I was I was going as a co angler because at the time, you know, I I had dabbled with fishing, and I wasn't really as into it as I am now. And I was using going and fishing as a coach, fishing new water, fishing with new people, watching their techniques, and just absorbing it like a sponge. And, so I enjoyed actually fishing as a coiling lure because if I could catch fish from the back of a boat behind a pro, I was doing something good. That's right. I mean, I learned a lot in a very short amount of time, and it's just it it's created a monster.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. That's really cool. So where when so when you're doing this, where does racing fit in? Like, are you still racing? Or

Lea Anne Powell: No. I'm I'm actually doing mechanic work. I I enjoy that a little bit more. It's a little more therapeutic and less political. It you know, being a woman in a man's sport and anything that you do is quite, controversial, and I I don't know. I I like the, working on cars a little bit more. It's it's when you can take a car that has crashed into a wall at a 110 miles per hour and piece it back together and then see that car on the racetrack, you know, a week and a half later after it's crashed, that's pretty cool.

Tom Rowland: Wow. And so are you doing that in The United States and in Dubai still? Or

Lea Anne Powell: No. I'm only doing it here in The US. I'm actually based in Texas, just an hour south of Houston by the coast. So great laid fish in here. But, I I'm doing that here. I actually moved back from The Middle East, a few years ago because I asked if there was room to grow within the company I was working at, and they said no. So I was like, alright. I've outgrown it. Time for me to move on. So now I'm back in The US and making the best.

Tom Rowland: Well, that's cool. So that what what draws you as a woman to to these two heavily male dominated sports and activities?

Lea Anne Powell: So I don't it's I've always done things very differently than most people. I I don't do it for attention. I genuinely love it. The car stuff, my dad, we actually had a family owned shop when I was a kid. And, so I'd hand them tools as a kid and stuff. And then, my mom actually used to race Powder Puff Derby. And when I was in high school, I discovered shop class, and it was kinda game over from there. I spent my college money on a car and started modifying those, and, you know, I just it it was a wormhole. And same with fishing. Like, after my mom passed away and I moved overseas, I found a great sense of peace but also excitement running from spot to spot in in fishing. And I actually compare fishing and racing very similarly. You know, racing, you're using a proverbial line, and fishing, you're using a real line. And you it's you against you to be the best that you can. So

Tom Rowland: In both, you think? In racing too?

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, absolutely. I mean, you're you're racing again against other people, but if you're making those little nuances of mistakes, like, you have to adjust your what you're doing in order to be the best that you can in in both of them.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: So and it's a matter of studying what the next person is doing and seeing what they're doing that's not working and, you know, adjusting so that you're not making those same mistakes as well.

Tom Rowland: So did you ever like, in in the racing, you said that it's political and that you kinda moved away from the racing and and more into the mechanic part. Is there a story that you can share, like, that was that made you make that decision?

Lea Anne Powell: Well, when when I so like I said, I've raced it or I've worked at the racetrack overseas. I had FIA accreditations, which is some of the highest accreditation that you can have for coaching and, being in a race car. There was a gentleman that moved over from Italy that never had really touched a race car in his life. And I wanted to move from the street cars and the GT cars like the Aston Martins and the Mercedes AMG GTs. I wanted to move from those cars to the formula cars and coach in those. And this guy showed up, and because he was a guy, they streamlined him straight in. And it it just kinda I don't think it was a bit of pride that got hurt. It was just like, okay. You know? I had put in put years in with the GT cars. I knew them in and out like the back of my hands, and I just I wanted to change the scenery, and that didn't happen. So I was like, okay. Time to move on. So

Tom Rowland: There's some, like, disrespect there too, like, it seems like.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes and no. I mean, Dubai was one of the first, Middle Eastern countries that opened the door for women to do driving and stuff. And when I was over there, I actually I hate that I didn't take it now, but Saudi actually had a program with a few different, manufacturers, like, I think it was Kia or or one of those other brands that if a woman would go as far as getting her license, they would actually give them a car for marketing. Yes. Because it was frowned upon for women to drive over in those countries. And being a female working at the racetrack, I was the second female to ever coach at that track. I was the first American to ever coach coach at that track. But, it just the the wiggle room to move up was just not there.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: So it's hard to say.

Tom Rowland: So then you make a decision that maybe it's not I mean, you have to kinda make a decision. It sounds like that, you know, to move back to The United States that maybe it was maybe never gonna be there. I don't know. Like, how how did you how do you make that decision to move back? Because it

18:24 · Coming Back to the States and Landing in Texas

Lea Anne Powell: Well, you know, I'm I'm from The US, and there's plenty of great fisheries all around The US. There's plenty of job opportunities all around The US, and it's it, unfortunately, is a little bit easier because you're in a country where you're from. Yeah. So there's that option. But, you know, it it was it was hard. Like, it broke my heart to move back because it was within 70% of the countries that you wanna travel to. And the way that I did things, you know, I was traveling every thirty nine to forty one days based on, you know, my visa. Because if you stay over a certain amount of time, you get fined, and they encourage you to either, you know, get a work visa or to, to travel. And I was like, cool. I'm game. Like, I'm gone. I'm going here. I'm going there. So it it did break my heart to move back, but, ultimately, I think it was the best. I mean, if I didn't come back, I wouldn't be fishing the Toyota events. I wouldn't be know, I wouldn't have gotten a world record. So there's there's a lot of positives on that aspect.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. How'd you decide on Texas?

Lea Anne Powell: Funny enough. I actually moved for a guy in 2021. I ended up staying because, I mean, I'm central between Georgia, which is where I'm originally from, and I'm central between the West Coast. So, I mean, I've got great fisheries on both coasts and, you know, I'm within fifteen minutes of a place that I can park and wait into for awesome trout fishing, awesome redfish, you know.

Tom Rowland: Is that Galveston or where is that?

Lea Anne Powell: I'm in Lake Jackson.

Tom Rowland: Okay. But what's the what's your closest place? Is that I'm not that familiar with the Texas coast, but I have fished Galveston and Kemah.

Lea Anne Powell: So I'm forty five minutes from Galveston.

Tom Rowland: Okay. Yeah.

Lea Anne Powell: So a little bit further down.

Tom Rowland: And when we went there, I've got I think they've had a couple of hurricanes now since then, but we were fishing the, the redfish tournaments, and we had some stops in Galveston. And that was my favorite part of Texas. That was really nice.

Lea Anne Powell: Really good

Tom Rowland: water. It reminded me a lot of you know, there's a lot of, similarities to Florida redfishing in in Galveston. I didn't find the same in Kemah. Yeah. That was difficult for us because the water was muddy.

Lea Anne Powell: Right.

Tom Rowland: Very muddy. It was very hard to for for clear water fishermen to make a transition so quickly

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: Into that dirty water. I we we did not do well in Kemah. Well, we went over to Sabine, which does have clear water, but it's a long run. But it took us it took us a couple, you know, a day or two longer than it should have to find that clear water. Yeah. So, you know, we didn't really do that great there. But, so you're where were you from in Georgia?

Lea Anne Powell: I was from a little small town called Vilorica. So it's about, an hour East of Birmingham.

Tom Rowland: Oh, okay. An hour East of Birmingham.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah.

Tom Rowland: So I'm I'm originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, so we're not that far away. But I've never been to Villa Rica. I don't know where that is.

Lea Anne Powell: There's there's not much there.

Tom Rowland: There's not much there?

Lea Anne Powell: There's not

Tom Rowland: much there. So so I I actually went to, you know, Alabama at for college. So I was driving down to Tuscaloosa. It seems like I would've gone through there somehow. I don't know. Maybe.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. Small super small town. Not you're not missing much whatsoever. There's great there's waffle houses everywhere, but that's about it.

Tom Rowland: Well, there's a lot of waffle houses anywhere between Chattanooga and Birmingham, Atlanta. That whole area right there is covered in waffle houses.

Lea Anne Powell: True. True.

Tom Rowland: What about the Texas Waffle House? Is it is it, as prevalent in Texas?

Lea Anne Powell: No. They're not as prevalent. You have to plan a mission to go to a Waffle House. They do have In N Out burgers now, though.

Tom Rowland: Okay. They're making their way across the country.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes. But it both are a mission. You have to plan accordingly for that to happen.

Tom Rowland: You can go to Buc ee's, though. They're also making their way across the country.

Lea Anne Powell: Buc ee's was at the owner actually is from Lake Jackson. The very first one was from Lake Jackson. Like, where I work is four houses down from the Buck Buc ee's his home, like, his main home.

Tom Rowland: Wow. Yeah. He's done very well with that. I cannot believe that Buc ee's. I I just can't believe it. Every any Buc ee's that I go to has a 100 gas pumps. Yeah. There are a 100 cars in front of the gas pumps. Mhmm. Every other parking place is taken. Yep. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. And, you know, if they build one of those in a place that you're that you've been around for a long time, the exit that they choose is not an exit that there was ever anything there. And they just transform this whole exit into the most popular place within a 165 miles. Yep. Because that's what the sun always says. Like, the next Buc ee's is a 165 miles away or whatever. It's like just long enough for you to have to go to the bathroom again.

Lea Anne Powell: Exactly. Exactly.

Tom Rowland: They have just done an incredible job. It it's They they should be your sponsor.

Lea Anne Powell: It's a Walmart. You know what? So I I every time I pass by that guy's house, I'm like, okay. I don't wanna solicit anything, but if I did nicely little a nice little packet, I have a packet, so I could put my little packet in an envelope, but he has no mailbox, and I know that that's intentional. Everybody has no mailbox.

Tom Rowland: You're gonna have to find him. Maybe he's out he'll be on the pond on the local pond

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah.

Tom Rowland: Or something. I don't know. But that that would they they do an incredible job. It's it I've never seen anything quite like that.

Lea Anne Powell: It's a Walmart for gas stations. It

Tom Rowland: Well, I always thought it was kinda like a Walmart, a Cracker Barrel

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: And whatever the the biggest gas station you've ever seen is. Yeah. Like, it's it's amazing. But I I don't know. I mean, those places are those places are incredible. So now you're in Texas. You're fishing the, the the tournaments that you are fishing today. What are those? Are they MLF?

24:39 · Redfish, Bass, and the Ladies Tournament Circuits

Lea Anne Powell: So I've been fishing so last year, I fished the PRO ladies division, the professional roadfish league. I fished these, legends and lace, which is the saltwater legend series for ladies. And I also fished the Toyotas and the BFLs. This year, I have fished, a few Toyotas. I've fished the Legends and Lace already. PRLs are out for ladies, which is unfortunate, But I'm I'm trying to navigate this year is a turning point because I'm working to be on the boater side of things for '26.

Tom Rowland: And so would that be the case in the Redfish tournaments too? You would have a partner, or how how would the those Redfish tournaments work?

Lea Anne Powell: So the Redfish tournaments were, with with the ladies division, I was fishing with my best friend, Michelle. She's a she's a hammer. Like, she has a little baby cat, and we followed her fiance's tracks and had a day where we, you know, parked the boat, waited, and went fish for fish. Like, she's the absolute hammer. Love her to death. She's my usual my usual partner, and we have a a male captain. But what's cool about those tournaments is the guys aren't allowed to say anything. They they have to sit on the boat. They can come in the water if we're waiting and, you know, bring the scale and help us record, you know, once we've actually landed a fish, but they can't say where to go, what to throw. They can't help us try anything. You have to be very self sufficient in order to fish those tournaments.

Tom Rowland: Why do you even need that guy?

Lea Anne Powell: If you don't have a boat. Oh, okay.

Tom Rowland: So if you don't so there's a division for people that don't have a boat, and you can use you basically, you could basically get a guide. Yes. Yeah. But they can't guide you.

Lea Anne Powell: Right.

Tom Rowland: They can just take you.

Lea Anne Powell: It's like

Tom Rowland: That's a cool way

Lea Anne Powell: to do it. Easy. Yeah. Yeah. So

Tom Rowland: And and so now this is a big change to go to the boaters division.

Lea Anne Powell: And that

Tom Rowland: will be in the bass tournaments and in the saltwater tournaments?

Lea Anne Powell: So that's where I'm struggling. I I love both equally. I think I like the bass side a little bit more simply because trout fishing and redfish, you can throw one lure the entire day and they'll chew it. You might have to change the color variation of that lure, but you're gonna be throwing majority of the time the same lure throughout the day. With bass, they will shut off on you know, if if you're throwing, you know, a tap water say say you're throwing a spook. They might not eat a spook, but they might eat, you know, a whopper plopper. So it just depends. Bass bass are so much more of a challenge, I think, and I like I like that aspect.

Tom Rowland: So when are you getting your boat?

Lea Anne Powell: I don't know yet. So, a friend of mine, he was working in the automotive industry, and he swapped over to a seat manufacturer. And he said that they will be helping with that transition, so it will be the next few months. That way, it gives me enough time to really get on the water, really get like, driving a boat's easy. I enjoy it. Kinda similar like tuning a race car. You gotta trim your tabs and all the things. So, you know, I just want to be able to have a little bit of time to have the seat time before, you know, I'm in competition next year.

Tom Rowland: So Well, I would imagine if you can drive a race car, then, you know, a bass tournament, redfish tournaments, it's kinda that's one of the things that I always liked about the tournaments and always disliked about them too. I mean, you like it and you also don't like it, but it starts with a boat race.

Lea Anne Powell: Right. And that

Tom Rowland: can be that can be fun, and it can also be very nerve wracking.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: It can be really fun if you've got the fastest boat, but you have to know where to go. And sometimes you're just racing, you know, or some people are just going fast and they don't necessarily have the the right spot.

Lea Anne Powell: Right.

Tom Rowland: Then you have the right spot.

Lea Anne Powell: The the downside with the red fishing and stuff and even the trout fishing is majority of the time, those fish are gonna be in one concentrated area. So like you said, it is a major race to those areas in particular because, shoot, some of these guys, I don't know if you've seen it, the Simmons with, like, two four fifties on the back, two four fifty r's. And you're like, what is even happening right now? Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah.

29:25 · The Accidental World Record at O.H. Ivie

Tom Rowland: So Oh, yeah. Yeah. So the tournaments are one thing, but then you you I mean, one of the reasons why we're talking here is because of this world record that you caught. So where do the world records fit into this whole story of of fishing? How do you I mean, it's one thing to fish in tournaments, and it's another thing to, you know, be fishing internationally. It's another thing entirely to be going after world records, and specifically for largemouth bass world records, which is arguably the most competitive of all of them. Yeah. So how do you start doing that?

Lea Anne Powell: So, actually, the world record was kind of an accident.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: So, my buddy Dalton Dalton Smith's guide service. He actually called and he said, hey. I've got a few free days. You wanna come up? And I was like, okay. Cool. Like, I'm not focused on pre fishing. There's no money on the line. Like, I can just relax and have a really good, you know, fun fishing day. And I didn't even have to take my own gear, which was kinda frustrating when you're fishing with somebody else's gear, but I adapt well, so whatever. So I ended up going up there. The first day that we were out, it was pretty windy. And

Tom Rowland: Now is this in Texas? I'm sorry to interrupt you, but Yes.

Lea Anne Powell: Sorry. OHIV, which is, you know, deemed one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. So I was at OHIV, which is kinda close to Dallas Fort Worth. So I went up there, and first day, it was remarkably windy. And he's like, we can go upriver and fish. And I was like, cool. Going upriver was equivalent to maybe fishing, like, California vegetation. You've got pretty steep rock walls and, you know, rock mounds and all these other things. And so we were we would fish that area, and it was like, boom, three pounder. Boom, three pounder. Ridiculous. Like, it one after another almost. And, we went in for lunch, and we're like, okay. Game plan you know, change of plans. We're gonna go fish Main River or Main Lake or whatever. We're like, okay. He had me throw in a 10 foot telescoping rod deep cranking till my shoulder about fell off. And I was like, sounds good. So when I go to hang it up, I was like, alright. I can't throw this thing anymore. I gave it to him. He throws out, gets boom. Seven and a half. And I was like, okay. He's like, throw in there. So I did. So deep cranking, deep cranking, long goes spongy, and I was grinding it up, and then it got heavy. And I was like, oh, shit. I got a fish. Excuse my language. And he so it was a ten fifty eight. So that evening, I got a ten fifty eight, which was my first double digit. And, everybody on the lake, they they knew about it, unfortunately. So got it was amazing. And then, the next morning, we decided to still go and fish the main lake because the winds had laid down quite a bit. And, we were fishing in what they call salt trees, which are like imagine, like, really skinny trees, but ton like, tons of them.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: They're fishing salt trees and daltons on the back of the boat fiddling with something, and I was I was live scoping. I was trying to play with it, and I had dropped the bait down. Like, I cast it I cast it way out, dropped it down. You could see the sonar or whatever. And this fish, she nosed down on it. And he told me whatever you do, don't open the bail and let the bait fall back down. So he said just steady retrieve, you know, pull it up. And I was like, okay. The fish nose down on it. She's like, nope. Not having that. And, I was like, screw it because I had gotten it probably that far off the bottom. I opened the bail back up, let the bait fall back down. She turned like that, nose back down on it, and I felt just the smallest tick you ever wanna feel in your life, and I just leaned into her. I didn't even, like, give her the beans because I I didn't know how big of a fish it was, and I didn't know exactly how crazy the bottom was. So I just pressure set it, and it was on. And I was like, Dalton, pretty sure I'm on right now. And he comes up to the front. He's like, and mind you, I'm using this, like, really old spinning setup with 10 pound line. And he goes up and he's looking at the live scope, and he's like, dude, he's like, you need to look at the live scope. He's like, you've got a wolf pack following your your fish. He's like, this is crazy. And I was like, I can't not like, I couldn't stop looking at the rod tip because every time she got close to the boat, she would dredge back down. And I was like, you know, it it was intense because I was having to loosen and tighten the drag to control her, but it was, like, it was 45 foot from the boat, 15 foot down in these salt trees. She could've taken off left. She could've taken off right, but she didn't. Thank God. And I eventually got her in the boat. And, when when we got her on the deck, she the bait just fell out because she had dredged a hole, and she was the twelfth. So it was it was the craziest fight that I've had with a fish. Like, physically, I got sick from it, which was ten out of ten would do it again.

Tom Rowland: Wow. And so how do you how did you know that this was a record? What do you do at that point?

35:08 · The Big Scale Decision and Learning Line-Class Records

Lea Anne Powell: So didn't know she was a record. He asked me he's like, do you wanna take this fish to the big scale and weigh her? And I was like, I was thinking that. I was like, no. That's not necessary. And at last second, I was like, okay. Let's take her up to the big scale. We, you know, we put her in a live bag and then took her inside, did a a a dry weight on or, yeah, the dry weight, put her back in the live well, and then took her back you know, dropped the boat back in and released her. But, so we got the official weight on the scale. This was in February. Then the classic happened, and I talked to my friend, Vince Bordes, who is, with Phoenix Rods, and, he goes, you know that that might be a record. And I was like, really? He's like, yeah. It was on 10 pound line. You should check into IGFA and see what the deal is with records. And I was like, okay. So I went down to Wormhole again, and, the previous record was, like, nine nine pounds. So I beat it by a long shot, but it was pretty in-depth. So the paperwork was very long. I had to send in 20 foot of line for them to test the structural integrity of the line to see which it was 10 pound Seager Red Label. And because it tested so high into the middle 11 pound range, by default, they bumped me to the 12 pound line class. So, it was very in-depth and months worth of waiting for them because it has to actually go through, I I wanna say between five to 10 people's hands for them to certify it as a world record. So and it's international who they have to send it to, and they check all the paperwork, and it has to be signed off, and it's pretty intense.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. So, yeah. Sometimes if it bumps up like that and then the other record is bigger or smaller or whatever, it doesn't you know, you might have you might have set the 10 pound record, but then if it bumps up Mhmm. They because the line over tests Yep. And then it might not qualify for that other record. So

Lea Anne Powell: Right.

Tom Rowland: You know, just because it's lighter line doesn't necessarily mean that the the as you're learning. But so what did you what how will that change if you go to other records? What what did you learn there? I mean, because the record thing can get really, like, there's a lot of technical information on knots and the type of line and and all the different things that you use. And I'm sure that you're you're already interested in learning those things. But I'm just wondering, like, as you have one that overtests and it's still qualified

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: It's you you probably learned a lot about, okay, next time I'm gonna do this, this, this, and this.

Lea Anne Powell: They they look at everything. They look at what rod you used, what reel you used. They wanted photos of the exact baits and, like, full setup of the lure and everything. So for me, I I potentially want to find somebody who has a line testing, machine

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: So that I can kinda go down that wormhole and then adjust my gear, like rods, reels, everything based on that. Because, again, like you said, if if it had gone over 12 pounds, I would have been it would have been canceled. But luckily, I was in the middle, you know, 11 and a half pounds, so it bumped up. You know, they rounded it up. Thank god. But, there there's gonna be a lot of different things that I take into consideration when I do, try for other records for sure. And Yeah. It you know, taking my time and, you know, this it they're gonna be bumped. It that's gonna happen. And it that doesn't that that will that's not gonna deter me. That will keep me trying for more.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. Yeah. Both in freshwater and saltwater, you think?

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I I have I've delved into I've I've probably caught more species than I've want to admit. Let me see. I'll pull this up. It's very, very nerdy. But I have a species list of the fish that I've caught. I have it broken down from freshwater, brackish water, saltwater, and then a list of species that I wanna catch.

Tom Rowland: Wow. Do you have a total on how many numbers? How many fish do you have in there?

Lea Anne Powell: I I'm nearly at I'm, like, right at a 100 so far. And the Wanna Catch is of the Wanna Catch is like 75 right now.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. I've got in, in in Dubai and all that. You got some interesting ones.

Lea Anne Powell: I see.

Tom Rowland: Because that's one of my favorite things about going on an international trip like that is like, wow, look at that. You you can go and catch all these different species.

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, yeah. And these are the wanna catch. It it's it's a lot.

Tom Rowland: Well, that's good. It keeps you it keeps you busy. So how's the reception been on catching a world record bass so far?

Lea Anne Powell: As far as the feedback from people?

40:20 · Photoshop Accusations and an Eight-Page Bassmaster Story

Tom Rowland: I mean, you know, sometimes you sometimes you do something you think is gonna be really cool, and then it's kinda like maybe maybe the reception's not exactly what you what you thought. I know that there's been some, bass in particular that's a very competitive category because the largemouth bass is arguably the most competitive fish. It's available in every single state. Yes. Lots of people fish for them. Yes. So maybe not everybody's happy that you caught a world record. I don't know. I mean, sometimes that happens.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. I I've had, I've had really positive feedback and really negative feedback. Everybody thinks that the fish is photoshopped and that I long arm the fish. Like, I'm a tell you right now, trying to hold a large mouth that's 12 pounds, that, you know, in the proper way, it's very difficult at 12 pounds. So for me to long arm is pretty impossible. But and they say the fish is taxidermied. Lot of guys are really upset about it, which, I mean, it you you just gotta keep fishing. Like, it was an accident that I caught that fish. It was not intentional. Now the future records, it could be intentional, but, you know, it's it's a matter of just putting yourself out there and continuing to fish. You know? I I've had positive feedback positive and negative, both ends of the spectrum. And, they say good press any press is good press. So

Tom Rowland: Yeah. Well, the negative feedback, I think that there's a lot of people that fish their entire life looking for a fish like that, and they they they either are not fishing in the right place or it just doesn't happen for them or

Lea Anne Powell: Right.

Tom Rowland: They're something happens. They don't ever catch one. I mean, it took me a long time to catch bass over 10 pounds, a long, long, long time. I mean, I was deep into my twenties before I caught a a bass that was over 10 pounds, and I did it in Texas, by the way. Yes. Yeah. And and, you know, I look back on it, and I'm like, well, I don't think I was ever fishing in a place where there was a 10 pound bass available to me, first

Lea Anne Powell: of all. Right.

Tom Rowland: Then you go to a place where there are some, and you happen to catch one maybe.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. Sometimes

Tom Rowland: you do, sometimes you don't. But I think that a lot of people might not think it's the greatest thing ever to just see you catch one. And and then even the story is, like, well, it was kind of an accident. And they're, like, I've been doing I've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars. I've been doing this all my life, and she just catches one that's an an accident. So, I mean, you're always gonna get that kind of a of a response. But what is what is the positive response that you've gotten?

Lea Anne Powell: Well, Bassmaster did a eight page story on me that, was the first of its kind. They've never really shared somebody's, you know, history of fishing and their background of of any of that. So, that was pretty cool. It I don't know. It's it's, again, it was it was kind of a an accident, and I'm not throwing trying to throw that into anybody's face. Catching the fish was very intentional. Mind you, I will say something that's crazy about OHIV is that lake is so pressured that you will literally see a fish, hear the sonar, or look at a bait and they will go and butt up next to the trunk of a tree and not move. So to get a fish of any caliber at OHIV now because of how, popular it has become is actually really, really special. So and the fact that I actually learned LiveScope to be able to catch it, like, I'm very proud of that because it it's definitely a tool. Like, when I do get a boat, I will have it as a tool, but I'm gonna make sure that it doesn't make me handicapped in the fact that I'm a stay on three fish when there's an area that could have 20. So because I've seen too much of that. But the positive side is learning a lot. You know, these tournaments I'm fishing, double digit lakes. Like, last year, I fished, was it Sam Rayburn? Sam Rayburn, there was 10 fish over 10 pounds caught at a Toyota event.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm.

Lea Anne Powell: So, you know, now I know how to handle those fish. Now I know, you know, I I've learned what to throw, what vegetation, and how to handle salt trees because, you know, I'm use I'm used to East Coast Lakes, which are pretty grassy and muddy and and all that. So now I know what to look for. It it's definitely helped me, again, more learning. So

45:10 · What Keeps Her Coming Back — and the Lonely Side of Tournaments

Tom Rowland: Right. So you've you've had this experience with with the tournaments. You've had the experience both positive and negative with the record. And it seems like you're more and more and more excited about your future in fishing, but I was just wondering if there's been other times where maybe it didn't feel so good and you thought about maybe not not continuing.

Lea Anne Powell: You know, I feel like every angler has had a day where they go fish and they stay on the water the entire day and they're like, throw a rod down. Man, I'm done with this. I'm never doing this again. But that's what keeps you coming back. Like, the racing, I was easily able to hang that up easily. But the excitement and and the feeling of knowing that you're throwing something artificial and you're catching potentially a giant fish is it's very the juice is worth the squeeze. Like, I I've I've had moments where, you know, momentary memory or, like, moments where I'm like, I'm done with this, but it's it's out of frustration. I I don't think I'll ever stop fishing. Like, even if I lose a leg or lose an arm, I will figure out a way to fish because it's just there's so much excitement behind it. You know, I'm not a live bait fisherman very much. I'll I'll do it. It can be good. Obviously, it'll produce. There's nothing better than live bait for catching fish, but to throw something artificial and catch a big fish is and know that you've mustered that fish up and made them eat is really just it's hard to beat.

Tom Rowland: Is it ever lonely out there when you're doing these tournaments?

Lea Anne Powell: No. No. I mean I

Tom Rowland: found it to be. Really? Yeah. When when the turn on the tournaments, like, you know, just being away from your family, being away from, you know I don't know. I found it to be lonely. Even though I had a partner, you know, it's like, I don't know. I'd rather be home, honestly. Really? But, yes, you know, on occasion. But then there's other times where, you know, it's really super exciting, and you can't imagine not doing it. But then, you know, there's moments where it's like, I don't know.

Lea Anne Powell: That's why a lot of the guys, they take their girlfriends on, like, their cross country country journeys or whatever. But it's like, you know what? If so, I I have I have dated both ends of the spectrum, guys who don't fish, which does not work, and guys that do fish, which is fantastic. But also, you know, like, they they're fishing tournaments, and it's like, I can't. It's hard for me to go and attend a tournament when I wanna be fishing. You know? Mhmm. Yeah. Like, I'm supportive, but it's like, man, I wanna be I wanna be out there too. Come on. I know that I can catch them. So I get it. Yeah. It's it I there is moments where, like, the last Toyota event that I did, I I struggled. The fur the first day that I had, the guy that I drew had been out of the circuit for fourteen fourteen years. Okay? He was practicing LiveScope to stay relevant during the tournament. And he's like, oh, we're on fish, but they're not the right fish. I said, so move. Like, leave. And though that in that moment, I was like, I just wanted to be done with the tournament and go home. Like and that those moments, they're they're kinda few and far between because I just I like the competition aspect, but it's it it can make you feel really discouraged and just want to be completely out of it. So

Tom Rowland: Yeah. And but but then there's the the control aspect of, like, if it's not your boat and you're not the one making the call, I would think that that's where as you get more and more into the into it, you would really, really be moving towards Yes. Having your own boat and making the own call, even if it's the wrong call. Right? Like

Lea Anne Powell: 100%. Yeah. But So

Tom Rowland: what what does that look like, as as you as you start to do this? Like, how how do you think that you'll kind of make the will it be baby steps or you jump right in the deep end?

Lea Anne Powell: I I feel like I I might do baby steps as far as, like, fishing Toyotas before going to, you know, any major events, just just to know that I have it. But, and you obviously have to qualify for some of those series that I want to do. So, it's I I think it's gonna be minor baby steps.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm. Has there ever been, like, a feeling, like, as you as you seems like the racing was a really big part of, like, who you were, who you I don't know if it's like like an identity or if it was just more like a thing that you did, that you really felt strongly about and did it for a long time. And it seems like that's kind of, like, you're you're putting that aside and you're you're moving into fishing. And is there ever, like, any kind of struggle with with loss of identity from the racing to the fishing? Or do you ever think about that at all?

Lea Anne Powell: No. I mean, racing will always be a part of me. I have Well,

Tom Rowland: that's interesting that you show me that. I was gonna ask you about your your tattoos. I

Lea Anne Powell: that I got car wash.

Tom Rowland: Tattoos on your on your palms.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah.

Tom Rowland: What is what are those?

Lea Anne Powell: So turbo and then a five speed pattern.

Tom Rowland: Okay.

Lea Anne Powell: And it's reversed. Like, the the shift pattern is, embedded in my hand. So racing will always be a big part of who I am. It like I said, I I do, mechanic work now. I do specialty mechanic work, and carbon fiber fiberglass repair. So, I I work on everything from formula cars to Aston Martin GTs and, Lamborghinis and Dodge Vipers and all the things. So, racing will always be a part of me no matter what. I I don't think I'll ever lose myself in anything that I do. If I do, then then I'm gonna question myself, which I don't think I'll ever do.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. What about, when when we're talking about the records and the different tournaments that that you're that you're fishing in, that you have fished in, it seems like there's definite ladies divisions, female divisions.

Lea Anne Powell: Mhmm.

Tom Rowland: What do you think about that? Is that necessary in fishing? Is it something that you like? Is there a direction that you think the sport should go?

52:00 · “I Don’t Need to Handicap Myself”: Competing Against the Men

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, this is so this is gonna be controversial, and I might get a lot of backlash for it. But it's fine. I'm fine with it. So the best of the best in the world, they're men. I don't need to handicap myself in order to be the best. Like, I you know, the the regionals that I went to, I was the only girl in in that region to go to regionals, and I was fishing against all men. I was the only woman in my, you know, trail or I forget what they call them. They're they're regions or groups or I forget. But, you know, I I'm I'm firm in believing. Yes. I fish women's tournaments. Certain ones, I will fish because they have, major scrutiny as far as how they handle the tournaments, what the guys are able to tell you, not able to tell you, being self sufficient. Those things matter to me. I have fished those. Personally, I like to fish against the guys because I the only way I'm gonna get better is to be fishing against the best of the best. And there is ladies only tournament trails. And I hate to say it, but, it and, again, I'm gonna get a lot of backlash for it, and I know that's it's gonna be really bad. But those women don't wanna be around men. And just outside looking in just for unsaid reasons, outside looking in, I don't I don't you know, it's some of the the groups are very good. They have a lot of great recognition. But when I go into it, I'm not going to specifically fish against women because I want to be fishing against the best of the best. That's the only way I'm gonna level up.

Tom Rowland: Where does the sponsorship and the money line up between the two? Women's tournaments, men's tournaments?

Lea Anne Powell: They might actually pay more because it's a women's tournament to try and encourage more women to fish. I don't I don't really know. Maybe? Maybe. But I don't, you know and and if that hurts me, then that's that's fine. But I want to be able to represent at a level of walking across the stage at the classic. Like, there's you can't do that in those other tournaments. There's not a stepping stone to be able to get up to there. Yes, you're fishing against the other women. You might be able to go into others tournament trails, But unless you're fishing against the best of the best, I don't know if there's room to grow. And that might be

Tom Rowland: It's interesting like that because I don't know that much about bass fishing, but I do like, Mike Icahnelli has been on the show a couple times, and I really like his story because he was

Lea Anne Powell: He's awesome.

Tom Rowland: He was a federation fisherman. Right? Wow. He so he worked his way up through the federation Right. And earned a spot. Yes. It seems like that would be a very good thing for them to provide that pathway for women's tournaments. Like, if you win all these women's tournaments, you could earn a spot just like you could if you were if you did it in the federation, which, of course, you could do that as a woman in the federation and earn a spot Right. The same way. Right. I'm just like, if they're trying to encourage more women to fish, it seems like that would be a way that you might might do it. Like, there's another path just to in to go to the Super Bowl. Right? Like, it that's where that's that's the biggest part of of fishing in freshwater is is the Bassmaster Classic.

Lea Anne Powell: Steve No.

Tom Rowland: I mean, I guess there's some other ones now. But

Lea Anne Powell: If there was a stepping stone like that, then it would definitely be worth considering. But I don't think I current I you know, again, I haven't done research on the women's tournaments for bass fishing, but I don't think there's a stepping stone like that presently. And if there is I

Tom Rowland: don't I I've never I've never even heard of one. I never even even considered that until now. But I always liked that about Mike, and I think that that's one of the reasons why Mike Icahnelli was so popular so fast because he was like every man's fisherman. Like, he Oh, yeah. Made it to the top and won Yes. Through a path that anyone could take. Yep. And that was one of the coolest things about about him, and then he stayed on top.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: And, I mean, he's just a he's just a cool guy. I like him. Have you ever met him?

Lea Anne Powell: Yes. I have. He's

Tom Rowland: awesome. Yeah. He's a good guy.

Lea Anne Powell: As a hammer.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. For sure. So, so what what happens now? You're gonna you're gonna get your boat? You're going to fish in more of these tournaments? Or or is it more records that you're interested in?

56:51 · A New Boat, More Records, and the Forward-Facing Sonar Debate

Lea Anne Powell: So the plan is get the boat, you know, potentially work on records while I'm breaking in the boat, while I'm getting familiarized with having my own seat. You know? I I feel like that's gonna be the stepping stone for me. And then, like I said, potentially do Toyotas. I I've considered I actually before I got on the podcast today, like, Major League Fishing sent an email and asked, you know, how do you feel, are are you planning on fishing the BFLs this year? And I was like, no. Because the payouts aren't high enough. But I in previous years, I started off with the BFLs, then I went to Toyota events. So, excuse me, so I've done those stepping stones, and I do want to like, in PFL, you know, that could be something to consider. I like the fact that they don't have co anglers in their circuit. In the survey, they asked, you know, if you plan on being a co angler or being in a boat a boater. And I said in the past, have you, you know, been a co angler, but, you know, doing the boater side now because the co angler side is difficult. Mhmm. And, you know, I feel like if the co angler side was how it used to be when I first started, I would probably stay in that at least one or two more years.

Tom Rowland: What's the difference? Explain what the difference is between when you started and now.

Lea Anne Powell: When I started, Forward Facing Sonar didn't really exist. So and, you know, guys wouldn't when when I so, like, I think my third my third year, I drew a guy who had forward facing sonar. And during pre fishing, like, so, yes, I'm a co angler, but I will pre fish every single event because I don't wanna show up to an event and say, oh, you're the, you know, guide or whatever. I wanna know that I have caught fish and how I caught fish so that if he's throwing something that remotely mimics what I'm throwing, I can do reconnaissance mission and catch those fish that he's not catching. Mhmm. So he had, you know, LiveScope. And during pre fishing, we were fishing riprap and throwing a jerk bait on riprap, and, you know, he was buried on LiveScope looking down. Three fish stayed on them, and this boat came on the inside of us and fished the riprap with the jerk bait and wore them out. And I was like, oh my god. You know, it just it's, so when I first started, that didn't exist. Like, we actually had a chance at catching fish. And then now, like, you know, I've drawn guys that will I've told them. I'm like, hey. We'd be at Sam Rayburn. Sam Sam Rayburn's a spotted bass lake, so there's spotted bass and large mouth in there. And Spotted Bass Lakes are where I'm originally from. So Lake Lanier, Spotted Bass Lake, you see some birds working. Nine times out of 10, you're gonna have some schooling fish. So I told the guy that I drew, I was like, hey. There's birds working over there. They're not diving yet, but I'll tell you when they do. So I told him I told him when they started diving, we go over there. He stays on the school of fish for two hours and coals about 12 times and does not give me a chance on those fish because the whole time he's looking at his live scope following those fish. I didn't have like, I caught fish, but they were small. So it it changes how, it changes how the co angler is actually able to catch fish because you can throw a line out and wanna fish it as much as you want. But unless you're power fishing, if that guy is following a school of fish, you're you're you're done. You're done. Yeah. So it's it's really hard now. And like I said, I've definitely caught fish behind pros still, but, it's it's not like it used to be.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. It's interesting to even see just as an outside I'm totally an outsider on the bass world. I I am a saltwater guy. I mean, I grew up bass fishing. I know bass fishing. I'm a fan of bass fishing, but I'm not a tournament bass fisherman by any stretch of the imagination. So Right. When I look at this forward facing sonar debate that's going on, it's not even a debate. It's more of a yelling, yelling kinda match for for, you know, some some people. But it's very interesting to me because I don't know where I stand on it. I don't know if it's a good thing, if it's a bad thing. It it could be a good thing because I see a lot of younger fishermen getting into the sport and doing extremely well.

Lea Anne Powell: Right.

Tom Rowland: Like, really young guys coming in doing really, really well.

Lea Anne Powell: Yep.

Tom Rowland: And I think that's good for the sport.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: I think that's very good for the sport because there were I mean, it wasn't very long ago that we were at ICAST, and all the manufacturers are like, we gotta figure out how to get some young people in this sport, or or we're in big trouble. Okay. Well, then it comes along, and then now people are saying, well, no. No. We didn't want it like this, you know. But so I don't know I don't know where I stand on it. In a lot of ways, I think that it's that it's good. In a lot of ways, then I think maybe maybe it's not so good.

Lea Anne Powell: Mhmm.

Tom Rowland: And then in some ways, I've even come up with some ideas. I think I was I think maybe it was on that Mike Iaconelli podcast, and I was talking I was I was just explaining, like, some of the different things that we've done in saltwater tournaments

Lea Anne Powell: Mhmm.

Tom Rowland: That I think could be a good idea in the freshwater tournaments of, like, you just say, okay. Well, you got 12 tournaments. Mhmm. You can use this in either either if it's a twelve day turn if it's a 12 tournaments, you have twenty four days.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: Two day two days in each one. Yep. You can use LiveScope or or forward facing sonar twelve days.

Lea Anne Powell: Mhmm.

Tom Rowland: You can use it in 12 tournament or in six tournaments for two days Yep. Or you could use it in in 24 tournaments one day, or you could do any combination of those. Right. But when you do something like that, the strategy is gets really, really good because people will choose not to use it on this particular lake because they feel like they don't necessarily need it. Right. Or they will go and they'll think, okay. Well, I do need it here. Right. But I know that I'm going to really need it here, and I want both days. Right? So I don't know if that's even a good idea. It seems it seems like whenever you bring strategy and you make it more like a chess game, and it seems like that could be really interesting, but it it seems like what I'm hearing is it's more like it's it's all or nothing. Like, you can either use it or you can't.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. I mean

Tom Rowland: Where where do you think? Where are we going with this?

Lea Anne Powell: I'll I first of all, say I like the strategy aspect because first of all, I think forward facing sonar is a tool. You can handicap yourself, you know, focus hyperfocus on one fish. If you need use it to locate fish, then that's great. But strategy I mean, we've had to do strategy in, like, the legend series events. We have to catch two red or, yeah, two redfish and one trout or two trout and one redfish. So, you know, while two of us are fishing for trout, the other has to fish a redfish or take the boat and drop us off further down the way, and it's you're gambling either way. I do know that certain tournaments now are putting a lock on that forward facing sonar, and they can only use it during certain periods of their choice. But, I mean, I like the strategy aspect. I think that that would be really, really cool. I do know that a lot of the trout guys and redfish guys are actually getting into forward facing sonar. Mhmm. Especially if there's a deep pocket, they're able to locate those fish. They obviously turn it off because that sound can affect how the fishery is. But, I mean, it's I think it's a great tool, to use it specifically throughout a tournament is if one guy might not be able to have it and might not be as efficient in it, say, in a Toyota series, then it kinda it kinda I I don't know. It's hard. It's that's hard to hard to say. So, like, maybe make a a a Ford Facing Sonar only series and then Yeah. I mean,

Tom Rowland: you do that. That's exactly what they did in the offshore thing. There there's this particular type of of sonar that they have on the big game boats, and Yeah. I can see a marlin, you know, 500 yards out there. Like, whatever we're doing in freshwater with forward facing sonar, multiply it times a 100 for that. And then also the cost yeah. The also the cost is way up there too. So, I mean, so much so that you have these guys with really, really expensive boat, million millions millions of dollars in boats. And they are saying, you know, there needs to be a division because if he has it if he has that particular sonar Yeah. We don't stand a chance. Right. So what they've done is they've done two divisions.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: And you can either have it or you don't have it. Yeah. Then that you know, there's just two divisions.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. I I think that that would they're I think they're eventually gonna have to get there, especially if they wanna keep that draw of the younger crowd. So the younger crowd, you know, they might be really into video games, like, super efficient in in that realm playing Call of Duty or whatever it is. Like, I used to play Mario Kart, but that's totally different than the the stuff nowadays. It's like you're there. Mhmm. But, you know, I I think the strategy and having different divisions is probably gonna have to be the way that it goes.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. Yeah. I think so. I don't know. Hopefully, it doesn't disrupt or not disrupt, but, cause division in the sport that can't be healed. Like, that's that's that's always my my fear of things is, like, you you if you if you break a certain group up into two different groups, it's not really necessarily good. And you have the people that don't like forward facing someone, people that do like it, and then some group in the middle that's kinda like, well, whatever, man. I can use it or not use it. Either way, I'm I'm I'm gonna be I'm I'm not sure to fish. Right? So if you allow me to use it, I'm gonna use it. So there's really three groups. Right? There's the ones that hate it, the ones that love it, and then there's this group in the middle. And the more you break those people up, the more dangerous it is to the overall

Lea Anne Powell: group

Tom Rowland: of fishermen.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah.

Tom Rowland: Right? You know? So I

Lea Anne Powell: mean, they do have like, I believe the NPFL is a no forward facing sonar series. So they do kinda already have that, but not everybody wants to fish that series. So I feel like eventually sanctioning bodies are gonna adjust accordingly based off of that. Because I do know, like, the tournaments that I've have been doing, the the numbers are down significantly at least with co anglers because people don't they don't wanna come and because they don't think they stand a chance.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. That's interesting. I didn't know that about the co anglers, but it makes all the sense in the world.

Lea Anne Powell: Well, and and the last event, the guy that I drew on the second day, he was a very big advocate on no forward facing sonar, and he's made well over half $1,000,000 bass fishing. And, he him and I can't remember how many other guys how many other pros he said. They all emailed Major League Fishing and said, hey. We're not for this. Like, bring back the co anglers. Like, let's adjust this so that we can actually have co's with us. But then the numbers are down significantly. Like, the the first year in Texas that I was doing BFLs, there was, like, 200 entrants. Now you might get a 100 if that.

Tom Rowland: There's also more tournaments though. Don't you think? Like, there seems to be like, you had the it was just once it was just b a s s, and then it was MLF, and then it was FLW, and then it was more and more and more, it seems like. And and, like, I'm an outsider. I don't I don't know. Like Yeah.

Lea Anne Powell: I don't

Tom Rowland: know all of them. But it seems like there's more and more. And when you have more and more, you're gonna have people that, you know, they they

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. There there's a lot of, team tournaments and stuff that have been popping up like, you know, fish with your friend type tournaments. But some of the some of those tournament series are coming in and they're out just as quick. So, it's just Hard

Tom Rowland: to run a tournament. I would imagine that is a very difficult business even even like that Oakley Big Bass tour. I don't I don't know if they're doing that anymore. But, I mean, I thought that was a good idea. And, you know, and people liked it too because you could win money every hour. That was kinda cool.

Lea Anne Powell: Best splash.

Tom Rowland: That's Okay. So, I mean, they have the similar format or maybe it's even an offshoot of what that once was.

Lea Anne Powell: Every hour and there's, like, a 300 plus thousand dollar main winnings, which that tournament majority of the time is won in the first hour because there's so many boats on the lake that every fish will hide. But

Tom Rowland: that's interesting. Alright. Well, let me wrap this up, with a few questions for you. So we're definitely not finished by any stretch of the imagination. But k. One of the things that you that you, you mentioned was that you lost your parents in 2015, and then fishing was was became really, really important to you.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

70:31 · Why Fishing Helps People Through Hard Times

Tom Rowland: What was it about fishing? Or I guess what I would ask is that lots of people go through hard times.

Lea Anne Powell: Mhmm.

Tom Rowland: And on this show, we've talked to a lot of people that have found kind of a solace in fishing.

Lea Anne Powell: Yes.

Tom Rowland: But what is it? Is it that you just need to find something, or is there something special about fishing that that can help someone get through a hard time like that?

Lea Anne Powell: So first of all, I've I've taken friends fishing who when they go fishing, they're like, oh my god. I understand the draw because you get those beautiful sunrises and beautiful sunsets. So you have a lot of peace in your surroundings, first of all. Second of all, it gives you something else to focus on, instead of pain. And the way I've described it is I've turned my pain into passion. I've been able to delve into something that brings me a lot of joy and also a lot of comfort, in what I'm doing.

Tom Rowland: Mhmm. And so do what what kind of advice would you give to to somebody that is going through a hard time? It's just to find something like that. Maybe it's fishing, maybe it's something else, or would you have other advice?

Lea Anne Powell: My advice would be find something that you're passionate about and become the best that you can be within that passion. Learn everything that you can about it. Become a sponge and soak up everything you can, and then apply what you've learned and, you know, put it into what you're passionate about.

Tom Rowland: And if you were to give advice to, let's just say a young lady who want who is interested in fishing, maybe I I don't know. I I would think that fishing could seem a little bit intimidating to a young to a young woman. I don't know if it does. I'm not a young woman. Yeah. So what would you tell that person?

Lea Anne Powell: To it who you go with fishing the first time definitely can make or break your experience. If you have somebody that you're with that is impatient, it could not go so well. But if you find if you find yourself wanting to go go with somebody who is very passionate about who likes to teach and who wants to help you have the best experience that you can. And my advice also is to just keep keep fishing. Like, you you don't know if you're gonna be successful or not until you try. And me personally, for every no that I've been told has eventually turned into a yes. So you just gotta put your head down and roll with the punches.

Tom Rowland: Every no you've ever been told eventually turns into a yes. Tell me more about that.

Lea Anne Powell: So so for 10 nos, I'll get a yes. So it it's like you don't know until you try. Right? And, approaching companies for sponsorships or stuff like that, you know, or even talking to people about fishing tournaments or fishing with them during tournaments and stuff, you know, you you could get turned away. And if you get turned away, don't let that discourage you in your pursuit of what you're passionate about.

Tom Rowland: And, if you were to go, to offer that advice that you just did, is there a particular type of fishing that you think is is best for somebody that is just wanting to try it out? Like, should they go offshore, inshore, freshwater, saltwater? What do you think?

Lea Anne Powell: I'd say, I'd say probably freshwater. And I'm used I saw the show, with the the young man who caught the little the sunfish. And I was like, oh my god. I love him. He's so great.

Tom Rowland: Everybody loves him.

Lea Anne Powell: He's so great. His hair is majestic, and I love he's so great. But, I mean, to so it's easy to go get you a tiny hook with a worm, a nightcrawler, throw it out, and catch you some sunfish. I mean, freshwater usually, if I have a rough day saltwater fishing, I will go freshwater fishing. And I will catch a bass pretty much every single time, and it's like a reassurance for me. So my suggestion is, freshwater first. 100%.

Tom Rowland: Great. And then as, you know, as you've as you're kind of establishing your your your place here, you got a world record, you're fishing in these tournaments. One of these days, you're probably gonna win one of these tournaments.

Lea Anne Powell: Mhmm.

Tom Rowland: What do you want your legacy to be in, you know, when you're when you're done with fishing?

Lea Anne Powell: Wow. That is a very tough question. My legacy, I I wanna encourage more people to fish and to get out and do what they're passionate about. I I do a lot of volunteer work. I like to give back to my community. I I wanna be known for, helping mold people who thought that they couldn't do something and help them do it.

Tom Rowland: So do you think that if if you wanna help people who think they can't do something and help them to do it, is fishing a a good tool for that? Or is it is that what you wanna show them that they can do? Or is that just, you know, you know what I'm saying? Is, like, is fishing just a tool? Or or are you trying to teach people how to fish?

Lea Anne Powell: No. Fishing is is a tool for the bigger picture. I I think that, I I have some game plans for a much, much bigger picture. But I, you know, I I want people to be able to put put their all into what they're passionate about and become successful at that. That's that's ultimately what I wanna show, if that makes sense.

Tom Rowland: So can you connect do you see that the bigger picture is connecting with them through fishing or

Lea Anne Powell: Yes. Yeah. Mhmm. To encourage people regardless if they like fishing or not, to take somebody out who's never caught a fish before and put them on fish. They're like, wow. You know, this is so much fun. I don't really like this, but and it's like, okay. So take what you're passionate about and just put your put your all into it, and eventually, you'll be successful. You gotta take every every step that you might fumble and put that towards, you know, build building up. You build you're building up to what you your ultimate goal is.

Tom Rowland: I had a guy on the podcast recently, Ryan Johnson, and he has a a foundation, I guess,

Lea Anne Powell: you would

Tom Rowland: call it, cast hope. You should look into that.

Lea Anne Powell: Okay.

Tom Rowland: It's it's similar. I think that maybe, I don't know. I think that it's it's it's aligning with a lot of the things that you're that you're talking about. Certainly, even if you just look at it as an inspiration for something that you wanna do later, but you might wanna get involved in something like that. Is it seemed like a really, really great thing. Mostly California based, but, interesting.

Lea Anne Powell: I work with I was gonna say Go ahead. At the Texas Parks and Wildlife here and the CCA, with Special Olympics and and all of that, helping kids with the tournaments here at the the local fishery, the hatchery. So Mhmm. It's it's a lot of fun.

Tom Rowland: You know, Texas has done, such a great job with their bass that that what do they call it? Share a lunker?

Lea Anne Powell: Share a lunker program. Yes.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. And do you think that's, I mean, so when you when you catch a really big fish like the one that you that you caught, you just released it back into the into the same lake that you caught it on. But there is an opportunity to put that fish into a program. Right?

78:25 · The ShareLunker Program and Saying Goodbye

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. Anything over 13 pounds, the sharelunker program will come. They bring their truck that has a live well, and they take it to their facility. Those 13 pounders then become the brooders. So they help form and reproduce fish to be able to stock different lakes with those with those big fish. They've actually, Texas has worked with the North and Florida to get an f one strain, which is what the world record fish was. So it's a northern strain and a Florida strain together, to create an f one strain bass. And those big fish that get taken by the share a long term program, they will, you know, produce the fry and those fry eventually get released to the lakes to help stock, those big trophy fish for people that have never caught a double digit fish. It gives them an opportunity to be able to capitalize on that.

Tom Rowland: Right. And so, overall, do you think that program is well received in Texas?

Lea Anne Powell: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I I feel like I feel like it is. And if people don't receive it well, I think that's kinda crazy because it's, you know

Tom Rowland: Oh, you know, you catch a 13 pounder in your lake, and you're gonna take that fish out and give it to, you know, the state Yeah. And it may never reappear in your lake. I could see how some people might be like, I don't know. I'm only gonna fish here.

Lea Anne Powell: They put that fish back in the lake at

Tom Rowland: King. Do?

Lea Anne Powell: Yes. Oh, good.

Tom Rowland: Well, see there

Lea Anne Powell: fish is pulled from. They put that fish back in its home waters once they've taken it to get the brooding done.

Tom Rowland: Understood. Well, that makes all the sense in the world. That that I would think that there would be no they've left no reason for anybody to not like the program.

Lea Anne Powell: Yeah. I agree. Yeah.

Tom Rowland: Yeah. Well, that's cool. Well, it's been really great to, to get to know you and hear your story. Congratulations on your world record bass and the the tournaments and your new boat. You got all kinds of things getting getting ready to happen. Thank you. When you win your first tournament, I want you to come back and tell us that story. Okay?

Lea Anne Powell: You got it. I can do that. Alright.

Tom Rowland: Thanks for coming on. We really appreciate it, and, we will, be in touch with some things that you can share on your social media.

Lea Anne Powell: Okay. Great. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you having me.

Tom Rowland: You bet. Thank you. We'll be back with another great guest just like Leanne next week. So come back and check it out. If you like this, please share it with other people that, that might find it to be, inspirational or just awesome. Alright. Thanks. We'll see you later.