Jacob Wheeler: {Far left in photo}, The Young Phenom
I have encountered many anglers who have influenced me in different ways. Some of them are famous professionals, some are local legends, and some are personal friends.
But they all have one thing in common: they have taught me valuable lessons about fishing and life. In this post, This is a continuing story of the six anglers who have shaped my fishing journey and how they have inspired me to become a better angler and a better person.
Here is one of the many things I learned from Jacob Wheeler.
He taught me how to use electronics and mapping tools to locate and target fish, and how to choose the right gear and color combinations for different scenarios.
He also showed me how to fish a Carolina rig, a spinner bait, and a paddle tail swimbait, three of his favorite baits for offshore current.
Thanks to his tips and tricks, I have improved my skills and catch rate significantly. He is not only a great angler, but also a great mentor and friend.
He inspired me to pursue my fishing passion and to share it with others. He is truly a fishing legend and a role model for me.
Let’s dive into Jacob Wheeler’s Career
Career Highlights:
Jacob Wheeler is a professional bass fishing angler who competes on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour.
He is the youngest angler to ever win the Forrest Wood Cup (2012) and the first angler to win the first two Bassmaster Elite Series events he entered.
He also won the 2019 MLF World Championship and has amassed over $2.5 million in career earnings.
Fishing Style:
Wheeler is known for his versatility and adaptability, as he can fish effectively with various techniques and baits in different conditions and bodies of water.
He is also skilled at using electronics and mapping tools to locate and target fish.
Fishing Tips:
Wheeler shares his fishing tips and tricks on his official website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms.
He covers topics such as gear selection, bait presentation, seasonal patterns, tournament strategies, and more.
Fishing Legacy:
Wheeler is one of the most successful and influential anglers of his generation, inspiring many young and aspiring fishermen with his passion, talent, and personality.
He is also involved in various fishing-related ventures, such as hosting shows, seminars, and clinics, developing signature products, and supporting fishing charities and foundations.
So How Much is Jacob Wheeler Worth Today?
Jacob Wheeler is a professional bass fishing angler who has won many tournaments and awards in his career.
According to some sources, his net worth is estimated to be around $2 million to $10 million, depending on the method of calculation.
He earns most of his income from his tournament winnings, social media, and sponsors. He also has a YouTube channel with over 24 million views, which generates some revenue for him as well.
Here is a table that shows his career wins, top 10s, top 20s, and winnings by year and by tournament series.
You can see that he has been very successful and consistent in his fishing career, winning 10 tournaments, making 52 top 10s, and earning over $3.4 million in total.
| Year | Series | Wins | Top 10s | Top 20s | Winnings |
| 2024 | Bass Pro Tour | 0 | 1 | 1 | $32,000 |
| 2023 | Bass Pro Tour | 1 | 5 | 5 | $231,741 |
| 2023 | Heavy Hitters | 0 | 0 | 0 | $4,000 |
| 2023 | Redcrest | 0 | 0 | 0 | $28,000 |
| 2022 | Bass Pro Tour | 0 | 6 | 6 | $212,000 |
| 2022 | Heavy Hitters | 0 | 0 | 0 | $4,000 |
| 2022 | Redcrest | 0 | 0 | 0 | $40,000 |
| 2021 | Bass Pro Tour | 3 | 5 | 5 | $388,998 |
| 2021 | Heavy Hitters | 0 | 0 | 0 | $70,000 |
| 2021 | Redcrest | 0 | 0 | 0 | $48,000 |
| 2020 | Bass Pro Tour | 1 | 2 | 2 | $135,000 |
| 2020 | Heavy Hitters | 0 | 0 | 0 | $7,500 |
| 2020 | Pro Circuit | 1 | 3 | 3 | $195,000 |
| 2019 | Bass Pro Tour | 1 | 4 | 4 | $193,600 |
| 2019 | Redcrest | 0 | 0 | 0 | $12,000 |
| 2016 | Pro Circuit | 0 | 1 | 1 | $71,000 |
| 2016 | TITLE | 0 | 0 | 0 | $23,000 |
| 2015 | Pro Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | $39,610 |
| 2015 | TITLE | 0 | 0 | 0 | $37,500 |
| 2014 | Pro Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | $52,000 |
| 2014 | TITLE | 0 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| 2013 | Pro Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | $39,236 |
| 2013 | TITLE | 0 | 0 | 0 | $75,000 |
| 2012 | Pro Circuit | 0 | 1 | 1 | $49,530 |
| 2012 | Pro Circuit Opens | 0 | 1 | 1 | $21,543 |
| 2012 | TITLE | 1 | 1 | 1 | $500,000 |
| 2011 | Pro Circuit | 0 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
Jacob Wheeler Favorites
He has a lot of fishing gear, but here are some of his favorite items that he often uses in his tournaments and videos:
Rods:
Wheeler uses Duckett Fishing rods, especially the Jacob Wheeler Signature Series rods, which are designed for his fishing style and preferences.
He uses different rod lengths and actions depending on the technique and bait he is using, but his go-to rods are:
7-foot-2 medium-heavy spinning rod for drop-shotting and finesse fishing
7-foot-6 heavy-action casting rod for frogging and flipping
7-foot-3 medium-heavy casting rod for crankbaits and spinnerbaits
7-foot-4 heavy-action casting rod for swimbaits and jigs
Reels:
Wheeler uses Shimano reels,
both spinning and casting, for their smoothness, durability, and performance.
He uses different reel sizes and gear ratios depending on the technique and bait he is using, but some of his go-to reels are:
Shimano Vanford 2500 spinning reel for drop-shotting and finesse fishing
Shimano Curado 200 casting reel for frogging and flipping
Shimano Curado 150 casting reel for crankbaits and spinnerbaits
Shimano Tranx 300 casting reel for swimbaits and jigs
Lines:
Wheeler uses Sufix lines, both braid and fluorocarbon, for their strength, sensitivity, and abrasion resistance.
He uses different line diameters and types depending on the technique and bait he is using, but some of his go-to lines are:
8-pound-test Sufix NanoBraid Nanofilament Braid for drop-shotting and finesse fishing
65-pound-test Sufix 832 Advanced Superline Braid for frogging and flipping
12-pound-test Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon for crankbaits and spinnerbaits
20-pound-test Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon for swimbaits and jigs
Baits:
Wheeler uses Rapala baits, both hard and soft, for their quality, action, and versatility.
He uses different bait colors and sizes depending on the water clarity, temperature, and fish mood, but some of his go-to baits are:
Rapala DT Series crankbaits for covering water and triggering reaction bites
Rapala X-Rap Prop baits for topwater fishing and imitating shad
Rapala Shadow Rap jerkbaits for suspending and twitching in cold water
Rapala Terminator Popping Frog for fishing over mats and vegetation
Rapala VMC Tokyo Rig for fishing heavy cover and punching through grass
Rapala VMC Finesse Neko Hook for drop-shotting and finesse fishing
Rapala VMC Heavy Duty Wide Gap Hook for rigging soft plastics and swimbaits
Rapala VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig for fishing swimbaits and paddle tails
Rapala VMC Sinker Stops for pegging weights and adjusting sink rates
Rapala VMC Tungsten Weights for adding weight and enhancing sensitivity
Rapala Storm 360GT Searchbait for fishing swimbaits and paddle tails
Rapala Storm Arashi Glide Bait for fishing big swimbaits and glide baits
Rapala Storm Arashi Spinbait for fishing spybaits and finesse fishing
Rapala Storm Original Wiggle Wart for fishing crankbaits and deflecting off cover
Rapala Terminator Pro Series Jig for fishing jigs and trailers
Rapala Terminator Shuddering Bait for fishing bladed jigs and chatterbaits
Rapala Terminator Spinnerbait for fishing spinnerbaits and attracting fish
Rapala Trigger X Flappin’ Bug for fishing creature baits and flipping
Rapala Trigger X Flutter Worm for fishing worms and drop-shotting
Rapala Trigger X Minnow for fishing minnows and jerkbaits
Rapala Trigger X Probe Worm for fishing worms and shaky heads
Rapala Trigger X Slop Hopper for fishing frogs and topwater
Now you know more about Jacob Wheeler
