Some are aware that Hank Cherry is a former high-level baseball player who almost went pro. Others may have read that he fished his first bass tournament out of a pontoon boat or remember that he was Bassmaster Rookie of the Year in 2013 and came very close to winning the Classic that year, too.

But the depth of the 51-year-old Bassmaster Elite and National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) angler from Lincolnton, North Carolina is far greater than the sum of his headlines and accomplishments.

Off the water, Hank Cherry is an ardent advocate for our US military veterans and our nation’s first responders. He’s also a family man with a loving and supportive wife, Jaclyn, and two athletic, teenage kids, Bella Grace and Christian. On the water, he’s a fierce competitor who always digs deep. Though he rarely talks about it, Cherry has been battling serious elbow and wrist injuries for the past couple of seasons.

Despite the pain and physical challenges, Cherry is currently 14th in the 2025 NPFL Progressive Angler of the Year points race after five stops – an enviable position given the caliber of competition he faces in the upstart NPFL.

Six Questions with Hank Cherry

Q1 – What are your favorite things to do when you aren’t fishing on tour?

Cherry – You know for me it’s about spending time with my family because I’m away so much when I’m fishing. I like traveling with my son, Christian, and watching him compete in national baseball tournaments. I enjoy going to football games and watching my daughter, Bella Grace, cheer. I also love spending time in the woods. Jaclyn and I both love to hunt. That’s where my serenity and recharge take place – in the deer stand. Not always harvesting or killing, but just sitting, watching, spending time, and experiencing nature with my wife.

Q2 - What would you say is your greatest strength as an angler?

Cherry - I think my biggest strength is that I kind of fish different than everybody else. I like covering the water that doesn’t seem quite as fishy. I’ll always do what I need to but feel I’m at my best throwing a jig or a jerkbait. This whole game has become more open-water oriented with the advent of forward-facing sonar, but I prefer to achieve my goals by sticking close to structure, especially because so many people seem to leave the banks alone these days.

Q3 – What’s one thing you’d like the bass-fishing community to understand about you?

Cherry – Oh, you know there is one thing that gets brought up sometimes. People have opinions about me because I carry around this persona… I guess the way I walk or look, or because I'm quiet most of the time. Really, I’m just a watcher… always watching and just taking everything in. It’s helped me in all aspects of my life, not just fishing. I never judge anyone and never even form an opinion about anything until I've had firsthand experience. There’s a lot of hype and unnecessary drama in life and certainly in bass fishing these days. I just don’t get into it. Just because something may be the norm doesn’t mean it’s best or right, so I tend to quietly point myself in a different direction. The two things I like least are drama and rough water.

Q4 – Is that why you fish both the Bassmaster Elites and the NPFL?

Cherry – Yeah, I think so. Each series is a big stage and both have the best bass anglers in the world, so that’s where I want to challenge myself and showcase my abilities. I do like that the rules and formats are different. There’s no doubt that the NPFL’s unique stance on forward-facing sonar has attracted a lot of talented anglers, and it’s a good fit for me and the way I approach my fishing. And going back to what I said about things not being right just because they may be the norm… I think with this week’s rule-change announcement from BASS you’re seeing that organization trying to move away from what has been a norm in favor of getting things right for their anglers and fans. We’ll have to see how limiting forward-facing sonar to fewer Elite events actually plays out, but I applaud BASS for having the courage to make changes.

Q5 – Does your “show me” outlook apply to your fishing gear, too?

Cherry – Yes, whether it’s a new lure, line, or a new reel… show me it works. I may try something new because of something I’ve heard or seen, but I’ve got to get it tied on or in my hands before I’ll believe anything or even start to form an opinion. I’ve been hearing and seeing more good things about SEVIIN Reels – from people like John Crews and others – so I’ve started fishing them and like what I’ve experienced so far. It’s hard to get a first impression of a reel. Yeah, you need to look at it and check the quality of the fit and finish and make sure it feels right in your hands. You lock it down and check the drag, spin ‘em real fast, but then you’ve got to spend time fishing them on the water. I’ve been fishing with the GS casting reels and everything mechanically is really good. I deliberately caught a 40-pound catfish with one and it never missed a beat. But these reels are made for bass and that’s where they shine at a high level. They’re consistently smooth and quiet and I get tons of adjustability so I can get really long casts bombing a crankbait or have maximum control when skipping a jig at long distances. So far, I’m really liking what I’ve experienced with these SEVIIN reels. It’s a company that’s doing things right, and I appreciate that.

Q6 – Your 2025 Bassmaster Elite season is over, but you still have more work to do in the NPFL this year. Talk to me about what’s ahead of you.

Cherry – 2025 has been another painful year for me coming off of elbow surgery last year and dealing with some ongoing wrist problems. I knew I wasn’t going to be at full strength, but I also knew I’d rather fish through the pain than sit the season out. Thankfully, I’ve had a few things go my way with some good finishes and we’re 14th in AOY points, so my first goal is just to finish this NPFL season strong. I’ll fish Stop Six at Logan Martin at the end of this month and then the League Championship at Lake Hartwell the first week in October. I’ve got a lot of confidence in terms of how those lakes set up for me and am feeling optimistic. Then it’ll be time to take care of myself. I’m getting two more surgeries in October, so by Christmas I plan to be in the gym getting stronger and then back out on the water. I’ll have everything fixed and ready to roll for what I’m planning to be a clean and pain-free fishing season in 2026. With what I’ve seen of the schedules for next year, my travel will be minimal and I’ve got a lot of experience in the places we’re going, so there’s a lot to be excited about. I always expect to compete at the top, so the past couple years have been hard on me and that’s not a role I’m comfortable in. I’m really looking forward to getting healthy again and getting back on top.

Challenges? Everyone’s got them. But it’s the way we run through them that defines greatness. Fifteen years into his professional bass-fishing career, Hank Cherry understands that highs often come with lows, but that doesn’t mean he accepts it as truth. The man has a plan to stay at the top. By regaining his health and physical strength, using the knowledge he’s gained by consistently going his own way on the water, and fishing with the best and most reliable gear available, Cherry looks forward to continuing to compete and win against the top bass anglers in the world – under whatever rules and formats are imposed.

Come drama or rough water.

Follow the remainder of Hank’s 2025 NPFL season at thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram at @hankcherryfishing.

About SEVIIN Reels
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