Takahiro Omori

Takahiro Omori was born in Tokyo, raised in rural Japan, and is the most successful professional angler who’s ever immigrated to America based on career earnings and his famous 2004 Bassmaster Classic win.

Omori, 53, became the first non-U.S. pro to win a major bass fishing title when he won the 2004 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Wylie in South Carolina. That in itself was a major accomplishment because the support system that exists today for foreign born (and particularly non-English speaking) anglers was not yet in place. His victory was meaningful to the entire sport and the entire industry because it proved that this was an internationally significant endeavor with major industry implications and brought widespread coverage to bass fishing from non-endemic publications.

While Omori wasn’t the first Japanese pro to fish in the U.S., he has been the most successful and has provided an example for others from Japan (as well as from places like Australia and Canada). There was not another international Classic winner until nearly 20 years later, when Canadian Jeff Gustafson, with far fewer obstacles, earned a Classic trophy.

Omori has been successful on all three major circuits, and truly sacrificed to get where he is, living the bass lifestyle from day one. He even built a swimming pool for the express purpose of testing lures. There was even a documentary made about his obsession.

He has earned just shy of $3 million from B.A.S.S., MLF/FLW, putting him in the uppermost echelon by that measure. He won 7 times at B.A.S.S. (qualifying for 12 Classics), as well as at FLW. In addition, he won the 2019 MLF Summit Cup, the 2020 Patriot Cup, and qualified for three REDCRESTs and seven Forrest Wood Cups.

Omori’s father, however, was dead set against him fishing for a living, saying he had to attend college or move out of the house after high school. Omori’s will was just as strong so he moved to an island in Lake Kawaguchi, living in a tent and fishing. He also worked a variety of jobs, such as bellhop, dishwasher and waiter, to survive.

That work ethic and strong desire paid off with a fishing career of over three decades that shows no signs of slowing down.

Omori’s catchphrase “I knew it” was born during his incredible final-hour flurry on the final day of the 2004 Classic when he caught several keepers on a shallow-running crankbait. It is often imitated by endearing fans and fellow anglers to this day.

Omori, who makes his home in Emory, Texas, near Lake Fork, has been instrumental in driving bass tackle trends with some of his techniques and performance with multiple companies. Despite hailing from Japan, he does not typically use finesse techniques, preferring “Texas-style” power fishing, a true melding of cultures.