Slideshow of Caroline Gozigian and Kyle Patrick

Some of the best fishing stories don’t start in a boat, but rather during shifts at a waterfront restaurant and marina. Caroline Gozigian is now a high-powered lawyer who works in an office building while her fiancée – Elite Series pro Kyle Patrick – is a professional angler whose office changes with the next tournament. This is a love story of a woman of the law and a man of the water, From boardrooms to boat decks, from briefs to baits, they share a tremendous work ethic but also seem to prove that opposites do attract.

HPFC: Can you share the story of how you and your fiancé first crossed paths?

Caroline Gozigian: I grew up in Cooperstown, NY and Kyle grew up visiting there often, so we’ve known each other for a long time. We started dating one summer when we both worked at the Blue Mingo in Cooperstown while we were home from college. I worked in the restaurant and he worked in the marina. Our colleges were only about an hour apart, so it wasn’t too hard for us to keep dating through the school year.

HPFC: What were your initial impressions of your fiancé when you first met him?

Caroline Gozigian: Probably what everyone thinks about Kyle - he’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met! He’s super energetic, funny, and unapologetically himself. He’s been that way since we were kids.

HPFC: Did you know anything about fishing when you first met?

Caroline Gozigian: Not really. I grew up near Otsego Lake, where Kyle started fishing, so I’d seen people out on the lake but that was about it.

HPFC: What, if anything, did you know about professional bass fishing before you met?

Caroline Gozigian: Absolutely nothing!

HPFC: Was there a specific moment or event that made you realize your feelings were more than just friendship?

Caroline Gozigian: I can’t remember a single moment but early on I knew what Kyle and I had was special. I always had tons of fun with him because he makes people feel comfortable by being so genuinely himself.

HPFC: How long have you been together?

Caroline Gozigian: Over seven years now.

HPFC: How did he propose?

Caroline Gozigian: Kyle proposed this May at the Blue Mingo Grill, the same place where we started dating. It’s a really cool restaurant on the lake and he coordinated with the manager so we could be there early before it opened. We had family meet us at the restaurant after and we had a great day celebrating!

HPFC: When you met, was he already fishing professionally or did he have another job?

Caroline Gozigian: No, not yet. We were still in college, and his school (Hobart and William Smith) didn’t have college bass fishing. I knew it was his dream, and he always did really well in summer tournaments but he couldn’t compete much during school because he played soccer.

After college, we moved to Charlottesville, VA so I could go to law school. Kyle worked in sales, first for Douglas Rods and then in medical sales. During my second year of law school, he started fishing the Opens. Luckily, his sales job gave him the flexibility to fish while still working full-time.

HPFC: How did you feel about him deciding to pursue fishing professionally?

Caroline Gozigian: It was definitely a little foreign to me but I knew it was something he really wanted to try. We both agreed that if he didn’t go for it then, when would he? Kyle has always been incredibly supportive of my career goals, so I wanted to do the same for him.

HPFC: What doubts did you have about him going on tour, and how did you overcome them?

Caroline Gozigian: I always had a lot of confidence that Kyle could succeed on tour but I was definitely nervous about the uncertainty. It’s such an untraditional career path and I didn’t know much about how the fishing world really worked. But Kyle has more than proven himself!

HPFC: How do you manage the frequent separation and limited time together with his travel schedule?

Caroline Gozigian: Good communication has always been key for us and we really focus on spending quality time together whenever he’s back home.

HPFC: What do your law school and law firm friends think of Kyle’s profession?

Caroline Gozigian: They think it’s fascinating, especially since it’s so different from what we do. Most of them didn’t know anything about professional bass fishing before Kyle but now they’re all fans and love following along.

HPFC: How do you adjust when Kyle returns home after being away for weeks at a time?

Caroline Gozigian: It depends on the week but I always get excited when Kyle comes back after being on the road for a while.

HPFC: Which is more stressful, Elite Series pro or law firm associate?

Caroline Gozigian: Plead the Fifth! Just kidding, they’re both stressful in their own ways. Both take up a lot of time and come with plenty of pressure, but I’m always impressed by how focused Kyle can be and how he handles the stress of performing well in tournaments.

HPFC: Are there any activities or special things you two like to do together once he’s home for the season?

Caroline Gozigian: When the weather’s nice, we love getting out on the lake together. Admittedly I don’t do much fishing, but it’s always nice being on the water. We also love doing the little everyday things we miss when he’s gone, like just having dinner together. Lately, Kyle’s been really focused on his heart health, so we’ve been taking long walks and making healthy meals together.

HPFC: Do you have any pet peeves about Kyle?

Caroline Gozigian: When he was in his serious Sour Patch Kid addiction, he would leave the sour sugar dust in random places.

HPFC: What do you think Kyle’s pet peeves are about you?

Caroline Gozigian: He says I’m too organized and that he can’t find things because I put them away in places that don’t make sense to him.

HPFC: Where do you think you’ll end up living?

Caroline Gozigian: We’ll definitely stay up north. Both of our families and most of our friends are here. I practice in Boston, MA so I’m always there when Kyle’s traveling but we spend a lot of time in Cooperstown, especially during the summer.

HPFC: What’s the most gluttonous display of junk food eating you’ve ever seen from him?

Caroline Gozigian: Right after he got out of the hospital, he went through family-sized bags of Sour Patch Kids and tons of popcorn basically every day. He’s been focused on getting healthy again now so we’ve cut back on the Sour Patch Kids luckily!

HPFC: How did his heart scare affect your relationship?

Caroline Gozigian: It was definitely scary and it forced a huge lifestyle change overnight. It made me even more appreciative of his usual high-energy, full-of-life personality, something you take for granted until it’s gone for a bit! But he’s recovering well and coming back stronger than ever.

HPFC: What is something off the wall that no one knows about the two of you.

Caroline Gozigian: Plenty of people already know this one but we call each other “Rat.” It started because my sister used to call her dogs “rats” when they were acting crazy, and somehow it stuck between Kyle and me. So if you ever hear him call me Rat, it’s a term of endearment, not an insult! When he proposed, he actually said, “Will you marry me, Rat?” Of course I said yes to my Rat!