If you’ve ever seen Mark Davis on the Outdoor Channel’s BigWater Adventures and thought there’s no way he could always be “on” the way he seems on the tube, let me clear things up for you – whether he’s eating chicken wings, dragging a tube for smallmouths or pulling on thousand-pound marlin, the dude is revved up. He carpe diems the hell out of every day he’s alive.

The biggest obstacle to becoming a better and more well-rounded fisherman is pride. Plenty of anglers are willing to put in the time and spend the money to get there, but if you’re not willing to admit and embrace what you don’t know you’re just fooling yourself.

Dave Mercer may be best known for his television program “Facts of Fishing,” or perhaps for his role onstage during Bassmaster tournaments, but whichever of his endeavors shine most brightly, you can’t help but notice that the guy is all about enjoying life.

I know that I can count on J.D. Blackburn for a good story tip, some constructive feedback, and most of all a welcoming smile. He’s a “fixer” who gets things done and then lets others claim the credit.

I’ve been fortunate to fish on some of the country’s best waters with some top pros and guides, but I always want more — here are five proven winners and the places I’d like to fish with them.

What inspires a gringo to move down to a Central American country, start a fishing lodge on a remote island, and build a life of nearly two decades there? Here’s Captain Shane Jarvis in his own words.

Many of the resorts we have fished have outstanding food with the signature touches of their chefs. Secluded on Isla Parida, Chef Eddie of Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, Chef Eddie only has time to do two things: fish and cook. He’s really good at both.

Paul Fisler seems to pop up everywhere there is something bass-related going on. There are plenty of people who would like to marshal Elite Series events, attend seminars and mingle with the top pros, but Paul is one of the few who’s actually out there getting it done.

Since meeting Pete back in 2003 my life has changed in so many ways. I never thought my life would be so focused on fishing, or that we’d have met so many incredible people from around the country and around the world. Of course we combined friends initially, but we’ve added hundreds more through our fishing adventures -- some are as close as family.

As one of the wives who is not on the road full-time, a lot of fishing fans probably don’t know much about Jennifer Combs. It’s a good story, and while they’re better together even without Keith in the mix she has a lot to say about the fishing life.

The only criticism that I might be able to lob at Trey Reid is that his interests and talents are so varied that no single publication or assignment can contain them all. He’s a shining example of a fishing life well-lived.

While Salazar’s fishing skills can’t be questioned, what really amazed me was his passion for the sport. He’s seen thousands of billfish come to the boat, and yet he was every bit as excited for each additional one as we were. He’s an exceptional teacher, and coached us through the bait-and-switch with remarkable patience.

Clifford is a gentleman and a terrific house guest. Since his first visit he has introduced me to a lot of people in the industry and some of them have become good friends. He seems to know everyone and everyone knows him.