Larry Lee Miller Jr. is known by many names—pop, dad, brother, and loyal friend. Yet, to everyone who shares a bond with him, Larry is best known for his lifelong passion for bass fishing. His love with the water began at the age of four. When asked who sparked this lifelong obsession, Larry credits his roots, stating, “My dad and grandfather were both fishermen.”
That family tradition quickly evolved into a personal calling. As soon as he could, Larry bought his own gear, purchasing an “ugly stick spinning rod.” Armed with his favorite green pumpkin stick baits, the natural step was competitive fishing tournaments. In 1996, Larry officially dove into the tournament game. His dedication paid off when he secured his very first tournament victory just three years later in 1999.
Throughout many years on the water, Larry has made countless memories, but one stands out above the rest. While fishing on Lake Marburg—a body of water not typically known for holding massive fish—Larry landed his personal record bass. The lunker weighed in at an impressive 5.64 pounds and was fooled by a Carolina rigged lizard. While he has flirted with breaking that record since, that specific bass remains his ultimate achievement.
When thinking back on his successful career, Larry remains humble. He defines his biggest accomplishments simply as “winning several championships and catching several lunkers over the years.” He did not do it alone. His constant partner in crime has always been his brother-in-law, Michael Prince. The pair has fished together since the very beginning, building a strong friendship while climbing to the top of leaderboards.
Today, Larry still balances his passion with his long-standing career as a plumber. When asked if he would have started tournament fishing even sooner, he gave a perfectly relatable, honest answer: “If I would have been making money.”