Intro
Meet Maggie Carsello. Tournament bass angler, outdoorswoman, and someone who's always been connected to nature. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Maggie grew up with the outdoors in her blood. What started as a natural love for fishing has grown into a full-on competitive career spanning tournament formats and fisheries across the country. She's earned Angler of the Year honors in her tournament series and has her sights on Bassmaster-level competition. When she's not on the water chasing bass, you'll find her in the woods hunting whitetail, pheasant hunting with her two red labs, out on the hard water ice fishing, or catching a live concert. She lives the full cycle of Wisconsin seasons and she wouldn't have it any other way. Welcome to the crew, Maggie.
Q&A
What is your profession? And did you always know this is what you would end up doing, or was it something you stumbled into?
I'm a Tournament Bass Angler and ambassador for BassmastHER. I work with a handful of incredible brands in the outdoor industry who show me endless support and make this crazy dream a reality. I've always loved the outdoors, but I did kind of stumble into this profession. I was majoring in Physical Education in college if that tells you anything. Once I realized the opportunities in the outdoor industry, my focus shifted pretty quickly.
When you’re not doing your core pursuit, what else do you enjoy doing?
Living up in Wisconsin, our summers are short, so you can catch me out on the water bass fishing any chance I get. Once fall comes around I'm out in the woods chasing whitetail with my bow or pheasant hunting with my two red labs. When the lakes freeze up I'll be out on the hard water ice fishing. In the spring I'm back in the woods chasing turkeys. Then the cycle starts all over again! When I'm not hunting or fishing I'm spending time with my family, friends, and my pups. I also really love going to live concerts when it works with my crazy schedule.
How do you incorporate music into your life?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. My mom is a talented singer and piano player, and my dad has a deep love for 80s rock. Yes, that's why I'm so cool. When I was a kid he made me a fake guitar out of a 2x4 and a block of wood and drew the strings on with a Sharpie. He'd throw on a CD (probably The Blues Brothers or Eric Clapton) and we'd sing and dance for hours. I strummed that fake guitar so much I wore down the block of wood. I've always loved to sing and have a brain that learns lyrics freakishly fast. I still remember an odd amount of math formulas because they were taught to us in school to the tune of a song. Back then I was in every choir I could be, plus musicals and show choir. I still love to sing today but choose to do it in the privacy of my Tundra, the shower, or the occasional karaoke performance. I spend a lot of time on the road and on the water, and I'm always listening to music, not only to entertain me but to boost my mood. Even if I'm not playing music I'm probably humming or singing. Music is a powerful thing I don't think I could survive without.
What does “Live Free” mean to you?
To me, Live Free means choosing a life that feels like mine and being fully myself while I live it. For me, that's time outdoors and not letting fear or expectations hold me back.
Any guilty pleasures?
Online shopping, trash television, downloading the games that get served to me in ads, and chili cheese dogs.
What’s your hottest take or most controversial opinion?
I don't know if the moon is made of cheese, but I hope it is.
What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you in the wild/on tour?
Day one of my first Bassmaster Open as a co-angler, my boater's hook got stuck in my face. I had just met this guy maybe an hour before and he's already performing surgery on my face.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Or what are you listening to right now?
I really appreciate music across the board. My Spotify DJ is sure to give you whiplash. Right now I'm really into Ella Langley. I'm an Ella Fella.
Favorite Turtlebox speaker and why? How do you use it?
I've gotta go with the Original, specifically the Bass Artist Series by Casey Underwood. It reps my favorite fish, and it supports an incredible cause. The Original is the perfect size to keep in the boat and listen to tunes or BASS Live.
