Performance Anxiety

The pressure of producing an entertaining and compelling television show about fishing is quite similar to the stress of being a professional fisherman.

Joe Thomas knows about both very well.

The host of Stihl’s Reel in the Outdoors with Joe Thomas, now airing on Fridays and Saturdays in its seventh season on Outdoor Channel, Thomas spent three decades on the grueling and most challenging professional bass fishing tours in the nation.

“There are a lot of similarities between the two,” Thomas said. “People ask me how did I quit (tournament fishing) after 30 years. Having a fishing show...