When most teenagers hit the mall, they head for the shops, restaurants, or theater. When 13-year-old Dylan Matheis of Independence Township visits Great Lakes Crossing, however, he’s there for the Bass Pro Shop.
That’s because Matheis has begun quite a career of his own as an outdoor sportsman, most notably fishing.
Growing up on Lake Oakland in the township, Dylan has fished the waters for years, which came in handy for a fall fishing tournament he entered with the Michigan Junior Bass Federation held on his home lake.
‘It was pretty cool because I knew all the spots,? Matheis said.
‘I had been fishing there almost every day during the summer and I knew where all the fish were.?
Dylan took first place at the tournament in the 11-14 age group, and his prize is a trip to the Junior Bassmaster World Championship in Birmingham, Ala., on Feb. 18.
During the first day of the tournament, held on Feb. 15, Matheis will get to fish with a professional.
Even if the pro is not a household name, it doesn’t matter, Matheis said.
‘If he’s a pro, he’s got to be good.?
Dylan’s mother Kristin said her son is taking the success in stride.
‘He just enjoys this and he’s very honest with his feelings,? she said.
‘It’s nice to watch your child excel at something they really enjoy.?
Despite his years of experience, Matheis said he never contemplated fishing competitively until last year.
‘I’m probably going to fish in a league for a long time.?
To prepare for the big event, Matheis said he has been stocking up on the necessities at Bass Pro.
The Matheis family has spent many hours and large sums of money on their outdoor needs over the years.
‘Cabela’s and Bass Pro are in business because of my husband and his family,? Kristin joked.
The years of shopping at Bass Pro have not been lost on Dylan.
‘If you told me the product you needed, I could go in there and get it five seconds. I know where everything is,? he remarked.
‘He knows where everything is and how to use everything. It’s amazing when you go in there,? Kristin said.
Matheis said he longs for the day when he can visit the Cabela’s store in Dundee.
‘I would do anything to go to that place. They have that huge thing in the middle with all the animals in it and guns all the way around,? he said.
Matheis is a committed eighth-grader at Clarkston Junior High School, and scored a 104 percent on his hunter’s safety final exam at age 11.
He always makes sure his schoolwork is taken care of before heading out for outdoor sports with the family.
‘Every time hunting and fishing come up, I try and get my homework done. I don’t like sitting at home and just letting the guys go. If that stuff comes up, I just put my mind to it and get it done,? Matheis said.
He sometimes practices at the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club in Independence Township, and the family belongs to Hunters Creek in Metamora.
His father, John, got him into fishing when Dylan was much more involved with hunting. Dylan said he enjoys the competitive nature of the sport, similar to hockey, which he has been playing since he was 3-years-old.
The Matheis men enjoy outdoor sporting year-round.
‘We’re outdoors all the time, it doesn’t matter what we’re doing,? Dylan said.
‘We fish and hunt every weekend,? he added. ‘Anything he likes to do, I like to do and (vice-versa).?
Dylan Matheis also lends a hand in the summer at his grandfather’s store, Hank’s Ultimate Fly Fishing, in Orion Township. His grandpa sometimes pays him in fishing poles. He caught a 30-pound salmon in Manistee last year with a rod he earned.
‘I caught five that day, (but) that one took me a long time.?
A well-spoken teenager, he has been described as an old soul, his mother Kristin said.
Matheis has been fishing as long as his young memory can recall.
‘I’ve been fishing since I was a baby,? he joked.
‘I have no idea (how), I can’t remember that long ago. I have a bunch of pictures of me when I was a tiny kid and I grew up on a lake, so that’s what I did every day,? Matheis said.
He is also learning quite a bit about the state’s natural features as he travels with his family around the Great Lake State. On a trip to the Upper Peninsula last year, he recalled the sight-seeing.
‘I love it,? he said. ‘I got to see every little town, Copper Harbor, Lewiston, everywhere. We stopped at a lot of rivers.?

The one that didn’t get away
Dylan Matheis had been fishing his home lake, Lake Oakland, for the entire summer leading up to the Michigan Junior Bass Federation fall tournament.
His victory in the state finals of his league almost did not happen. Nearing the finishing time of a late-season match, he had not secured the winning fish.
‘We were just about to go back to the launch and we were fishing on this little drop-off I like to fish and that was our last spot and I was mad because this is my home lake and I just screwed it all up, and all of a sudden I hooked into this giant 16-inch fish and landed it and I had to pull it up into the boat,? Matheis remembered.
He secured the winner and pulled into the finish line with one second remaining.