Stats often tell the best stories, and for Joseph Orozco, it’s 500 and 144. The former’s the average annual amount of lead the California bass pro uses to make the jigs, underspins, A-rigs and buzzbaits he produces for his Bass Union tackle company.
The latter—that’s how much weight Orozco has lost since January 2022.
Two different measurements, both inextricably linked by the passion and commitment driving this tournament angler, fishing guide, and small business owner with an undeniably inspiring story.
THE BACKGROUND
After a couple years of featuring his homemade jigs in YouTube content, Orozco launched Bass Union in 2018, largely in response to public interest in his homemade baits that were producing tournament wins and high finishes for him and a handful of buddies.
“The name Bass Union came to me easily because it aligned with the style of videos I was naturally creating from the start. I didn’t want the focus to be solely on myself; I genuinely enjoyed featuring others I encountered and highlighting the community’s love for bass fishing. Bass Union just felt right.”
Today, Orozco still makes his baits in the same garage where the dream began, but tooling has significantly evolved.
“What started with single-pour aluminum molds has progressed to custom proprietary molds that I personally designed to give each bait the distinct Bass Union touch,” he said. “This shift has allowed for more advanced and higher production capabilities to keep up with demand.
“Our core value and mission statement have always been: ‘To Inspire and Share the Passion for Bass Fishing.’ We achieve this through our multimedia content, guide service, jigs, tackle, and lifestyle apparel.”
SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE WATER
Fishing with his creations, Orozco has compiled an impressive tournament record with multiple top-10 finishes. The high point was his victory at the 2023 NEWJen Bass Tournament of Champions on Lake Shasta, where he won a fully rigged Ranger Bass boat and Mercury engine package.
He also won the 2019 Wild West Bass Trail team tournament on Lake Berryessa, where he and his partner Beau Allen mostly fished Bass Union football jigs and found a 9.74-pound largemouth along the way.
“Success on the water with my own creations elevates the feeling of winning to a whole new level,” Orozco said. “It validates that not only can I work hard and perform well, but it also confirms that I have the right product and can effectively use it to achieve irrefutable results.”
Now, tournament fishing’s tough on the body and mind, while running a guide service and a tackle business is no cake walk. Desiring across the board consistency, Orozco turned a harsh wake up call into life-altering motivation.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
January 2022, the angler from Oroville, California, tipped the scales at 333 pounds. Like the thump of a jig bite, that abrupt reality shook Orozco to the core and prompted him to draw a line in the mental sand.
“After stepping on the scale and seeing 333 pounds, I realized it was time to shift some of my concentration and focus from fishing to my health to ensure I’d be around for the long haul,” Orozco said. “I wanted to set a better example for those following the brand and demonstrate that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
“I also felt that my weight was impacting my performance in tournaments and all aspects of life, including my business.”
Orozco’s weigh-loss plan has primarily focused on maintaining a calorie deficit, tracking his macros, and incorporating both weight lifting and cardio. He started working out two to three days a week, saw positive results, and gradually increased to daily workouts. Fitness is now a key part of his lifestyle.
As of late August, Orozco was down to 189.
“The success and longevity of my business are closely tied to my belief in myself and my ability to accomplish goals,” Orozco said. “Losing (this much weight) has demonstrated my determination, both mentally and physically, to achieve my mission and persevere in all aspects of life, including my business.”
INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Orozco, who sells his wares at Bassunionfishing.com, local retailers and Tacklewarehouse.com, has earned a solid West Coast reputation that’s steadily reaching a nationwide awareness thanks to his twofold commitment to quality materials and diligent production.
Interesting parallel to his fitness journey.
“I knew I faced a long road ahead and that any change would require long-term lifestyle adjustments and the formation of new habits while breaking old ones,” Orozco said. “In the initial weeks, I weighed myself daily. After 2-3 weeks of this, I decided to take action by signing up at a local gym and committing to working out three days a week.
“Initially, I didn’t change my diet, but I soon realized that you can’t outwork a bad diet. This realization made it clear that I needed to focus on improving my diet as well to see the results I wanted.”
Noting that his wife, Lizette, has found her own success by shedding 53 pounds since spring 2022, Orozco said her daily encouragement has helped him stay the course. Also, close friend and former bodybuilder Lloyd Bebilone offered key insights and compelling motivation.
The road has been challenging, but every pound lost marks a milestone of achievement and keeps his fire stoked.
“My weight loss has profoundly improved my life by demonstrating that I can achieve anything I set my mind to,” Orozco said. “Each day, I wake up ready to tackle challenges, and after working out, everything else feels easier. I experience less stress and have a higher level of confidence in myself.
“Winning my very first boat in a major tournament was a significant milestone, underscoring that my weight loss was a greater victory than any tournament win. It was a clear demonstration that my success on the water was a direct result of the hard work I put into improving my health.”
HOW IT ALL CONNECTS
He’s basically lost a person, but despite the ups and downs of tournament fishing and that of small business ownership, Orozco said he’ll never lose himself—the guy who cares as much about lifting others as he does lifting a heavy weigh-in bag.
Bass Union’s pretty good at equipping anglers to catch big fish. Joseph Orozco’s equally adept at encouraging folks to claim personal health victory.
“I help others interested in weight loss by leading by example,” Orozco said. “I show that with dedication and effort, achieving your goals is possible. While I’ve considered coaching others as a potential path, I still have more work to do on my own journey before pursuing that direction.”
His ultimate goal: “The motivation was to live a long, happy, and healthy life that I could enjoy with my wife, friends and family. I also wanted to be a better example for everyone watching and to elevate all aspects of my entrepreneurial journey.”
Sounds like Joseph Orozco has the right bait.
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