As we head into the seventh tournament of the Bassmaster Elite Series season, I’m very pleased to be sitting in 10th place for Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year. After having such a tough time last year, to get this season off to a good start and ride that momentum is really good.
Last year was a good example of how you have to be prepared for ups and downs in this sport. That’s why a bounce-back season like this feels really, really good.
Momentum is a really big thing in bass fishing. When you’re fishing well and making good decisions, and most importantly, you’re trusting those decisions, that’s when the peaks come. The valleys come when you’re making those decisions, but you’re not trusting them.
At this level, we all know what to do. Sometimes you get in this really bad rhythm where you’re not trusting your instincts and you’re not fishing up to your ability. That’s the biggest difference between last year and this year — I’m trusting my decisions and going fishing.
Last year, I put a lot of pressure on myself. After having a really good rookie season, I wanted to back it up. I wanted to prove to myself that 2023 wasn’t a fluke. I put so much pressure on myself to do well that I would force some things on the water I probably shouldn’t have.
My intuition was telling me to do something else, but in my head, I’m telling myself I have to do this to do well. I wasn’t letting the day unfold in front of me, but this year I’m doing more of that. I’m trusting my instincts, fishing the current conditions and fishing the moment the way I feel in my gut is the best way to do it.
I slipped up a little during the Texas Swing when I missed the check cut for the first time this season at the Sabine River. I hate saying this, because a lot of people say it, but I had the bites to do really well. I felt really good going into that event, but it was just an execution thing on my part.
That was a frustrating tournament, but I have to take the positives out of that one. I found the patterns and had the bites; I just didn’t get them in the boat.
I will say, if execution is the worst part, I’m okay with that. I can work on that part of my game and find ways to improve.
At least I was around the right fish. It’s the ones where you watch Bassmaster LIVE the next day and see I was nowhere close. Those are the ones that bother me.
As I prepare for the next Elite at Lake Tenkiller, I’m very positive about getting back on track. I’ve never been to this lake, but it’s a clear highland reservoir, so coming from the West Coast, that works for me.
We’re in the final third of the season, and I’m looking forward to finishing the year on a positive note. If I can string together three more good events, I can achieve my end goal of making the Bassmaster Classic.
