Guntersville was a tough event for me. It just didn't happen out on the water. There were active fish everywhere, but not the ones I needed. A 66th place finish isn't my idea of a good time. Having the weekend off is no fun in this business.
Fishing is a wacky sport. You'd think if you caught 250 fish in two days that 10 of them would be big. I mean, that's one out of every 25 bass. It didn't happen that way, though. No matter what I did, or how I fished, I just couldn't get the ones I needed. It was really frustrating.
Nevertheless, life goes on. Immediately after the tournament I attended a media event for Toyota. Lots of writers and photographers were there. We had a good time and got a lot of work done, too.
After that I headed to Greenville, S.C., for another media event. Again, it was a combination of work and fun that'll pay big dividends for everyone in the future.
I really like the media events. It gives me a chance to work one-on-one with the guys who write about and photograph our sport. They get good articles out of it and I have a chance to explain tricks and techniques that'll help other anglers catch more bass when they get a chance to go fishing. That's one of the most rewarding things I do as a professional bass angler.
That's where I'm at now, Greenville. I'll be leaving shortly for Clarks Hill. That's the sixth tournament of our season. We're headed down the home stretch. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to redeem myself. You know, catch some fish and earn some money.
As of right now I'm sitting in 14th place in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. I'm only a few points away from making the top 12, but that's really not my goal. I want to be in a position to win the AOY come July and that's going to require a move of several hundred points.
That is not an easy thing. If you look at the guys in front of me you'll see the names of some pretty awesome fishermen. They're not the sort of guys who fade when the going gets tough. But, that doesn't mean I'm out of it. There's still a lot of fishing left this year. I intend to take advantage of it every minute of every day.
Don't get me wrong. I know that a 14th place finish is not the end of the world. A lot of guys would like to be where I'm at. And, to tell the truth, I'm appreciative of it. But, that doesn't mean I'm satisfied with it. I'll never settle for anything less than first. That's who I am, and I have no intention of changing.
It's a matter of never giving up — and I never will.
