After the last Elite event at the St. Lawrence River, I stayed four extra days to enjoy a little more of that fantastic fishing. That’s a common Elite destination, so I wanted to get some more practice on the water.
Besides, it’s the best smallmouth fishery on the planet, so that doesn’t hurt.
Once I wrapped up my trip, I headed back home to Northern California. The trip takes about 50 hours, and it felt so good to get home.
I try to get back home a few times during the season, but on that last trip, it’s nice knowing I’m going back for a long while. I have family there, but the first thing I look forward to when I finally arrive is giving my wife and son a big hug.
On the way home, I had plenty of time to think about why the season didn’t end the way I wanted it to. I requalified for the Elites but didn’t make the Classic.
I reflected on many different points in the season, but I mostly wanted to know what changed from last year. In my rookie season, I finished 13th in Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points and third in Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year.
The questions I asked myself were: “What did I change?” and “What can I change going forward?”
It’s funny, the 2024 season ends and the first thing I think about is 2025. But that’s what it takes to remain competitive at this level.
Here’s the conclusion I came to — I think I need to trust my instincts more. I didn’t do that as much as I did my first year.
I often got complacent with what I found when I needed to be looking for more. I felt like I was fishing for yesterday’s fish instead of looking for tomorrow’s fish.
I’ll continue this analysis throughout the offseason, but I’ve also been deeply engaged in the sport’s business side. I’ve been in communication with current sponsors and potential new ones, and I’ve been busy making sure I have all the deliverables for my partners.
To balance all of this, I like to keep fishing in the offseason. I’ll go fishing at least twice a week, and I’ll jump in some local events. I like to keep it all familiar, so I don’t show up at the first event of 2025 and forget how to make a cast.
I also have some nice family events on the schedule. My wife and I celebrate our fifth anniversary in October, so we’ll be heading to Las Vegas for four days. Later in December, we’ll be making a family trip to Disneyland.
Looking ahead to next year, I really like the new Elite schedule. It’s nice to have some familiar fisheries like Lake Okeechobee, the St. Johns River and Lake Hartwell, but I’m also looking forward to the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound in North Carolina.
I love the curveballs like this because it really levels the playing field. You don’t really know what to expect, but those are the ones that are most exciting.
I think the mix of fisheries on next year’s schedule will lead to a really good season, and whoever wins AOY will be a well-rounded angler.
