
It won’t be long before I hear my number called during blastoff at the first Bassmaster Elite Series tournament of 2025 on Florida’s St. Johns River. However, right now I’m struggling to get my boat and tackle ready for a long season of intense competition.
My offseason has been a hectic time crunch. Part of that is due to the outdoor show season. Fishing, hunting and boat shows are scheduled heavily in January and February, and I partake in many of them.
I’m between two shows as I write this. Tomorrow, I’ll be flying to one in West Virginia. From there, I’ll fly straight to a show in Indiana.
I love talking with bass fishing fans from across the nation at these shows and sharing my swimbait knowledge. However, there are piles of baits I need to sort through in my shop — not to mention rods, reels and the boat.
No one can help me get my boat and tackle prepared and organized. It’s imperative I have what I need when I leave to compete, regardless of where the Elite Series takes me.
One of the upsides of traveling to different shows is I can learn from regional anglers. The more years I get under my belt, the more I pick up on little things that could help me if I ever return to a given area.
For example, when I work a sport show near the East Coast, I have an opportunity to learn more about fishing tidal waters. If I do a show in the Great Lakes region, I tap the minds of local anglers who can provide insights on how to fish these inland seas.
Of course, I’m not allowed to talk about any waters on the Elite Series schedule.
Basic bass techniques work all over the country. But the anglers in each region often share little tips and tricks that work specifically on their waters.
A surprising thing I found out while working shows this year was how many young anglers are involved in our sport. That bodes well for the future of professional bass fishing.
The high school and college anglers I talk with have a very accelerated knowledge of bass fishing. We can thank Bassmaster High School and College events, and mostly, Bassmaster LIVE. These kids study our every move.
I’ve noticed the dealers at these shows have been selling lots of Nitro boats, Mercury motors and fishing tackle. Despite uncertain economic times, bass anglers are still spending money on their passion. The future seems bright.
I can’t blame my lack of preparation solely on sport shows. Maintaining a presence on social media is time consuming and essential. I regard it as part of the job description for being a professional angler.
Social media isn’t something you can stop doing during the offseason. I strive to stay engaged with fans on a daily basis with Facebook and Instagram posts and my Zaldaingerous YouTube podcasts. I credit my wife, Trait, for keeping me on track with this.
I tell younger anglers social media is the best way for them to stay engaged with the sport, their fans and to impress sponsors. In this day and age, the demand for social media will only increase.
Another delay in my preparation has to do with when I receive my new boat and tackle. Professional anglers generally don’t get these things until after the first of the year, which is typically when our new contracts start.
I’m so fortunate to be supplied with topnotch equipment from my sponsors. But the most valuable thing for me during the offseason is time. I wish I had more of it.