I’ve been very open about the fact that my 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series season was disappointing. With the exception of a top 20 at Lake Champlain, I had very poor finishes and missed qualifying for next year’s Bassmaster Classic.
I’m certainly not dismissing that uncomfortable reality, but I was raised to always be thankful in life. So, in keeping with November’s Thanksgiving theme, I’d like to point out several things I am truly thankful for.
For starters, I’m thankful for a humbling season because it makes me want to work harder and prepare myself more for the next season. To do this, I’m cutting back on my fall hunting and devoting more time to offseason fishing.
I’ll be fishing several local tournaments during the next couple of months before it’s time to start preparing for the new Elite season. I’m thankful I have the opportunity to compete during the offseason because that’s going to fuel me even more to do better next year.
These local events will also allow me to work on certain things I think I need to improve. Even as professional anglers, we’re always trying to learn and grow. You can only do so much by thinking about it, so the best way to hone your skills is through actual competition.
The other part of that improvement thought is actually something I’m looking forward to. I really want to work on just going back to some of the old ways of fishing. Taking myself away from all the technology and just practicing the techniques I haven’t used in a few years because we’ve been so focused on LiveScope.
I want to be able to have the LiveScope patterns, but I also want to be able to fish shallow. So, during my offseason, I’m going to work on shallow fishing and fishing the bank more — some of that basic stuff you just don’t do anymore.
I also have to say I’m so, so thankful for my sponsors and the people who have stayed on board with me, even through a rough season. I’ve reached out to all the people supporting me, and they still want to support me.
That’s huge because there are so many good, young guys that are coming up in the fishing world, and sponsors can easily put their money somewhere else. I’m very thankful that these companies continue to believe in me, and that also motivates me to work hard to represent them well next year.
Lastly, but most importantly, I’m deeply thankful for the loving support from my family. I told my wife, I really have to fish this offseason and get back in the swing of things. I need to practice more and spend more time on the water, and she’s behind that 100%.
It’s tough when you have a family with two small kids, that’s a hard thing to do, but they all have my back.
So, when I look at the big picture, I’ll always be honest with myself about my performance, but overall, I really have a lot to be thankful for.
