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At the end of January, we’re only three weeks from the start of a new Bassmaster Elite Series season. I’ve been fishing tournaments for 25 years, and it’s the same emotions I got my very first year.
I get butterflies, I get anxious, I don’t feel like I’m totally prepared. I was recently out there organizing my tackle, laying all my lures in the boxes perfectly, culling out the ones that are starting to show signs of wear and getting everything all geared up.
It’s a lot of work getting the boat ready — all the little time-consuming things like getting the wrap done and all the stickers for the carpet — but it’s all worth it when we kick off the new season.
Starting in Florida always gives me a little higher level of anticipation. That gives me comfort, as well, but I always want to do well in my home state and start the year off right.
I’m looking forward to getting the Elite Series going at the St. Johns River. I’m liking this fishery more and more, and that’s because it’s the most complicated fishery in Florida. It’s a tidal river with brackish water — and where else in Florida can you get on a shrimp pattern?
After that, we go to my home waters of Lake Okeechobee and try to pick up where I left off after winning the first Bassmaster Open of 2024 on that lake.
I will say my preparation has changed a little bit over the years. Now, I try to envision the fishery with all of its variables and then picture the patterns and ways I think I can catch them.
I’m trying to get a vision of what I might be doing by looking at the weather and trying to gauge what the fish may or may not have been doing.
I recently spent several days on Lake Okeechobee looking at the water color and how the habitat set up in certain places. Again, I was just trying to visualize the tournament.
I’ve also kinda run through Day 1 and Day 2 of the St. Johns in my head, thinking about what it should look like. I’m not taking a rigid approach to this — you have to remain flexible — but it’s almost like I’m practicing in my head.
I have to admit that, ever since I won that Open last year on Okeechobee, the thought of winning an Elite there has never left my mind. I want to raise a blue trophy this year anywhere I can, but to win here would just be magical.
It will take a lot of work because Lake Okeechobee is dynamic. It’s not like Tennessee River ledges that are always there year after year.
The lake resets every year. The water comes up during hurricane season then it comes down, so it’s all a matter of what habitat remains. This year, it’s very different and a lot of habitat has changed.
There’s not one single waypoint where I caught them last year that I think I can catch them at this year.
You have to relearn the lake, but that’s what makes Lake Okeechobee such a challenging and rewarding lake. I’ll just take what practice gives me and what the Good Lord blesses me with and go with it.