During the offseason, I like to get away from the relentless pressure that comes with doing battle on the Bassmaster Elite Series. I take a break from fishing to spend more time with my family, to hunt for ducks and deer and engage in other activities. It’s my time to recoup mentally and physically from seven or eight months of traveling across the country and intense competition.
I really don’t have a 100% offseason because I can’t completely forget what my number one goal is, and that’s to catch bass. I still have to stay in touch with the business side of being a professional bass angler. The sponsors we work with are the lifeblood of what we do.
I also need to do what I regard as the routine side of getting ready for the upcoming Elite season. Priority one is ordering and rigging the new Bass Cat Caracal STS I’ll be towing across the country in 2024. It will be powered by a Mercury outboard and equipped with Lowrance electronics and Power-Poles. I’ve been with those companies for a long time.
Other routine chores include getting the boat wrapped, designing new jerseys and ordering fishing tackle and baits to ensure I get the tools I need well before the first Elite event of the year.
The reason these things don’t stress me during the offseason is I’ve been blessed with the ability to compartmentalize my brain. After doing what needs to be done tournament-wise, I can put it in the back of my mind and enjoy my time off from actually competing.
The most important thing is spending time with Lindsey and our two children, Kei and Lennie. I could not do what I do for a living without the complete support of my family.
After the first of the New Year, I mentally begin getting back into tournament mode. I begin by studying and researching the venues on the Elite Series schedule.
My mind focuses on how to be competitive on each body of water and to possibly win some of those events. I think about what tackle and lures I’ll need to catch bass at each tournament. It’s also time to reserve housing. You can get into a bind if you don’t to that ahead of time.
Some Elite pros fish regularly during the offseason and participate in a variety of tournaments. I hold off casting until January. Then I typically fish a few local tournaments before the Elite Series begins. They give me an opportunity to make sure my boat is rigged properly and that my rods, reels and baits are squared away.
Preseason derbies also knock the rust off my mind and body and help me get back into the tournament mindset. The mechanical aspects of casting and boat control return quickly. As much as I fish every year, these things are like riding a bike.
I’ve been successful getting away from bass fishing, compartmentalizing my brain and stepping right back into the tournament groove. Because of this, I feel confidant my gear is in order and I’m prepared mentally and physically to compete at bass fishing’s top level.
Now it’s time to get my game face on.
