I’m sure you’ve all heard about it or maybe even seen the footage of my incident at Lake Champlain on my social media channels. To tell the short version, I was running across Lake Champlain, it was a little bumpy, so I was cruising at about 50 mph when I came off a wave and my Skeeter hit something, went into a spin and I was thrown across the boat hitting my forehead, face and chest on the passenger side. I turned around after standing up and looked and didn’t see my Yamaha on the boat anymore.
I called B.A.S.S. and Riley, and they sprang into action. “Jackie” (his real name is Suguru Takauji), the service crew member from Texas Boat World, came out to get me. We transferred the four fish I’d caught and my gear to his boat, and he took me back to the ramp where I was met by the paramedics Riley called and had there when I arrived.
They treated me and took me to the hospital where they ran tests, stitched me up and got me back to the ramp at Plattsburgh where I was able to get back in the boat and finish the day. I got my fifth fish an hour later and finished 60th for the event. If I had not caught that fifth fish I would have eventually tied with Bryan Schmitt for last classic spot. I’m not sure how the tiebreaker would have went so securing those 27 points with that one fish was monumental and a true blessing.
Chris Brown, Lucas King and the team at Skeeter/Yamaha worked hard to make sure I had everything I needed to finish the last event. I stayed close to the ramp in Waddington, to keep from pounding my ribs, and caught 17-6 on Day 1, and 20-7 on Day 2. I finished 70th in the St Lawrence River event.
Being able to tough those last few days out and being able to compete meant I would do well enough to finish 35th in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points and qualify for the 2025 Bassmaster Classic.
These have been a tough couple of weeks finishing the season. The broken ribs have been especially hard to fish through, but I set a goal at the beginning of the year to make the Classic. The companies who partner with me deserve every chance to get that exposure if I can make it, so I did everything I could to finish, and do it well enough to achieve that goal.
It would not have happened without the help of a lot of people who cared for and helped me get through this. Firstly, to Riley, thank you for everything you do for us, but especially for your skills as a nurse and for thinking ahead and helping make sure things happened timely. To my mom and dad, for the help throughout the week and for caring for me the way you do; I love all of you.
Lisa Talmadge, our Tournament Director, thank you for being so responsive and helping make sure I could not only get rescued, but also be ready to get back out on the water. To Jackie and the owners at Texas Boat World, thank you for your willingness to help me. I didn’t get through this without your help.
To the Plattsburgh Fire Department, thank you for your professionalism, your care and speed in handling the situation, and for calling to check on me since the incident. You helped me so much and cared enough to make sure I was able to come back and do my job. For that matter, the people at the hospital understood the situation and also worked quickly to make sure I could be cleared and get back to work. I probably don’t qualify for the Classic if it wasn’t for your care and understanding.
To my fellow competitors Bill Lowen, Wesley Gore and Frank Talley, thank you guys for being willing to help me understand and break down the water close to launch at the St. Lawrence River. It was hard enough to stay out there and practice, but having good friends to bounce stuff off really helped me. It made a huge difference in the outcome; I appreciate you guys.
To all of my sponsors, thank you for the support of my career and business, but also being there to help or offer help throughout this situation. You have no idea how much it means to me.
To the team at Buck’s Island in Southside, Ala. – my family – and Skeeter Demo Team driver Justin Elliott, for your help with the boat and motor since the accident, and in helping make sure I had a Skeeter/Yamaha to run for another event at Saginaw Bay. I cannot thank you all enough. I am not in the position I am as a professional without Buck’s Island’s help in my career and life, and this latest situation is no different.
I also want to say how touched I’ve been by the messages we’ve received from the fans. Having y’all take the time to reach out to me has meant the world, and I’m grateful for your support and kindness.
Finally, I want to leave you all with a message. I know I am still here today, able to make plans for the future and not having my family planning a funeral, because of the product I installed on my boat: The Leash. That one product helped keep my motor from flipping up into the boat and creating the worst possible outcome. I urge all of you to please look at installing that product on your boat; I believe it saved my life.
I will talk to you all again soon – gratefully.
