Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mark Menendez has enjoyed the fruits of a long and fulfilling career over the years. Each year, he looks forward to the prospect of heading North to chase big, hard-fighting smallmouth in an attempt to best his competition while enjoying the beautiful, mild weather compared to the heat and humidity of his hometown in Kentucky.
“I love the views, weather and fishing,” Menendez said. “While the previous Champlain tournament gave us the ability to target quality largemouth, the St. Lawrence River is going to be all about smallmouth which is going to make for a fun tournament. It’s going to be an absolute slugfest and we’re all excited to get it going.”
The allure and inherent risk of a long run to Lake Ontario is a major challenge for all of the Elite Series anglers. An 81-mile run is required to reach the giant smallies that inhabit those waters and the possibility for a bag nearing 30-pounds is very possible. It sure takes a toll not only an angler’s equipment, but also their body. To negate these risks, he thinks someone can stay in the river and catch 22 pounds per day. While this may seem like an outstanding bag of fish to most anglers, it may be nowhere near enough when fishing against some of the best anglers in the world.
“We’re all going to come away from this tournament with aches and pains; that’s about the only thing we can guarantee,” said the Yamaha Outboards pro. “But it’s absolutely essential that you trust your equipment. Not only is your boat important but also your outboard performance is absolutely imperative to your success. It’s all about confidence and I’ve run a Yamaha outboard for 22 years with no issues. If you break it in correctly, all you have to do is service it every year and you’ll have trouble-free boating—even on these big waters you’ll see us fishing this week.”
Menendez has a history of pushing his equipment to the max whether it’s the aforementioned long runs or shallow backwaters he loves to explore. This experience has led to an unbelievable amount of confidence in his outboard of choice.
Speaking of equipment, Menendez said that his 34th season on the Bassmaster circuit has taught him some great lessons about not only fishing, but life itself.
“With so much technology out there these days, I have to make a conscious decision to challenge myself to keep an open mind,” Menendez said. “I’ve fished almost every one of these lakes for decades so it’s tempting to think that I know the answers. I’ve learned recently that I don’t. There’s always something new to learn and I’m totally here for it. Whether it’s a practice period or during a tournament, I’m really trying to explore new things and expand on any preconceived notions I may have.”
