Justin Lucas did not have a great 2017 season. He finished in 64th place after averaging 6th place finishes in his first three years on the Elites. When Thomas Allen and I interviewed him early this year for the Inside Bassmaster podcast, the young angler had a quiet determination that almost vibrated off him. He was working out like a fiend, and focused on eating healthy. Lucas was angry and he was going to do everything in his power to right the ship. He certainly has.
With four top 12 finishes in a row Lucas sits in 1st place in AOY. That’s very impressive to me, because in this humbling sport an angler can prepare perfectly, out work all of his competitors, and still come up short. Sometimes it’s line break or a fish that comes unhooked. An angler has to fish pretty close to flawless over the course of nine month to win AOY. He has to stay in the zone. However this tournament plays out, my hat is off to Justin Lucas.