We caught up with Jared Miller after the Day 1 weigh-in. He had 16-11 and was sitting in 13th place.
Miller qualified for the 2022 Classic via the B.A.S.S. Nation, but he is no stranger to competing against the world’s best anglers. He was an Elite Series pro from 2012 through 2015.
The highest Elite finish for the Norman, Oklahoma, native came on the Alabama River in 2013 where he finished in 13th place.
Miller became somewhat famous in that tournament for a video titled “Danger at the dam.” The young angler had worked his boat through a series of treacherous rapids to fish near Jordan Dam. After a big storm the current was very strong and as Miller departed the dam his boat careened off several rocks, then got stuck on a rock, giving his Marshal and himself a crazy theme park-like ride. Watch the video. It is extremely rare to see a bass boat in waters like that.
What has Miller been up to since he departed the Elite Series?
He flipped houses for several years and built up enough money to buy some land, which he developed into a subdivision. Miller then bought more land for a ranch and is now raising 100 black angus cattle.
“Yes, I’m doing better financially now since I stopped fishing for a living,” he said with a smile.