Congratulations to Greg Hackney for winning the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Greg had an incredible year and from the sounds of it, it he couldn't do anything wrong. That's exactly what it takes to win Angler of the Year. It takes a season with no mistakes, at least not any major ones. If you can do that, you'll have a shot at AOY, and sometimes even that isn't enough.
After hearing Hackney discuss his season, it got me to thinking about my 2012 season. In particular, comparing it to this past season. There are some pretty big distinctions between my 2012 and 2014 seasons.
In 2011, the year before I won AOY, I had a below average year and squeaked into the Bassmaster Classic. Similarly, Hackney missed the Bassmaster Classic last year. I think having a humbling season puts things in perspective and provides drive and inspiration for the following year.
The thing that stands out most is how easy 2012 was compared to 2014 for me. In 2012 everything went right all season. Things just lined up, and I went fishing and enjoyed myself. This past year I felt like everything was a struggle, and I was always working hard to get average results. The best analogy I can give is this: In 2012 I felt like I was swimming with the current, and in 2014 I was swimming against it.
In 2012, I got off to a great start with a win at a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open before the Bassmaster Classic. In 2014, I started off with a terrible tournament on Lake Amistad the week before the Bassmaster Classic. Momentum created by good tournaments is a strong factor in fishing.
Hackney didn't have a win to start his year, but he did finish strong in his first three events — 38th, 15th and 3rd. He built from that momentum and ended up having four finishes inside the Top 6 in eight events, including a win at the A.R.E. Truck Caps Cayuga Lake event.
Like Hackney, last season Aaron Martens finished in the Top 8 four times during the season. In 2012, I finished in the Top 6 five times in route to the title. While winning isn't a requirement to win AOY, it appears that in order to win it, you'll need to finish in the Top 10 in at least half the tournaments.
One other thing that I recognized is the importance of getting limits. In 2012, I believe I had a limit every day that I fished. This year Hackney had a limit on every tournament day with the exception of the Delaware River, where only one angler had a limit all four days.
Winning the Angler of the Year title is a goal for every angler on tour and — like the Classic — only one angler can accomplish it each year. That angler will need to have a flawless season, generate momentum, consistently put themselves in contention to win and put a limit in the boat every day of every tournament.
Congratulations to Greg Hackney for a job well done all year in 2014. Also, congratulations to Todd Faircloth, who was in the Top 10 for the second consecutive season. Todd's time will come, he's going to win one or several. He's good, he's consistent, and he's always in the hunt to win tournaments.