As the reigning Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket Champion, Tripp Berlinsky has spent most of 2026 “living the dream.” He earned his spot to compete in the Bassmaster Classic back in March, where he finished a respectable 17th place, and his University of North Alabama wrapped Nitro has stayed hooked to the back of his Toyota Tundra. Berlinsky’s been consistently running the roads chasing bass and tournament competition.
From the outside looking in, you see a 21-year-old living out every serious college angler’s dream, and you’d be right. But Berlinsky has learned “living the dream” looks a lot like opportunity, mixed in with adversity, lots of lessons and hopefully considerable growth at the end of his season as the Bassmaster College Series champion. Berlinsky entered the 2026 season with momentum and a chance to test himself across multiple tournament trails, fishing against top competition.
He has embraced every bit of it.
This season Berlinsky is competing in Division 1 of the Bassmaster Opens, as well as the full schedule of Major League Fishing Pro Circuits. That’s a busy calendar for experienced tournament veterans, let alone Berlinsky who stepped right from the college ranks into some of the toughest competition in the world.
“I’ve been bassin’ as much as possible and learning a lot in the process,” Berlinsky said with a smile.
Time on the water is irreplaceable, but the lifestyle associated with traveling and fishing at a professional level can be jarring. There are a lot of solo miles towing on the highway, sleeping in different hotels, and eating food on the go. These elements may not seem like an issue when they come one week at a time with good friends during college fishing trips, but they can begin to take a toll when they become your routine.
Berlinsky has put over 30,000 miles on the Toyota Tundra he won rights to use this season, and nearly every one of those miles came towing a bass boat. The miles have been long, but the education has been even greater.
Thanks to fishing multiple tournament trails Berlinsky has had to navigate contrasting rule sets in terms of forward-facing sonar (FFS), gained experience on different types of fisheries, and he’s learning to practice and fish alone.
“This year has been such a whirlwind of incredible opportunities,” Berlinsky said. “It’s been super frustrating at times. I’ve had some disappointing finishes, but I’m learning to fish on my own and fishing under different rules sets. It’s been challenging at times but it’s also very exciting. You might think fishing without ‘Scope (FFS) has been the toughest part, but it’s actually been learning how to practice and fish solo.”
That transition has forced Berlinsky to develop in ways that won’t always be immediately reflected in tournament results. Becoming a top-level pro angler requires more than the ability to catch bass. To be one of the best, it demands an entire lifestyle. Berlinsky has learned how much preparation, decision-making, being adaptable and mental discipline matter at this level.
For Berlinsky, learning how to practice effectively by himself has been one of the biggest adjustments of the season. More than just a fishing partner, Berlinsky’s college teammate Bryce Dimauro is one of Tripp’s best buddies. Breaking down a new body of water isn’t just more difficult while fishing solo, Berlinsky has learned it can be less enjoyable at times, too.
The challenges have been compounded by the inevitable mistakes that come with learning at this level. Berlinsky has learned countless lessons throughout the 2026 season but one in particular stands out.
During day one of the Bassmaster Open on Lake Eufaula in Alabama, Berlinsky caught a 5-lb bass on his last cast at 2:17pm. In the excitement, Tripp made the decision to add the fish to his livewell and run back to check-in. Berlinsky never made another cast, but he didn’t cull his smallest fish until he got back to the boat ramp.
Unbeknownst to Tripp, this was a culling infraction and caused his entire day one weight to be disqualified.
“One thirty-second decision at Lake Eufaula really changed my standings in the Opens,” Berlinsky said. “I just got too excited in the moment. I had never done that (culled at the ramp) before and, obviously, I never will again. I’ve learned that lesson and it was tough. I had right at 21-lbs for the day but my entire catch was DQed. That one decision has affected my whole season on the Opens.”
That single decision in early April is representative of the razor-thin margins that define tournament fishing at the highest level.
For a young angler still learning the nuances of professional competition, these moments can be frustrating. But they can also be invaluable. Berlinsky isn’t simply looking at the scoreboard and moving on to the next event. He is evaluating what happened, why it happened, identifying where he can improve and carrying those lessons forward.
Competition begins tomorrow on Lake Erie for the final Bassmaster Open of division one, where Berlinsky will have another opportunity to fish his way inside the top 50 in points to qualify for the Elite Qualifier events this fall. Regardless of where Tripp finishes on the leaderboard, you can rest assured that he’ll lean on the lessons this season has provided him, trying his best and enjoying himself in the process.
