We’re approaching the midpoint of the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season, and I’m content with where I’m at. I wish it was a little better, but I’m currently inside the Bassmaster Classic cut. I haven’t had any bombs this year.
After starting last season with two bombs, I really wanted to focus on avoiding those complete bombs. So far, I have a top five in Elite competition and three in the 56th to 61st range.
Those are not where you want to be, but they’re solid finishes. The last two events at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the Arkansas River, I’m happy to have had the finishes I had — to get the points I could and get out of there. Those river events are super easy to mess up, so I’m fine with my finishes.
The second half of the season is definitely where I’m most confident. There are a lot of fisheries we’re going to that are right in my wheelhouse, with the style of fishing that I grew up with — in particular the final two events at Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River.
I’m also looking forward to the Pasquotank River event. That was a first for me, but after finishing fourth there in 2025, I have a lot of confidence going into that event.
May will be an interesting month because we have back-to-back Elite events in South Carolina. We start with Lake Murray, which fishes like my favorite lake in the country — Lake Hartwell.
Honestly, I didn’t like Hartwell at first. We went there a lot in college, and I probably fished six or eight tournaments on that lake. Every time I went there, I learned more and more about it.
Hartwell’s a really clear water lake like the ones I grew up with in Minnesota. I just had to learn the blueback herring techniques. It took me a little while, but once I started to understand it a little more, it really took off.
Now, that herring style of fishing is one of my favorite ways to fish. This, of course, will help me on Lake Murray.
I definitely think the herring spawn will be a prominent pattern on Murray, but there should be several other options as well. This should be an event where you can do whatever you want, but I’ll probably start my mornings on the herring spawn and then spend the rest of the day looking for fry guarders and bed fish.
As for Santee Cooper Lakes, that was my worst Opens finish in 2024. I went during pre-practice for this year’s Elite, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it had much more eel grass, hydrilla and milfoil. It felt like the grassy lakes I grew up on in Minnesota. That lake has done a 180 and seeing it boosted my confidence.
Starting with the two South Carolina events and continuing through our season finale at the St. Lawrence River, I’m going to do my best to take advantage of my experience on these types of fisheries. I want to finish out the year with a strong performance in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.
Every season, qualifying for the Classic is the biggest objective, and with next year’s Classic at Hartwell, my motivation is even higher. I’m telling myself I have to get there, so I gotta buckle down, avoid bombs, get a couple of Top 10s and I’ll be right where I need to be.
