There was a time in my career when I didn’t need anything to keep me motivated. I used to fish five days a week and couldn’t get enough of it. I’ve fished competitively since I was 11 years old, and fishing was all I ever thought about.
But with my family came more responsibilities and obligations. I have transitioned with maturity and really enjoy my personal life away from fishing.
And although I’ve changed both mentally and physically, I still have great passion for bass fishing and competitive angling.
But man, I need time away to recharge my mental batteries.
There’s no question I’m coming off my worse season since joining the Elites. Very disappointing.
It’s human nature to say I need to go harder, but I think our sport has become so mental that it’s best to step back and stay out of the boat.
That seems to work best for me.
I will use the coming months to clear my head and think about the past season, what mistakes I may have made and what I can do to fix them.
Of course, the fact that our sport is changing is on my mind. Nothing has shaken up the industry more than technology. A lot of guys my age – I just turned 52 – grew up in the sport with gradual change. These changes have moved fast and therefore many of us are fighting demons.
It isn’t just a pro issue, either. I hear it from anglers my age who only fish local tournaments. It seems to have affected everyone.
Yet, rather than place blame or abandon everything I’ve accomplished up to this point, this reset gives me a chance to sit back and assess the 2025 season and fix what needs fixed before next year.
I’ll fish two circuits next season because I love competitive bass fishing. I’ve had enough success over the years that I could walk away, but I’m not ready to retire.
I’m like a dog chasing a car. The Bassmaster Classic is the car and that’s what motivates me.
A lot of the anglers who retired have won Classics. I often wonder if that highlight is what drove them to extend their careers.
The Classic is definitely the carrot that drives me, even during this era of abrupt changes in our sport.
Meanwhile, I’ll spend my time the next few months building a new house, enjoying time with my family, in the duck blind and in the woods in pursuit of whitetail deer.
Historically, my time in the woods helps clear my mind and gets me motivated to be a better angler than I was the previous year.
Come Jan. 1, I will start bass fishing again. Until then, I don’t need to make a cast to feel good about myself.
