Man, it feels good to say it. I’m back. Well, almost. Close enough.
Editor’s note: Patrick out with enlarged heart
After everything that has happened this year, just knowing I will be competing again feels incredible. Sitting out reminded me how much I truly love this sport. There is nothing that compares to backing down the ramp, hearing that outboard fire up and feeling that quiet focus before takeoff when anything seems possible. That tournament morning feeling is something I have missed deeply.
The 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule is not new to anyone at this point, but to me it hits different. Every stop looks like another chance to do what I love, to travel, to compete, to learn and to push myself against the best in the world. It is not about which lakes are on it this time or whether we have a screen to look at or a transducer on. It is about having the opportunity to be there at all.
My heart is just about back to normal, which is the best news I could ask for. My ejection fraction, which measures how well the heart pumps blood, still has a little way to go before it is fully where it needs to be. That means there is still work ahead, and most of it happens off the water.
For me, that means getting into the best shape I can, staying disciplined with training, eating right and doing everything possible to finish this recovery strong.
This process has taught me patience and gratitude. I did not have a whole lot of patience before, so this part has helped me grow in more ways than one. It has made me realize how lucky I am to live this life and how much I have missed the competition, the early mornings and the grind that comes with it all.
More than anything, I am thankful for the opportunity to compete again, to represent the people and brands that stood by me, and to keep chasing the dream that started with a kid in a canoe back in Cooperstown.
