Professional bass fishing teaches hard lessons every single day. The weather changes, fish disappear and equipment fails. You can make every right decision and still watch a tournament totally unravel before your eyes. Over time, the sport teaches its competitors something that extends well beyond bass fishing: control what you can control, adapt to what you can’t and keep moving forward.
For Team Toyota pro Matt Arey, those lessons have taken on a far deeper meaning.
After recently stepping away from the Bassmaster Elite Series following a cancer diagnosis, Arey finds himself navigating a challenge no angler ever expects. Instead of studying offshore structure or preparing for the next Elite event, his days are filled with chemotherapy treatments, doctor appointments and recovery. Yet throughout the ordeal, his outlook has remained remarkably steady. It has been a reflection of the faith, resilience and gratitude that have defined his career long before this diagnosis.
“I’ve been feeling pretty well, honestly,” Arey said. “I finished my second round of chemo a couple weeks ago and thankfully it hasn’t made me feel too sick or nauseous so far. I feel very blessed for that. That’s why I always tell people that I’m doing better than I deserve.”
That perspective hasn’t wavered, even during the uncertainty that accompanies cancer treatment.
“My IDH and liver enzymes were really high after my first treatment but five days later, they were back in the normal range,” Arey explained. “The doctor was super pleased with that.”
Small victories suddenly carry enormous weight. Every encouraging blood test, every positive report from the doctor and every day that feels relatively normal becomes another reason for hope. For someone whose professional life has revolved around competing against the best anglers in the world, Arey has embraced a completely different scoreboard.
PREPARED FOR ADVERSITY
Professional bass fishing isn’t just about catching fish. It’s about handling disappointment. One lost fish can cost six figures. The best anglers survive because they’ve learned how to compartmentalize setbacks and remain mentally composed. Arey believes those same lessons have become invaluable throughout his cancer journey.
“I was prepared for this mentally because of tournament bass fishing,” he said. “When things don’t go your way, you absolutely cannot get spun out. Cancer does not discriminate and neither does wildlife. I went to the doctor 3 or 4 months before my diagnosis for a totally routine checkup. I had perfect numbers on everything. Full blood panel. Look how fast things changed.”
It’s a sobering reminder that life can change in an instant. No matter how healthy someone feels or how good their last doctor’s visit looked, circumstances can shift without warning. That’s one of the primary reasons Arey has become so vocal about encouraging others to stay proactive with their health.
“I want to use whatever platform I have to help people and change a few lives,” he said. “I pray for that daily. If something doesn’t feel right, go to the doctor. Period.”
It’s simple advice but advice born from firsthand experience.
FAITH PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION
Anyone who has followed Arey’s career knows his faith has never been something reserved for Sunday mornings. It’s something woven into every aspect of his life. Now, it has become the anchor that keeps him grounded.
“I make it a point every single day to say the Serenity Prayer with my wife.”
Those few words carry tremendous significance. Rather than focusing on circumstances outside of his control, Arey continues placing his attention on what he can influence such as his attitude, his gratitude and his trust in God’s plan. Even one conversation with his physician helped shape that mindset moving forward.
“When I got diagnosed, my doctor told me, ‘You’re standing next to a roaring river right now. I’m going to throw you into it. In 6 or 8 months, you’re going to resurface and wonder what the heck just happened. But you’ll feel like a new man.'”
For Arey, that analogy perfectly captures the season he’s currently living through. The current is strong and the path isn’t easy. There is, however, confidence that calmer water waits downstream.
FAMILY HAS BECOME THE GREATEST BLESSING
If there’s one thing Arey talks about more than fishing, it’s his family. His wife Emily and their two daughters have become his greatest source of strength throughout every doctor’s visit and every treatment.
“My wife has not missed a single treatment or doctor’s appointment,” Arey said. “She is also keeping everything going for our two girls and you wouldn’t believe how big of a rock she is for me right now. Besides my steadfast faith, I need that woman more than she could ever know. She has just been fantastic, as always.”
While Arey has maintained an incredibly positive outlook, he admits the diagnosis initially weighed heavily on Emily.
“My wife has had a lot harder time with this than I have, to be honest. She’s a lot better now that we have some sort of a treatment plan.”
Having a plan matters and the unknown often creates the greatest fear. Once treatment began and the family understood the road ahead, they were able to focus less on uncertainty and more on moving forward together. Their daughters have also shown remarkable maturity.
“My two daughters have been great throughout this,” Arey said. “They’re very accepting and understanding. They get what’s going on. They know my focus is to ensure their lives don’t change. They understand that Daddy’s life will change for a while but we’re going to beat this, and everything will get back to normal.”
That commitment to protecting normalcy extends even to family traditions.
“I can’t be around a lot of people right now due to my immune system, but I insisted that my wife and girls take their annual July 4th beach trip without me,” Arey said. “I didn’t want to be a burden on that trip with some of my restrictions and I’m glad they went and had fun, so I didn’t hold them back.”
It’s a selfless decision that perfectly reflects Arey’s character. Even while facing the toughest challenge of his life, he’s putting his family’s happiness ahead of his own.
A RENEWED APPRECIATION
Although tournament competition has been placed on hold, fishing itself remains a vital part of Arey’s life. In many ways, he says, it has become even more meaningful.
“On the bright side, I’m thoroughly enjoying the time with my family,” he said. “It has also ignited a passion for just fun-fishing. I’m going once a week still, when my numbers are good. I will never stop fishing.”
There’s something therapeutic about time on the water. For professional anglers, it’s easy for fishing to become work. Practice schedules, travel logistics, sponsorship responsibilities and tournament pressure can overshadow the simple joy that first drew them to the sport. Now, Arey is reconnecting with that original passion.
THE COMMUNITY BEHIND HIM
One of the unique qualities of professional bass fishing is the genuine camaraderie shared among competitors. While anglers battle fiercely during tournaments, they also rally around one another during life’s most difficult moments. Since announcing his diagnosis, Arey has received an overwhelming amount of encouragement from fellow competitors, sponsors and fishing fans across the country. It’s another reminder that bass fishing is far more than a competition. It’s a family.
For Team Toyota, Arey has long represented everything the brand values: humility, perseverance, integrity and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. Those same qualities are now carrying him through a challenge far bigger than any tournament.
Cancer may have interrupted his Elite Series schedule, but it hasn’t changed who Matt Arey is. If anything, it has simply revealed even more clearly the character that’s always existed beneath the jersey. If there’s one thing decades of tournament fishing have taught Matt Arey, it’s that no matter how rough the conditions become, you never stop making the next cast.
