While most people think the off-season means rest and relaxation, as a competitive tournament angler, it is anything but. The decisions made now have a huge impact on my mindset going into the season and throughout all events.
With the Bassmaster Open series right around the corner, my off-season is officially over. After balancing work, family and the holidays, it is time to shift gears and prepare for another season of competition.
Inventory and Gear Prep
Right after the new year, I took inventory of all my rods, reels, line and tackle. After meticulously drafting a list of all my “needs” and “wants” (lets be honest – they are all needs!) I placed orders with all my partners and then enjoyed each and every delivery day. It really makes it feel like Christmas continues for several weeks into the year!
My Boat is My Office – It Has To Be Just Right
This year I will be running the same boat as last year, my Falcon F20 Predator, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done. Same boat, all new look and feel.
All my MillerTech batteries are tested to confirm they are working at 100%. Pairing them with the mobile app so I can be confident while I am on the water.
Livewells, bilge, and pumps get checked. Navigation lights, kill switch, and safety gear all get verified to be onboard and in great condition. Any items with wear or damage get replaced.
I am removing all the electronics I had on board for 2025, purchasing new and re-wiring the boat. For my benefit, in the event I have to troubleshoot, I pull all the wires and rig all my electronics myself. That way, should I have any issues while on the road, I know how it was wired and what I will need to do to correct any problems.
As I prepare for the upcoming 2026 Bassmaster Opens season, with Bassmaster rules limiting LiveScope use to half of the Open events, I am running an Xplorer 12 with Mega360 at the bow in addition to the Garmin LiveScope unit. I will also have the Garmin and Humminbird at the console for mapping and scanning. My total screen size 52” and our max allowed is 55”.
After getting all my electronics rigged, the boat will head to Speedpro Preferred, in Madison, WI to have the old wrap stripped off and new wrap installed. The last couple years I have run the same background on my wrap. For 2026 we are keeping the same color theme, but enhancing the design.
Getting My Gear Dialed In
Once the boat is wrapped and safely back in my shop, the reel work begins! I check all my reels for smooth drags and clean bearings, oil what needs oil and replace anything that doesn’t feel 100%. I inspect all the guides on my Ark Rods for cracks, chips or rough spots that could weaken the line. All of my Vicious fishing line gets stripped and replaced.
Terminal tackle gets restocked and reorganized — hooks, weights, jig heads, and replacement skirts all get attention. Anything rusty, bent, or questionable gets tossed.
The Behind The Scenes Work
I am thankful that my wife, Rachael, handles the “office duties” that are part of tournament fishing. She starts prepping for the upcoming season as soon as the current season ends. By the time the new year was in full swing, she had already secured most of my sponsors, completed all registrations for the Bassmaster Opens and the BASS Nation Regional Qualifier and arranged all travel and housing for each event.
Artwork and Design
A big part of preparation for a new season is the design phase. After the first of the year, Rachael designs my jersey and truck and boat wrap, being sure to meet sponsor specifications for logo size and placement. I like to think I have a say in this process, but I will admit, she has an eye for design, so I am happy to stay in my lane and stick to being a fisherman. As of writing this, all artwork has been sent off and the jerseys and wraps are in production.
Research and Planning
The 2026 Bassmaster Opens division 2 schedule has us returning to bodies of water that I have several years of tournament experience fishing. While seasons may vary, the experience I have does mean less pre-season research. As I am sure any angler can attest to, online videos are a big part of prepping for an event. Video research has become a valuable part of my event preparation.
The off-season may not look the same as fishing on the water, but every detail prepares me for competition. When the Opens begin, I’ll know that all the hard work in the off-season has me ready to focus where it counts: on the fish.
