As I prepare to fish my fourth consecutive Bassmaster Classic, the goal is the same as it has always been – first place, nothing else. There are no points to be gained, no participation trophies. You fish to win, and that may mean taking a big risk. Sometimes you fall flat on your face, but that’s OK. I finished 47th my first attempt in 2020, and as far as I’m concerned that’s no worse than my 11th-place finish the next year or my 27th-place finish last year.
Rather than make me nervous, that realization is incredibly freeing. I love to go out through boat check in the morning with everything on the line – everything to gain and nothing to lose. The Tennessee River in Knoxville is a particularly good venue for that because it’s a pattern fishery. Yes, I know that Gussy won last time we went there with something a little bit off the wall. This time around, the tournament is later in the year. It should be more of a pattern deal, and I have a pretty good idea of how it might play out.
The last time we visited Knoxville for a regular season event I only had four fish the first day, but they weighed 11-03 and had me in 11th place. Unfortunately, my area wasn’t replenishing, and I didn’t have more fish to go to.
This time, we have four days of practice, and I expect to nail something down. I just have a good feeling about this one. There’s always pressure to win, but being the first Canadian Classic champ – and the first non-American since Takahiro in 2004 – would be extra special.
I have the bonus of working with my brother, Chris. We always share information openly and honestly, and we’ll treat this just like every other tournament – with lots of calls, lots of bouncing ideas off one another. Two heads truly can be more than the sum of their parts when we’re working that way. We can cover a ton of water and put the pieces together extremely quickly.
I started the 2023 season inconsistently, bombing at Okeechobee (91st) and then coming back with a solid eighth-place finish at Seminole. That puts me right in the middle of the field, and while I suppose there’s a bit of momentum, again, the Classic is a special beast. Nothing that came before it really matters. I have my blinders on.
At the same time, I’ve already allowed myself to visualize a victory and the ensuing party. The first thing I’d buy with the winner’s check would be every beer in the house at the first bar I can get to. Yes, the Classic week is draining, but with the trophy in my hands I’m pretty sure that I could party for a week straight without stopping. It wouldn’t bother me one bit.
My brother and Matt Robertson and Seth Feider think that they can keep up, but I know the right people. I guarantee you that if I come out on top it’ll be like nothing Tennessee has ever seen.
