The last tournament of a season always has a lot of emotion and anxiety around it, but that’s particularly true for this week’s Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series finale at the Mississippi River.
I’m in a position I’ve only been in twice in my career — sitting outside the 2026 Bassmaster Classic cut. I told my fiancee, I have not been this anxious looking at a tournament fishery in forever.
I’m sitting 47th in Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, and I’m 16 points outside the Classic cut, which is very doable. Like I’ve said many times, making the Classic is the main goal.
If you get a chance at AOY, that could be a once-in-a-lifetime shot. But as big as that title is, the Classic’s the main thing.
I have to admit; I’ve had a chip on my shoulder for Knoxville ever since I fished it. With next year’s Classic scheduled for that fishery, I want to go back and catch ‘em in a bad way. To get there, I have to go through the Mississippi River.
I had the opportunity to Top 10 last time, and I ended up in 42nd place. I was in the Top 10 going into Day 3, and I just tried to do too much instead of just fishing.
The weights are going to be super tight, so that’s another anxiety point. As the last tournament of the year, many people will be going for broke.
You have two or three guys at the top fighting for AOY, and they have to be really consistent. Thirtieth place to first in AOY is pretty safe for making the Classic, but then you have guys from 30th to about 55th who still have a shot to make the Classic through points.
The wildcard for this final event is, if you win, you’ll make the Classic. There are so many variables at this one. You’ll see guys do things that are not their strength or something that’s off the wall because they’re trying to win and that’s their only chance.
Adding even more to the anxiety, the weights are going to be so tight it’s gonna be crazy. Six ounces at this fishery could mean 20 or 30 places, so it’s going to be a very interesting tournament. It’s going to be nerve-racking all the way to the Day 3 weigh-in.
Until that Semifinal Saturday weigh-in is over, I’m not going to have any nails left on my hands because I want to make the Classic so badly. I want to take my family to the Classic. That’s the dream part of it, and it’s what you want to get to.
No question, the intensity level is high for this final event. You almost have the first-tournament jitters. That’s how much this one matters.
I’m going to fish this event as hard as any tournament I’ve ever fished, but regardless of how it turns out, knowing that you have family back home waiting for you — that’s the meaning of life. I’d love to bring that blue trophy home for them, but at the end of the day, family is the most important thing.
