A new season is underway

The 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season started back up in early February down in Florida with back to back stops at the St. John's River and the Harris Chain. It wasn't my best start to the season with middle of the pack 51st and 47th place finishes to start the year. I caught fish at both venues but couldn't catch a big fish at either stop. Definitely need to start catching some bigger fish! 

Just before the season started, Shimano hosted us for a few days of fishing at Bienville Plantation in North Florida where we got to test and play with some of the new gear they have coming in 2022. I got my hands on one of the new Stella FK reels and it is incredible! Nicest reel that I've ever used! 

I'm lucky that I have great support in a lot of the places that we fish! The Russell's looked after Shelby and I when we were in Florida. Thanks guys! 

Before the Bassmaster Classic I got to spend a couple of days fishing at Lake Lanier in North Georgia...it is my favourite lake in the south and it was a blast. There aren't a lot of places where you can catch big spotted bass consistently, especially at a large, tournament lake. It was fun. Unfortunately when we got to Lake Hartwell a few days later for the Classic things were starting to change after we recieved a big warm-up in weather. 

As always, the Bassmaster Classic was a fun week. Again, mediocre fish landed me a 41st place finish. I caught a bunch of fish but was cursed on not being able to catch a big one. The crowds for the Classic were amazing, at the morning blast-offs, the afternoon weigh-ins and the expo. Never want to miss fishing in this tournament!

Getting to walk across that Classic stage is the biggest rush we have in our sport...big thank you to all of my friends and family who attended and all of the fans who supported the event. It's special! 
The Elite Series season resumes next week at Santee Cooper Lake in South Carolina.