Slowing Down: In Life & on the Water

I’m thankful for the wisdom that’s helped me grow more patient, in fishing and in all things. From time to time, I get myself worked up with frustrations. As I grew older, I realized this was not sustainable for my health. What is the point of getting worked up over nothing? Life is hard enough. Be kind to yourself. There is no sense in burning a candle on both ends of the stick.

Spent a lot of time in 2025 slowing way down and going easy. Old me would sometimes get so amped and revved up to team a chatter bait or bang a square bill crank. I did not force myself to hit the brakes, I told myself that it was okay if I did so

A spinning rod was in my hand most often through the late summer, which was out of the ordinary for me going total finesse in my approach. After spending a day with the one and only Dan Kimmel from @greatlakesbass, I was able to see how he milled around offshore spots of different contour and characteristics to grind and muster up a bite. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dan. He has been around the industry for a long time. Whenever I am fishing with people like him, I spend more time watching and analyzing their decision-making than I normally would. It was sunny, very hot, and he was doing stuff I would not have included in my ‘first string.’

I took his lessons back home with me where I brought out the 8lb line, ML rods, unique scents, and fuzzy baits, for challenging conditions. The @vmchooksusa Swingin Ned fitted with a @geecrack_america Imo Kemushi Floating Stick Worm was subtle and too sweet for them to turn down. Out deep, I was free-rigging a cue bomb. That’s a slept on technique I’m going to keep close in my approach for the future on pressured fish. I love this so much, it is hard to describe.