ºÃÉ«tv

Gustafson finished 84th overall last year, failing for the first time to qualify for the US$1-million Bassmaster Classic, pro bass fishing's most prestigious tournament. The '26 event goes in March on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn., where in '23 Gustafson went wire-to-wire to become the competition's first ºÃÉ«tv champion.

Gustafson also went wire-to-wire there for his first Elite Series win in 2021. Although Gustafson won't compete in March, he'll still attend the Classic.

"Last year was the worst I've had professionally," Gustafson said. "This will be my 15th season and I'm just excited to get after it again and start fresh.

"I probably had a bit more pressure than I wanted because the Classic is in Knoxville and I obviously have a good track record there. This will be the first time I've missed the Classic and that's a definite heartbreaker but at the same time no one cares if you're going to complain and be a crybaby about it. I have the dream job but I still have to perform and catch fish so that's my focus."

An early goal for Gustafson will be getting off to a much better start than in 2025, when he was 82nd and 81st at the first two events in Florida (St. Johns River, Lake Okeechobee, respectively). Fortunately, there are no '26 tournaments slated for the Sunshine State.

"I love going to Florida, the weather is nice and it's fun fishing there," Gustafson said. "But my results have been pretty below par, that's probably been one of my weakest parts of the country to fish at.

"I've had some good events but it's probably a good thing we're missing Florida this year."

However, the nine-tournament schedule includes three on water Gustafson hasn't fished before. The first is Alabama's Lake Martin (Feb. 12-15), followed by the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Columbus, Miss., (March 26-29) and Arkansas River in Muskogee, Okla., (April 16-19).

"Usually there's one or two each year but it's fun going to new places," Gustafson said. "Sometimes experiencing these bodies of water is good but sometimes it kind of derails you because you're checking past history and then conditions aren't right for what's worked there before.

"But you always must keep an open mind … show up, put a handful of rods on the deck and figure out how to catch bass fishing shallow cover. It's more old-school, traditional fishing but it's fun."

Experience has also taught Gustafson not to worry about factors he doesn't control.

"I'm kind of over having opinions about the schedule," he said. "The competition just keeps getting better and better every year so it's hard but it's the top level and that's what you want.

"I just want to prove I still belong in that group."

Gustafson also plans to cover more water in '26.

"Sometimes on the first day of practice I find an area that feels good and is decent and I make it the hub and don't check as much of the fishery that maybe you should," Gustafson said. "That's an area where I know I made a mistake in some events last year.

"You've got to make good calls and last year it seemed like I couldn't get into a rhythm of having good events consecutively and really feeling good about yourself."

A solid start would certainly make the final two Elite Series events at Lake Champlain (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and the St. Lawrence River (Clayton, N.Y.) more enjoyable.

"Those are two of the best places to go bass fishing in the world," Gustafson said. "The goal is to be in a good position going into those last two where I can have some fun and hopefully not have a ton of pressure on me.

"I've dealt well with pressure before, I don't feel like I'm bad at having to deal with it but it does take the fun out of it. I think all sports are like this, the harder you try sometimes it works against you where you just have to go and be a little bit free and flexible.

"This is ruthless sport and at the end of the day the fish must still co-operate with you a bit."

This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published Jan. 29, 2026.