Three For The Record Book

As the record books continue to be rewritten, it’s easy to miss the party. Things are changing at blistering speeds. Sure, catch records will continue to fall thanks to new technology allowing anglers an upper hand not previously available. But of special interest are the anglers themselves. The accomplishments of this season’s best are nothing short of stunning.

A few cases in point. Let’s start with Trey McKinney. Bassmaster Elite fans know McKinney as a true phenom, already setting records as the youngest angler to ever win an Elite event. Looking back, McKinney was already a record-holder, tying as the youngest angler ever to qualify for the BFL All-American, the youngest to win a BFL AOY, and a winner of numerous junior championships.

This season, however, may present McKinney’s greatest feat. With two events to go, the 19-year-old holds down second place in the Elite Series AOY standings.

This is not the whole story, however. Avid fans remember that McKinney faced a violation earlier this season, losing a full-day’s catch at the Smith Lake Elite. Otherwise, McKinney would be handily leading AOY.

He can still pull it off. With two events to go – both in the North – the Elite AOY will come down to a battle of the ‘scopers, a method of fishing McKinney is comfortable with. And, while his experience on Northern fisheries is limited, so, too, is that of his nearest competitors, relatively young, Southern-based pros Justin Hamner and Cody Huff.

Can Trey pull off the unthinkable, breaking another record by taking AOY before legal drinking-age, celebrating with sparkling water over champagne? We’ll be watching closely.

Over at MLF, Alec Morrison has already one-upped everyone. Taking both the Rookie of the Year and Invitational AOY isn’t supposed to happen. Rookie titles are there for inexperienced anglers to use as a milestone, an early accomplishment on which to build a resume. AOYs are to come much later.

Morrison, on the way to his own record-setting season, didn’t get the memo. Rock-solid from the start, he racked up three Top-5 finishes in the six-event season and never let off the gas. Reports credit Morrison’s tireless practice schedule for his performance. But it’s likely an entirely new mindset that comes through.

There’s no limit to the offshore game. We’ve seen evidence of that as the sport progressed. Starting with anglers willing to “live on the ledges” all summer, to the advent of Side Imaging. I vividly remember the shock and awe many BassFans experienced when first learning of the steering-wheel time pros were putting in with SI. Reports of graphing for hours just left us shaking our heads.

Today, that’s commonplace, and guys like Morrison are taking it to the next level. As bass continue to get more pressured by advanced presentations, the finest details of offshore fishing will become considered. It’s funny; like many sides of bass fishing, we see the early offshore pioneers reporting that details were everything. Shadow lines, minuscule currents and the subtlest of lure colors resulted, they said, in monumental catches. The rest of the world, it appears, is finally ready to consider that these guys were onto something. Morrison secured a spot in the record books as an open-minded pro with the whole world in front of him.

Jacob Wheeler was the original young hammer in modern times. With the whole world in front of him, he took it. Despite format switches back and forth, Wheeler maintained his spot as best in the world, and is poised to set another record by taking down his third BPT AOY.

If Wheeler can qualify for the Knockout Round at the season’s final event, he’ll secure the title. Thus far in 2024, he’s accomplished that at every event.

Wheeler’s original record was youngest champ of the Forrest Wood Cup, something he accomplished at 21. From there, he became youngest bass fishing millionaire, the only angler to win his first two Elite events, first to win multiple BPT AOYs, first to win three events in a season, and probably a few other firsts I’ve overlooked. Wheeler is always first. Ask anyone.

So while a third AOY actually seems a bit trivial, it can’t be overlooked. Very few anglers in history can claim that feat, regardless of professional tournament series. Without question, Wheeler will go down as one of the greatest of all-time, longevity the only question as to the possibility of standing alone at the top. With VanDam gone, one more record-breaker has left the building, leaving only Wheeler to eye the throne.

If we don’t pay attention, the records will be written without us knowing. Things are happening faster than ever in our sport. It’s hard to imagine how high the bar can go.

But it will be fun to find out.

(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)

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