What Did We Just See?

With the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season in the books, it’s time to reflect on what we just witnessed. From incredible finishes to super-human performances, the 2025 Tour was unquestionably historical.

What I viewed, as a fan, was determined by the broadcast crews. So to get more insight, I turned to an ace-in-the-hole.

JT Kenney lives and breathes bass fishing as a day job, and his BPT input is unparalleled. A member of the broadcast team, Kenney spends hours watching multiple cameras of each competitor as the action unfolds. He lives each event, witnessing more than the competitors themselves, resulting in an unbiased view of each tournament. His take is central to our year-end summary.

We started, of course, with forward-facing sonar. This year featured the inception of usage for one period during each event.

“I think it was the right answer,” Kenney started. “When the rule first came out, I didn’t think it was right, but (the season) didn’t go the way I though it would.”

Kenney stated that - like most of us - he assumed every tournament would be dominated by the single period of FFS use. That the rest of the day would simply feature anglers catching a few, at best. However, as we saw, the majority of the events featured more fish catches without the use of FFS than with.

This gives legitimacy to both camps, according to Kenney. Which, as I reported here when the ruling first came out, was the entire concept behind the format change.

Kenney’s vote is to stay on course moving forward.

Turing to talk of competitors, Kenney pointed out how the format benefits a select few.

“The transformer super-human fishermen” is how he referred to guys like Jacob Wheeler, Brett Ehrler and Alton Jones, Jr.

“These guys grew up fishing without FFS, but they’re still young enough that they embrace it wholeheartedly.”

The youngest anglers - widely known as the best with live sonar - struggle without it, overall, according to Kenney’s insight. The older guard, try as they might, simply can’t get as efficient with it. But this mid-range group - the transformers - can do it all.

“I get to watch the guys a lot more than what goes out on the feed,” Kenney added. “Their whole body language (and technique); everything is different. The guys that are really good, when they throw at a fish they see, they’re already doing the math in their head (relating to sink rates, fish movement), and they’re already looking for another fish. “

Kenney and I discussed how other anglers are simply a step behind, and each time the rest of the field improves, the top FFS anglers move another rung up the ladder. It can be compared to a legendary target fisherman, or dock skipper. They’re two casts ahead and seem to never miss.

“It just seems like the rest of the guys are never as proficient as a Jacob Wall or a Spencer Shuffield,” he added.

That, combined with the ability to perform at the top with traditional bass fishing techniques because that’s how you learned to fish, makes for a “super-human basser.”

This season featured nail-biter finishes and action that may never be topped. Is the unique BPT format the main reason?

“The Scoretracker definitely influences that. Guys are making decisions based on actual data,” Kenney said.

I understand what he’s getting at. Without Scoretracker, an angler may have a great bag, based on previous tournament results or catches that week, and have a tendency to coast. But, with Scoretakcer, he quickly learns he’s not safe.

“It (Scoretracker) buries some guys, but, others, it keeps them pressing”

Finally, our conversation had to turn to the greatest highlight in the 2025 BPT reel. Once again, it’s Jacob Wheeler. Two more wins and a fourth BPT AOY.

I cover the sport and interview Wheeler quite a bit. I interview his peers for more insight. I interview his best friends and on-the-water enemies. In the end, I rarely get any closer to solving this mystery.

Perhaps JT could key me in.

“He’s just really good. He is,” Kenney stated.

Hmm, no eureka moment yet.

“He analyzes things differently than anyone else. Nobody is going to outwork him, either. It just seems like he’s two steps ahead of the entire field all of the time. I mean, on day one, Wheeler is strategizing for day three. It’s crazy.”

Kenney also noted that, if Wheeler has a close call (he had four other top-10’s this year besides his wins) Wheeler’s likely to go back to that fishery and win on his next shot.

Scary, indeed.

We may never figure out Wheeler, but it’s sure fun to watch. The season ended as expected with heartbreaking drama, big prizes and the continued dominance of what may be the best tournament angler of all time.

How can we top that?

Joe Balog is the Executive Director of Mighty River Recovery, a nonprofit organization working to restore Florida’s St. Johns River. A former national tournament angler, product designer, seminar speaker and guide, Balog has worn just about every hat available to a professional angler. Today, he enjoys rehashing his experiences and adding veteran insight through his weekly Bass Wars column.

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