My boy already lined up for blast off—nothing but #VIBES 🎣😎🔥

Lost a 9 at the boat earlier… tough one to swallow. Stayed locked in and got redemption with this 6 with 20 minutes left and still took big fish. Don’t let anybody tell you the SMH head doesn’t catch giants.

Many years overdue, but I finally made it to my first retreat this past weekend. It was great catching up with BLat and finally putting faces to names I’ve been talking with for a while.

As good as the weekend was, there was still a piece missing without my little brother Tron there. Being able to bring home his “Most Inspiring” award meant more than I can really put into words—because that’s exactly who he was and always will be.

I’m grateful for every single person in this community who showed him love along the way. That doesn’t go unnoticed.

Already looking forward to next year—this is definitely something I’ll be making a yearly tradition.

Tight lines, SUF fam 🎣

💪✅Really looking forward to seeing and meeting everybody this weekend, and getting some good fellowship in. I’ve known B for a long time and had the chance to fish with him a handful of times with Tron. I think it’s going to be a bittersweet moment, being back on the water with B for the first time since my little bro passed.

Three bites usually means a tough, frustrating day… but when they’re the right ones, it hits different. Landed a 5.7 and a 3.2, and lost another at the boat that was about the same size as that 3 (pretty sure her mama ended up fried and on a plate 😅).

Knew something special was coming when mine and Tron song—Fisherman by Casey Ashley—came on. Preciate you watching out from up there, bro.

Been a few months since I’ve posted—life’s been busy. Got out to practice for the derby I run on my home pond at Lake Bowen and managed to stick a couple solid 3-pounders.

Tournament day rolls around and wouldn’t you know it… I got humbled and took home smallest fish of the derby with an 11-ouncer.

Funny how this sport we love can make you feel like a hero one day and keep you humble the next. That’s fishing. 🎣

2026 to do list:

Catch first fish of the year ✅

2025-the love/hate relationship year. I loved how you treated me on the water. I hated how you treated me off the water. I'll always love that you're the year my babies (yes, you'll always be my babies) caught their first fish. I'll love that I caught both quality and quantity. You were better than years prior by far. 2026- let's work on that off-the-water stuff, but please keep being just as good to me on the water. Happy New Year, everybody 🎣🎉

What’s up Straight Up Fishing fam. Fishing has been few and far between since Thanksgiving with everything going on — the passing of Tron, Christmas, work, and just learning how to manage all of it. It’s been a mix of grief, responsibility, and the chaos that comes with the holidays.

Over the past couple of days, with some unexpected downtime and the Christmas rush finally slowing down, I took the time to turn a shadow box with some candy and a gift card into a small memorial for my brother. I truly felt his presence while putting it together.

I know without a shadow of a doubt he’s still in my ear telling me to try my hand as a co-angler in the BFLs. I hate to admit it, but this is what it finally took for me to pull the trigger and commit to it.

So BLat and anyone else in the SUF community — if you’ve got any tips, advice, or words of encouragement for a first-time BFL co, I’m all ears. Appreciate y’all more than you know. 🎣

I got the coolest and most heartfelt gift today at a local derb I run here in Spartanburg! I could still feel my little bro out there with me and if I needed a reminder today when it got rough I just pulled this out of my pocket. Tron will always be with me on the water forever!