Join us for an insightful conversation with Trey McKinney, the phenom of Elite Series Bass Fishing! At just 19, Trey made history as the youngest Elite Series winner, secured the Rookie of the Year title, and broke the Lake St. Clair record. In this episode, Trey dives deep into the strategies that fueled his incredible success, including his approach to competitive bass fishing and managing the sport's mental challenges.
Discover Trey's advanced Livescope tactics and how he "hunts" individual fish, adapting his presentation to trigger bites even in highly pressured waters. Learn about his unique "chaotic" retrieve technique, an aggressive bait shaking that helped him entice smart smallmouth at Lake St. Clair. He also touches on using spy baits and other weightless techniques for challenging fish.
Trey shares his experiences on diverse and challenging fisheries, from the Thousand Islands (dubbed "smallmouth Disneyland") where he recently spent time smallmouth fishing, to his "Achilles' heel," the St. John's River tidal water in Florida.
Beyond the techniques, McKinney emphasizes the crucial mental game in bass fishing, discussing how he overcomes "dips" and external pressures. He also explains his philosophy of avoiding "dock talk" and focusing on real-time data on the water.
Looking ahead, Trey shares his thoughts on the upcoming tournament season, the impact of forward-facing sonar rules, and the importance of taking an off-season for hunting to avoid burnout and reset for the next year.
Whether you're interested in smallmouth bass fishing, largemouth bass fishing, advanced sonar fishing techniques, or the psychological aspects of competition, Trey McKinney offers invaluable insights in this episode of Bass University Live.
