Canadian angler Jeff Gustafson returned to his Lund 2075 Pro-V bass boat Monday for a chilly fishing session on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, marking a welcome break after a week at the US$1-million Bassmaster Classic expo in Knoxville, Tennessee. Gustafson, the first Canadian to win the Classic three years ago, did not qualify for the 2026 tournament but spent the week engaging with fans and sharing fishing insights.
“Probably the hardest part was at the start of the week when everyone was getting into town and pre-fishing, and you saw how much fun everyone was having on their social media,” Gustafson said. “More than anything, for me, it’s motivating. I don’t want to be at that expo again next year, I want to be on the water.”
Gustafson’s wins on the Tennessee River, both the Bassmaster Classic and his first Elite Series title in February 2021, relied on a moping technique: a four-inch smelt-colored Z-Man Jerk Shadz plastic bait on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jig, presented close to the bottom for smallmouth bass, either motionless or with a slow shake. He also went against conventional wisdom by targeting only smallmouths rather than a mix of smallmouth and largemouth bass.
The 2026 Elite Series resumes March 26-29 on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Columbus, Mississippi, and moves to the Arkansas River in Muskogee, Oklahoma, from April 16-19. Gustafson is approaching both new venues with a strategic mindset, noting their likely spawn periods and focusing on protected areas where fish are expected.
After a stronger start this year compared with 2025, Gustafson placed 18th at the season opener on Lake Guntersville and 49th at Lake Marti. Last year, he struggled with finishes of 82nd and 81st on Florida waters.
A key change for the 2026 season is the limited use of forward-facing sonar (FFS), allowed at only five of nine tournaments. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway event will not permit FFS, while the Arkansas River stop will. Gustafson views the change positively, calling it “a good compromise” and appreciating the balance between technology-assisted and traditional fishing strategies.