the one with a target on my back .”
In addition , Becker liked the forecast for big winds out of the north . “ I love fishing for smallmouth in big water and big waves ,” he said “ If I have a wheelhouse , that ’ s it . As crazy as it sounds , that ’ s my idea of fun . It is an adverse condition that doesn ’ t suit everyone , which is one of the reasons I like it .”
Championship Day started with sunny skies , brisk winds and a chance of rain in the afternoon . Most of the final day field got off to a decent start . But Becker stumbled out of the gates , catching just two fish for 5-2 in the opening period . With just two periods left in the season and Becker sitting in last place , his chances of winning either AOY or the tournament appeared slim .
“ All I kept thinking is , I still have a chance ,” he said . “ After burning the first period in the Oak ( Point ) area , I knew that place was done . So I made my move out to the big water around the Charity Islands to try to reconnect with those bigger fish from the Knockout Round .”
Around 11 a . m ., the wind began to pick up into the 20-mph range , and dark rain clouds loomed . The Charity Islands were already awash in 3-footers , the swells only increasing . The perfect storm was brewing .
“ It was about to get ugly , just the way I like it ,” Becker said . “ The wind was picking up , the waves were getting bigger , the rain had started . It was perfect out there .”
Becker found some momentum with a 3-12 smallmouth . Minutes later , he caught a 4-14 . And then he caught fire . By noon he had rocketed up the leaderboard from 10th place to first with the day ’ s heaviest catch of 17-8 .
The waves kept getting bigger , now crashing over his bow . The “ chance of rain ” had turned into an all-day deluge . Hurricane Matt was making landfall ,
PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE
The final three tournaments of the season put Becker on smallmouth waters , where he made up 44 1 / 2 points in the AOY race .
washing out the other nine competitors . None of the forecasts had predicted this . As the wind , waves and rain raged on , so did Becker ’ s catches . He caught three more 4-pounders and delivered his final blow with a 5-5 smallmouth , the biggest bass of the day .
“ I had reached my happy place ,” Becker recalled . “ Big water . Big waves . Big smallmouth . I just love it . When I ’ m in that zone , I just feel so comfortable . Everything just clicks .”
All tallied , Becker landed 22-11 in a three-hour period , the biggest limit of the tournament . He ’ d done all he needed to win the event . Now the AOY race was in Wheeler ’ s hands . If Wheeler could finish the tournament in fourth or higher , he would win his third AOY in a row . But as the stormy , wet afternoon wore on , Wheeler began to lose his grip on the trophy , slipping to eighth place .
“ I just figured Wheeler had something in his back pocket for the third period ,” Becker said . “ He was only like 1 pound , 5 ounces off of fourth place . If he caught a high three , he would catch me . With each passing minute , I kept telling myself , ‘ I still have a chance .’”
Becker continued repeating his motto right up until the official 4 p . m . lines out call . At that moment , his chance became reality , as his boat official informed him he ’ d won both Stage Seven and Angler of the Year . He ’ d take home two trophies and $ 200,000 in winnings , becoming just the fourth person on earth to own a Bass Pro Tour AOY trophy . And he ’ d done it as a rookie .
“ After I won , I didn ’ t want to go back in ,” Becker laughed . “ I was right where I wanted to be ; out in the wind and waves and pelting rain – in my happy place .”
Becker sat on his front deck , rain still pouring on him , in disbelief . Then the tears came . This perfect storm , he realized , had been years in the making : starting when he fished alongside his father on Lake Erie , picking up steam when he advanced to the Bass Pro Tour , forming on the horizon when he realized he had a legitimate chance to win the trophy he coveted more than any other and culminating with him running down two legends — VanDam for the tournament win , Wheeler for AOY — to announce his arrival to the top of the tournament game .
“ All of the memories of the hard times , sacrifices and the hours and hours spent alone out on the water chasing this dream just came flooding back to me ,” Becker said .
“ I remembered winning my first Toyota Series at 1000 Islands in 2017 in weather similar to this . I ran way out into Ontario in huge waves on the final day and caught a 25-pound limit to come from behind and win that one . Without the winnings from that tournament , I would have never been able to turn pro and get to this point in my career . I guess that ’ s why the big water , big waves and big smallmouth are my happy place .”
42 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023