Goodbye 2025: Hello 2026
Bruce Callis Jr
Santa has come to see us, and the new year is ready to roll in. For some of us, 2025 was a very challenging year. Health issues, money issues, just life in general has gotten difficult for some of us. A tough year! And for some, they hate to see it end.
For me, it was a great year, even though it isn’t ending how I would like. I have been on limited lifting since my surgery in September. Who knew 40 pounds was so light? Haven’t been able to get out in the kayak with the restrictions. You have to think about everything you do in so many ways. But, I decided that I needed to listen and heal properly. I have a lot of fishing and grandkidding to do.
It has been a crazy year for the bass fishing community. Forward Facing Sonar, exciting catches and performances on the Elites, NFPL, and MLF. Retirements and those not requalifying. Cuts in the number of anglers fishing on the MLF Pro Circuit. And we can’t forget about the disqualifications and the cheating. It even extended into the kayaking side of the industry. Just a crazy year!
And now we look forward to 2026, a new year filled with new hope. Santa may not have brought us plenty, but maybe not everything we wanted. I know he forgot to bring me my jonboat I had on my Christmas wish list. If you got one you didn’t ask for, it’s mine, just let me know, and I’ll come get it. But some things I’ll just have to go find. I’ll be checking out a few options.
The first thing is the Richmond Fishing Expo this year. Mark your calendar for January 16-18 at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, VA. Randy Howell, Gerald Swindle, and Joe Thomas are the headliners. Randy and Gman are people I have met and love to listen to, but Joe I have wanted to meet. Stihl’s Reel in the Outdoors and Ultimate Match Fishing are just part of his shows, and he competed on the Bassmasters. Can’t wait to talk with him. But I can’t wait to see what deals I can find there, new rods, new reels, new baits, they all can be found there, you just need to go to see what is available. Hope to a lot of you there and get to talk.
And we can’t forget about all the other fishing shows and flea markets that happen early in the year. The Eagle’s Flea Market is always a good one. Lots of great finds can be made there. Anglers who decide to finally let go of baits they don’t use anymore, old baits we may have been looking for, and deals on a lot of stuff. An annual ride that is always fun to take. Last year was my little brother and my grandson went with me.
But I am most looking forward to another year of trophy bass catching. I did not make the trips I had hoped for this past year. I plan to do a lot more in-state trips for fishing. I want to take the kayak and do some fun trips to big bass locations. And I want to do some smallmouth fishing. I have only caught one small one and I want to catch a big one. Where do you want to go in 2026?
As we say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026, let’s all remember that we need to respect each other. We are all out there to have fun, no matter how serious we are about our fishing. We need to think safety first. Leave a float/bank plan with someone and let them know if we make changes. Make sure to wear your life jacket, especially when the big motor is engaged or always when in a kayak or canoe. Remember, safety first, have fun, and live to fish another day!