Knoxville is not making it easy on the pessimists.
Even noted naysayer-slash-sandbagger Patrick Walters couldn’t hide his excitement about what is to come. “Fishing is good,” he said bluntly, without the slightest bit of hesitation.
He had 15 rods on the deck before blasting off for the final day of practice 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, perhaps fewer than usual, but enough to “keep ‘em honest.” While he was effusive in his praise for the fishing, like most of the field he’s still trying to figure out what it will take to win…