®
®
Summer 2024
T HE N EX
GE N E RA T
of Professional Bass Anglers
page 20
I
f you’ve been paying attention to professional
tournament fishing recently, you’ve seen a
shift in the names at the top of the standings, particularly with the younger anglers.
Traditionally, rookies entering their first year on the
professional trails were expected to take their lumps
and struggle until they learned the ropes and gained
experience at that level.
There have always been a few exceptions
to the rule from time to time, but this season
has shown that the younger generation of
bass anglers has the skills to compete. This is
happening for many reasons,
with technology being a
key factor, including the
information available
online and forward-
facing sonar. Add
in the explosion
of popularity for
youth fishing from
the junior and high
school level to college
fishing and the
new generation of
professional bass
anglers has arrived.
Here are four young
guns making a huge splash
on the bass scene. Learn a
little more about them and
how they are making such
a big impact early in their
professional careers.
GILL AND MCKINNEY PUTTING ILLINOIS ON THE MAP
Certain states and regions traditionally dominate bass fishing, especially when it comes to the makeup of rosters of both professional tours. Of all the states, Illinois has not been a hotbed for professional anglers
until now.
Two of the brightest young stars are from
the “Land of Lincoln” as Drew Gill and Trey
McKinney call the state home. They’ve each
shown maturity beyond their years on the
water and got a win early this year.
McKinney, just 19-years-old, has been a
rising star for years. He dominated every level
of fishing, leading to the Elite Series. He won
everywhere, from junior events to local
team circuits and the Major League
Fishing BFLs, until he tried his
hand at the Bassmaster Opens.
In his second Elite Series event,
McKinney won at Lake Fork
with a near-record-setting
winning weight.
Gill has been equally
impressive while competing
at college events, the
Toyota Series, the Tackle
Warehouse Invitationals,
and the Bass Pro Tour, all
within a few months. He
won at Sam Rayburn for the
Tackle Warehouse Invitationals stop
Photo Credit: B.A.S.S. Segio Saito