Gussy getting it done in 2016
Aug 9th, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Aug 9th, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Jeff Gustafson has been swinging his flipping stick for a few years now on the FLW Tour. The amiable Lund Boats pro is known as a friendly fellow who’ll work hard for his sponsors and certainly share his knowledge with anybody who asks.
Still, “Gussy” never really made a big splash on the big-time bass scene. That changed in 2016. Gussy finished fifth in the FLW Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) race and qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup, the FLW Tour championship.
So, what happened during 2016 to change Gustafson’s trajectory? Time on the water? Tour experience? Sharing with friends? Maybe all of the above?
“I caught a limit every day in 2016,” said Gustafson. “Every day until the Forrest Wood Cup that is. The Cup was tough for me, but it was a blast and the way my season worked out was excellent. So much had changed, and I felt better about who I was as a professional angler.”
Pieces started to fit for Gustafson in 2016.
“For me, the 2016 season seemed like the start of things moving in the right direction,” said Gustafson. “I can’t afford to come and fish the B.A.S.S. Opens or the Costas. Made no sense financially, so I worked to get down what I needed to while fishing the FLW. It took a few years, but now I have a good routine in place.
“Also, at times, this year I’d room with Brandon McMillan, another FLW Tour pro and a great angler from Florida. We started sharing ideas on how to fish different bodies of water. It really helped a lot. Plus, having a friend on the road sure makes things easier. Things started to come together this year like they hadn’t in the past.”
Maturity is also a factor in Gussy’s 2016 success.
“I started to have a lot more fun this year,” said Gustafson. “I started to take everything in and enjoy it.
“Plus, I’m no longer just in awe of launching my boat next guys like Larry Nixon. Now I can make fun of a goofy hat he’s wearing and just relax.
“This all comes with experience. You can’t get that instantly when you start. It takes a few years, especially since I don’t fish other circuits or series.”
Moving forward, tin will always be in for Gussy.
“A lot of people ask me about fishing from my Lund,” says Gustafson. “I love my Lund. It is a tremendous fishing machine.
“Next season, the plan is to use a 20-foot Lund bass boat that is capable of running a 250hp motor. That rig should allow me even more flexibility fishing in some of the really shallow fisheries we visit.
“I’m already looking forward to next year.”