Jacob Wheeler Wins His Seventh Bass Pro Tour Event

Originally posted on Men's Journal | By Kurt Mazurek | Last updated Feb 25, 2024 10:31 PM ET

At the end of a recent article about understanding and following the unique rules of the MLF Bass Pro Tour, I made the following little joke, “And if you should ever get confused about what’s going on, it’s probably safe to assume Jacob Wheeler is winning.” I’m not sure who the joke is on now, but as of today, Jacob Wheeler has won his seventh career Bass Pro Tour event—Stage Two of the 2024 Qualifying Events on Santee Cooper in South Carolina.

Santee Cooper, known as a big bass factory, especially in the spring, had lived up to its reputation all week. But on Championship Sunday, something changed and the fishing was noticeably tougher. But the one angler who managed to find, or maybe will, a consistent bite was Wheeler. His final day total of 47-4 was 5-pounds better than veteran angler, Dean Rojas, who finished in second place.

Wheeler explained on stage how today was all about being willing to make adjustments. “Just because you think you know what’s going on and you think you know what lures you’re going to tie on and what you’re going to be catching them on…you just never know.”

He also shared how at the first spot he went to (not the spot where he planned to start) he noticed the fish weren’t set up and behaving the way he figured they would. “I just had a gut feeling. Hey, pick up that jig. And I caught a five and a three. And that decision right there had the biggest impact. I had to make it work on that low time.”

But now lets go back to the fact that this is his seventh career BPT victory. Winning seven times in any professional bass angler’s career would be an impressive stat. But those wins are only from the MLF Bass Pro Tour Qualifying events, and just since 2019. Also note, there have only been 35 BPT Qualifying events in that time. Wheeler has won a staggering 20-percent of them!

Furthermore, at 20-years old, the Indiana native was the youngest angler ever to win the BFL All-American, and the next year at 21, he became the youngest ever to win the Forrest Wood Cup. He was the first angler in history to win the first two Bassmaster Elite Series events he competed in. And in 2021 and 2022 he became the first-ever back-to-back Angler of the Year on the Bass Pro Tour.

And Wheeler isn’t even close to done. Still in his early thirties, he has a long career ahead of him and no signs of slowing down. So, I’ll say it again, if you’re ever confused about what’s going on in a Bass Pro Tour event, it’s probably safe to assume Jacob Wheeler is winning. No kidding.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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