By Walker Smith, Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / Photos: MLF

By the time the calendar flips to tournament season, Mark Daniels Jr. is ready for the road again.

That doesn’t mean he rushes past the offseason. Quite the opposite, actually. For the Team Toyota pro and Major League Fishing veteran, the time away from competition is about grounding himself in the things that matter most such as family, friendships and the perspective that fuels a long year of chasing bass across the country.

“My offseason was awesome,” MDJ said. “It’s always too short because time with family is so precious to me and the traveling was awesome. We went to California and saw family for Thanksgiving and hosted Christmas at our house in Alabama. Then I went to Puerto Rico for New Years with my fishing buddies. It sure was busy but it was great to unwind with the folks I love before another busy tournament season kicks off.”

That busy season is about to begin, and Daniels Jr. will open the 2026 Bass Pro Tour campaign on one of the most demanding and well-known fisheries in the country. Lake Guntersville in northern Alabama is a place rich in history, pressure and promise. It’s also one that will test not only anglers’ skills but their mental resolve.

MDJ enters the season with renewed confidence after a late-year reminder that winning feels pretty good.

“Jacob Wheeler and I won that Team Series event in Wisconsin to close out our 2025 season and it was awesome to touch a trophy again,” MDJ said. “It felt great, and it put some fire back into me and reminded me that I still know how to win. I’m hungry to get out there and compete again.”

 

That hunger will be tested quickly. Guntersville is famous for its grass, its size and its ability to humble even the most seasoned pros. Daniels Jr. spent time on the water ahead of the opener and came away with a healthy respect for what lies beneath the surface.

“During practice I was reminded that Guntersville bass are some of the smartest and most educated fish I’ve ever seen. But you just have to get out there, figure it out, and compete. They get a lot of fishing pressure around here but complaining about it isn’t going to do a single thing for me. We’re all fishing the same conditions so now is the time to be mentally tough and get prepared to fish hard.”

That mental toughness will be essential in a fishery where pressure is constant, and patterns can be fleeting. Like many in the field, MDJ has found fish in practice but hasn’t yet discovered the kind of consistency that lets an angler relax.

“I caught several scoreables in practice but I don’t think I’ve found a super strong pattern or area. I feel like I’m running around a little too much throughout the day. I’m hearing the same thing from others this week, as well.”

That uncertainty is magnified by the weather forecast. Winter tournaments are nothing new on the BPT schedule but opening day on Guntersville is expected to be especially harsh.

“On the first day of the tournament, the high temperature is going to be 36 degrees,” Daniels Jr said. “So, it’s going to take a lot of mental preparation. It’s going to be very cold and uncomfortable but whoever can block it out of their head and fish clean will have a chance to get a leg-up on the competition.”

Cold conditions often compress the field but Guntersville’s reputation for producing numbers and size still looms large. MDJ expects weights that reflect the lake’s potential, even in less-than-ideal conditions.

“I’d expect 30 to 35 pounds a day to make the cut which is really strong,” he said. “That’s a lot of keepers per day in this format.”

The fish are there. The challenge is turning opportunities into points.

“If you can get enough bites, the quality is there. The average bite is over 2 pounds, with a few 4 to 5-pounders mixed in. It’s a matter of getting enough bites to stay in it and of course, you gotta land those crucial bites.”

For Daniels Jr., success this season hinges less on any single lure or location and more on a shift in mindset. Experience has taught him that the biggest mistake an angler can make is clinging too tightly to yesterday’s plan.

“One of my things this year is that I want to keep an open mind,” MDJ said. “Whatever you find in practice is leaving you a lot of times and then you get stubborn and end up fishing history. I’ve struggled to pivot at times in the past, so I’m focusing on fishing a little more fluid and freer this season. If I do that, good things will come.”

That philosophy fits MDJ’s career arc. He’s never been content to fish one way or rely on a single strength. Guntersville, with its endless combinations of grass, current and roaming fish, demands adaptability.

It also demands patience. That’s something Daniels Jr. sharpened during an offseason spent far from boat docks or weigh-in stages. Those moments with family and friends, he said, help put the grind into perspective.

As the 2026 season begins, MDJ carries that balance with him. The fire is back. The confidence is locked down. The conditions are cold, the bass are wary and the margins for error are thin. But for an angler eager to compete, willing to adjust and ready to embrace the discomfort, Stage One offers exactly the kind of proving ground that can define a season.

And for Mark Daniels Jr., it all starts now.