Since beginning my career as a writer (which I still find funny) I have had the opportunity to get to meet spend time with a lot of cool people. From guides, manufacturers, TV personalities, etc., I have enjoyed every minute of it. But this time I got to interview someone unique and special right after an achievement of a lifetime.

Through a mutual connection, Todd Goade and I met a couple of years ago for the first time at a fishing show. For some reason, both of us know Jim Lumpkin with Lake Country Fishing. First and foremost, I knew Todd as the owner of Pulse Fishing. He has supported me by sending bait to test. Todd has always been open and willing to give me hints and advice on those baits. I have written about catching lots of hybrids, stripersand whites on his scrounger head jig. Some of you may know Todd as a truly world-class fisherman who lately has set the world on fire.

2023 was a year unlike any other for Todd. Picture this: From March through October in six events from Pickwick Lake to Lanier, our man placed in the top-10 of all of them, capturing a grand total of 1,470 AOY points and ending the year 28 points ahead of his closest competitor. In tournament angling, that is pretty much running away withit folks! Also, just as a side note, from everything I can tell I don’t think anyone else has run a season without dropping out of the top-10 in any of the league tournaments.He had a grand total of $88,250 in NPFL winnings for the year through six events as well. But who’s counting at this point!

2024 is shaping up to be just as good for our friend, just in a different manner. Yes, he will still be on the NPFL tour and he will still be slinging bass in the boat. In addition, his company will be releasing an exciting rod line! Yep. Fishing rods. In this market, if you do it well and provide customer service, quality products, and a customer connection, you will do well. Strike King, Costa Del Mar and Yeti are all proof of that. Well, Todd and the folks at Pulse will release two new lines of products for 2024 — a budget-friendly rod series done by them and a custom line up designed by Elite Series pro Matt Airey. That lineup will include a cranking rod made of a composite material that will work great not only for cranking but should line up to be an outstanding bladed jig rod. I, for one, can’t wait to try it and I know that since Todd likes to toss a shakey head ALMOST as much as me, his medium spinning rod is probably going to be right on the money and it will end up in my boat.

In the end, a conversation with someone like Todd gives insight into tournament life and shows us what will happen to fishing as a whole because no other sport is as brand and angler loyal as bass fishing. We follow our anglers with more intensity and more devotion than our football and baseball teams. Anglers traditionally listen to the tournament pros they most identify with regarding purchasing equipment, boats, electronics and bait. We buy rods because Todd fishes those; we buy Zoom because Brandon Cobb or someone who might not even be alive anymore told us they were the best and treated us like friends. In the end fisherman like to be associated with our heroes. I, for one, am glad to be associated in even a small way with Todd.

Tight lines and following seas y’all!

Outdoors columnist James Pressley can be reached at jameskpressley@gmail.com .