New York angler Kyle Patrick will miss the final two Bassmaster Elite Series events this year due to the lingering effects of a tick bite he suffered earlier this month.
Patrick made the news public on his social media pages today.
Patrick is currently 23rd in the Elite Series Angler of the Year standings, safely inside the cut line (top 40) to qualify for the 2026 Bassmaster Classic. Missing the final two tournaments – Lake St. Clair and the Mississippi River – will more than likely cause him to fall out of contention for a Classic berth.
Earlier this month, Patrick was hospitalized with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. He was fitted with a vest defibrillator, which monitors his heart activity and delivers a shock to restore a normal heartbeat if it detects a life-threatening arrhythmia. Doctors instructed him to avoid any strenuous activity for at least three months.
Patrick is a 28-year-old native of Cooperstown, N.Y., and in his second season as an Elite Series competitor.
