Larry Nixon's first season on Bassmaster's top tour since 2005 hasn't gone the way he'd hoped from a competitive perspective – he's posted just one Top-50 finish in six outings and sits in 94th place on the Elite Series points list. Nonetheless, the 72-year-old Arkansan says the season has been enjoyable.
"The thing I've enjoyed the most is the friendliness of all the young guys fishing B.A.S.S.," said the former Bassmaster Classic champion and two-time Angler of the Year. "They've welcomed me back with open arms and it's been a real pleasure getting to know a bunch of them.
"They've gone out of their way to come up and day hi and that's made it a good year for me."
He logged his best finish of the campaign – 26th – in the most recent event at the Sabine River.
"That one wasn't about (forward-facing sonar)," he said. "It was a true fishing tournament where you put your head down and fish all day and that's the way I know how to do it. It was nice to finally have one of those."
He considers himself competent with his Lowrance ActiveTarget units, but said he's unable to base a pre-tournament game plan around them.
"I know how to use them and I've got full faith in them, but as far as practice is concerned, it's like bed-fishing," he said. "You just have to put your rods up and go hunting all day and that's not in my DNA. I've always fished my way through problems and that just hasn't been there for me."
He'd like to compete on the Elite Series again in 2024, but he won't commit to that at this point.
"I really can't answer that honestly," he said. "A lot of it depends on the sponsors – if they're ready for me to retire, then I'll retire and so be it.
"I'll fish these last three tournaments and we'll see how they turn out, and hopefully we can go on down the road."
