Paul Mueller fished the Northern Division of the Bassmaster Opens this year in the hope he could finish high enough in the points to earn an invitation to the Elite Series for 2015. That plan fizzled with three finishes in the 70s or lower.
He rebounded in grand fashion over the weekend by winning the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship with an incredible final-day rally at the Ouachita River in Monroe, La. The victory not only earned him a return trip to the Bassmaster Classic – he was the runner-up to Randy Howell this year – he also earned that elusive invite to join the Elites next year.
Each year, the B.A.S.S. Nation champion has the option to fish the Elite Series the following year. Some accept the invite (Brandon Palaniuk and Jamie Horton are among the recent champs who've made the jump) while others decline for various reasons, most of which are financial. When 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation winner Jeff Lugar passed on the Elite Series invite last year, Mueller also declined as he felt it could be too much too soon. This time around is different, the Connecticut native says.
“I really want to fish the Elites,” Mueller told BassFan on Sunday. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do and this has put me one step closer, even closer than last year. I feel better this time around because of how the Classic went and I hope in a way, I’ve proved to some companies that have been watching that it wasn’t a fluke and that I can do it and I am passionate about it.”
While he’s eager to accept the invite, he needs to be sure it makes sense for him financially to jump to the sport’s top level. He previously fished the FLW Tour as a co-angler from 2008-11 and won the co-angler title at the Forrest Wood Cup in 2011.
“I want to see if I can get the type of support I need,” he said. “I’m ready to do the commitment. I just need to get the support. Last year, I declined because it was pretty short notice and I didn’t want to rush into it. This time, if I can make it work I will.”
