Photos: Greg Hackney’s Year

Greg Hackney’s road to the Bassmaster Toyota Angler of the Year title was a roller coaster ride ending with a grand bang.

Greg Hackney’s road to the Bassmaster Toyota Angler of the Year title was a roller coaster ride ending with a grand bang.
Greg Hackney’s road to the Bassmaster Toyota Angler of the Year title was a roller coaster ride ending with a grand bang.
The first event of the year at Lake Seminole found him in 100th place after Day 1, but a strong Day 2 would move him into 48th place and he would finish the event in 38th place.
The first event of the year at Lake Seminole found him in 100th place after Day 1, but a strong Day 2 would move him into 48th place and he would finish the event in 38th place.
His come from way behind, with a strong limit on Day 2 would start to define how his year would go.
His come from way behind, with a strong limit on Day 2 would start to define how his year would go.
It would be the lowest he would sit in the AOY standings for the rest of the season.
It would be the lowest he would sit in the AOY standings for the rest of the season.
The next event was at the St. Johns River, where flipping and pitching to grass is one of his strengths.
The next event was at the St. Johns River, where flipping and pitching to grass is one of his strengths.
He put together a respectable 16th place finish at the St. Johns River and his climb up the standings was cemented.
He put together a respectable 16th place finish at the St. Johns River and his climb up the standings was cemented.
By the third event at Table Rock, he was flirting around the top of the standings with a third place finish. Even though the AOY race appeared to be in the hands of Mark Davis, who finished second there.
By the third event at Table Rock, he was flirting around the top of the standings with a third place finish. Even though the AOY race appeared to be in the hands of Mark Davis, who finished second there.
With all eyes on Davis, Hackney finished in 34th at Toledo Bend in the fourth Elite Series event and it appeared as if he was on his way to having a good year by Elite Series standards.
With all eyes on Davis, Hackney finished in 34th at Toledo Bend in the fourth Elite Series event and it appeared as if he was on his way to having a good year by Elite Series standards.
Lake Dardanelle, though, turned the tide for the Arkansas native, fishing in his birth state in the fifth event.
Lake Dardanelle, though, turned the tide for the Arkansas native, fishing in his birth state in the fifth event.
Hackney had spent much of his early tournament years on the lake.
Hackney had spent much of his early tournament years on the lake.
That knowledge helped him salvage days in an event that many of the anglers said was not indicative of Lake Dardanelle.
That knowledge helped him salvage days in an event that many of the anglers said was not indicative of Lake Dardanelle.
Another third place finish there and a huge stumble by Davis put Hackney in second place in the AOY standings.
Another third place finish there and a huge stumble by Davis put Hackney in second place in the AOY standings.
He kept up his roll of good, strong finishes going at BassFest on Chickamauga with a 6th place finish.
He kept up his roll of good, strong finishes going at BassFest on Chickamauga with a 6th place finish.
But he would stumble in a way at the Delaware River having his worst finish of the year in 48th place.
But he would stumble in a way at the Delaware River having his worst finish of the year in 48th place.
His saving grace was that for all the AOY leaders in the race, the stumble was contagious and it left Hackney in the lead with one regular season event left, plus the AOY championship.
His saving grace was that for all the AOY leaders in the race, the stumble was contagious and it left Hackney in the lead with one regular season event left, plus the AOY championship.
Like the first day at Lake Seminole, Hackney viewed Lake Cayuga like he was in a hole and needed to fight his way out.
Like the first day at Lake Seminole, Hackney viewed Lake Cayuga like he was in a hole and needed to fight his way out.
He did more than that. By targeting fewer, but larger bites
He did more than that. By targeting fewer, but larger bites
But it didn’t turn into fewer. Instead he caught lots of them.
But it didn’t turn into fewer. Instead he caught lots of them.
Over and..
Over and..
over again he brought in big fish.
over again he brought in big fish.
Once again targeting grass beds.
Once again targeting grass beds.
Hackney put together big stringers every day of the event.
Hackney put together big stringers every day of the event.
Winning that event by more than 10 pounds.
Winning that event by more than 10 pounds.
It was his second Elite Series championship.
It was his second Elite Series championship.
Midway through the contest you could see Hackney was making a serious run at the AOY title.
Midway through the contest you could see Hackney was making a serious run at the AOY title.
Firmly in the driver’s seat.
Firmly in the driver’s seat.
The win gave him a 15-point lead going into the AOY Championship on Bay de Noc.
The win gave him a 15-point lead going into the AOY Championship on Bay de Noc.
<p>That event was marked by three days of wind cancellations.</p>
That event was marked by three days of wind cancellations.
And Hackney was able to catch enough to stave off a charge by Todd Faircloth in the two days of fishing.
And Hackney was able to catch enough to stave off a charge by Todd Faircloth in the two days of fishing.
But the fishing wasn’t easy.
But the fishing wasn’t easy.
But he fared well enough to win the AOY title with a 14-point cushion.
But he fared well enough to win the AOY title with a 14-point cushion.
The roller coaster ride of the year left Hackney speechless and in tears in one of the more emotional trophy ceremonies BASS has ever seen.Much of that emotion was directed to his family, who he said, “had sacrificed so much.”
The roller coaster ride of the year left Hackney speechless and in tears in one of the more emotional trophy ceremonies BASS has ever seen.Much of that emotion was directed to his family, who he said, “had sacrificed so much.”
They were rewarded in their own way with an exceptional smallmouth trip the next day. A fitting end for a fishing family with the world’s best as the patriarch
They were rewarded in their own way with an exceptional smallmouth trip the next day. A fitting end for a fishing family with the world’s best as the patriarch