I have taken a few Guide trips with Josh on Mille Lacs. Actually drew him to judge on Fork two years ago. I know him a little. He’s a good guy. He has the ability to stay in the Elites but with just one year before after year two when they look at your finishes to determine year 3 eligibility Josh didn’t have the numbers to make the cut. 30.4% of 100% average. Josh made no excuses said he was “consistently mediocre and lacked top 10 finishes”. I have rode with a number of the Elite Guys over the years from perennial top level finishers to guys who wanted to be there but admitted it was probably above their pay grade but they qualified and wanted to give it a go. To me from what I have seen Josh is good enough to fish at that level. The two year look to qualify for year three will take down some solid tournament guys.

He is going to focus on creating content with his wife Bri who specializes in that. He will fish the Northern and Southern Opens.

If you want a solid guide on Mills Lacs I would strongly recommend him. He lives near Hunters Point resort which is a good place to stay and go out of. I have wanted to get back up on that pond with him but just haven’t been able to make the time. I was in Minneapolis on business 10 days before the small mouth opener this spring.,

The guys that end up being good enough to stay on the Elites make it happen, that's just the way it is.

You probably will several that might not stick until their second or third qualifying with two year to determine 3rd year eligibility. Not easy to qualify thru the Opens. Once you get a few years it’s a little easier to stick thru a bad period.

I think the Elites thing is/was a dream for him, he'll make more money by guiding on Mille Lacs though.

I think he was one of the anglers that left FLW tour after MLF bought them.

It’s not that simple- some people don’t want to be on the road all the time away from family.