As the dog days of summer give way to the promise of fall, Team Toyota pro Matt Arey finds himself in a familiar juggling act. The Bassmaster Elite Series veteran is gearing up for the final "swing" of the 2025 season, with practice for the St Clair event looming large, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for his other passion: deer hunting. For Arey, a North Carolina native known for his methodical approach and relentless work ethic, this time of year is a high-wire act of preparation, focus and anticipation.
"Fishing is my job, so even though I’m looking forward to deer season, I focus much more on fishing this time of year," Arey said, his voice carrying the cadence of a man who’s spent decades balancing dual obsessions.
The St. Clair Elite marks a critical point in Arey’s season. Lake St. Clair, a sprawling fishery straddling the U.S.-Canada border, is a smallmouth bass mecca that demands precision, adaptability and a deep understanding of the lake’s nuances. For Arey, preparation for this tournament is an all-consuming endeavor, one that requires him to lean heavily on his experience and cutting-edge technology.
"Practice for St. Clair starts this week," Arey said. "I’ve been in the boat a lot lately preparing for the next swing. When I go up North, I get really OCD about checking my motor bolts and all my screws in the boat due to the potential of rough water. Also, licensing purchases take a surprising amount of time because you have to have three different licenses depending on where you decide to fish."
Arey’s attention to detail is well respected among his peers. The big water of St. Clair, coupled with the logistical challenges of navigating international fishing regulations, mean that every aspect of his gear and strategy must be dialed in. He’s not taking any chances, especially on a fishery where conditions can change in an instant.
"This tournament is going to be dominated by technology, finesse and history, in my opinion," Arey said. "I’ll be relying heavily on my Lowrance Active Target 2. I can see myself employing jerkbaits, underspins, single swimbaits and drop shots."
Lake St. Clair’s reputation as a world-class fishery is well-earned but it’s not without its challenges. The lake’s vast expanses of subtle humps, grass beds and sand flats create a complex puzzle for anglers. Add in the heavy fishing pressure from both recreational and competitive anglers and the smallmouth bass that call St. Clair home are becoming increasingly wary.
"It seems like on St. Clair, the fish get tougher to catch each time we visit due to fishing pressure," Arey noted. "But heck, I can’t blame anyone for wanting to fish there. It’s an incredible fishery!"
Arey expects the tournament to unfold in a post-spawn pattern with fish congregating around key structural elements.
"St. Clair consists of a lot of humps and grass," he said. "It’s a super cool fishery. The big sand flats also play big-time where the gobies and perch live. I can’t wait to get up there and have a great time chasing those brown bass.”
A different kind of hunt
While Arey’s immediate focus is on the Elite Series, his mind occasionally drifts to the rolling hills of his North Carolina hunting properties, where another season is fast approaching. Deer season, for Arey, is more than a hobby—it’s a way of life that complements his competitive fishing career. But with a demanding tournament schedule and welcomed family responsibilities, finding time to prepare for bow season, which opens on September 13 in his home state, requires careful planning.
"I get too busy with my fishing career and family," Arey admitted. "When it comes to prep for deer season, I have to designate a specific time to knock it out and get done with it. That’s kind of how my brain works."
This year, Arey and a friend dedicated an entire July weekend to getting ahead of the game.
"My friend and I spent a whole weekend in July to get everything done," he said. "Putting cameras out, hanging stands, trimming limbs and all of that not-so-fun stuff."
The effort paid off. Arey’s trail cameras are now in place, his stands are hung, and his properties are primed for the season.
"Everything is out and ready," he said. "I just need some bigger deer on camera, though!"
Arey’s approach to deer hunting is as meticulous as his fishing. He and his neighbor manage roughly 750 acres, where they maintain food plots and mineral sites to support a healthy deer population. But this year, Arey is taking a measured approach to his harvest strategy.
"This year is kind of a weird in-between year on my properties," he explained. "From what I’ve seen, they’re all beautiful deer, but we’re going to let all the bucks walk probably."
But Arey’s trail cameras have already revealed some exciting activity, with bucks forming large bachelor groups—a sight that never fails to captivate him each late-summer season.
"The bucks are in big-time bachelor groups right now," he said. "One group has seven bucks, and the other group has six bucks. That’s so cool to see. I will never get tired of it."
The balancing act
For many anglers, the Bassmaster Elite Series is a singular pursuit, a year-long marathon that demands unwavering dedication. But for Arey, the rhythm of his life is defined by the interplay between fishing, family and hunting: three pursuits that feed his soul in different ways. The challenge lies in finding harmony between the three, especially during the late summer when seasons collide.
Arey’s ability to compartmentalize is key. His fishing preparation is a masterclass in focus—hours spent on the water, fine-tuning equipment and studying lake maps. His Lowrance Active Target 2, a cornerstone of his St. Clair strategy, allows him to visualize fish and structure in real time, giving him an edge in a fishery where inches can separate a check from a blank.
That mental discipline is what sets Arey apart, both on the water and in the woods. Whether he’s chasing a tournament paycheck or waiting for a whitetail to step into a shooting lane, Arey approaches each challenge with the same intensity and preparation. His ability to pivot between the two worlds—fishing and hunting—speaks to his deep connection to the outdoors and his knack for thriving under pressure.
