This morning during practice we found Taylor Smith fishing deep into a cove throwing a topwater. He caught one small bass while we were watching him.
Smith qualified for the 2022 Bassmaster Classic by finishing second in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. Smith also competed in the 2020 Classic on Lake Guntersville where he finished 41st.
He is from Valleyford, Washington, which is a 2,500-mile drive from Lake Hartwell.
There were some questions about whether Smith would be able to compete in the 2022 Classic. His wife is battling a serious illness, and Smith was feeling like he might need to stay home. But the word we hear from B.A.S.S. Nation chief Jon Stewart is that she’s doing well enough to be at the Classic this week. Those of us at Bassmaster send up prayers this week for the Smiths.