After a stressful season in which he narrowly requalified for the Bassmaster Elite Series, Matty Wong enjoyed a month-long trip to Japan, visiting family before exploring the bass fishing scene with the country’s superstars.
The third-year Elite said his longest of five trips to Japan, which included fishing with Takumi Ito and Kenta Kimura, served multiple purposes.
“One, have a cultural experience,” Wong said. “Two, greater my Japanese education. And three, learn some new tricks and just have a good time. I think I was able to get all those things off the list. It was an incredible trip.”
Wong grew up in Hawaii, a melting pot of Asian cultures. Studying the Japanese language in college and continuing his education with a tutor, Wong can understand all but complex Japanese conversations. He brushed up during his first week in Japan while visiting his brother, his Japanese sister-in-law and their two sons.
“I got to play uncle for a bit,” he said.
Then it was time to hang with fellow Elites, who helped him create a four-part Japan YouTube series. Wong visited tackle shops and fished the Tone River with Ito, who weeks earlier won the prestigious Basser Magazine All-Star Classic there. They also fished Lake Yamanaka in the shadow of Mt. Fuji. Then Kimura took Wong out on Lake Biwa, where the world record largemouth bass was caught.
“To take a step in their world and witness them in their space, it was incredible,” Wong said. “To be able to engage with them and listen in on conversations, it gave me a better painting of who these guys are, where they come from and what also makes them so good.”
Wong said he could see why they are two of the most famous bass fishermen in the country. Kimura, who fished all nine Elite and nine Opens tournaments last year to his second Classic berth, is the bigger star there. Ito, who has an Elite title and four Classic berths, is gaining ground, he said.
“Kenta is like the equivalent to KVD,” Wong said. “It’s pretty incredible his reach in Japan.
“Taku, with his recent Bassers Classic win, I think that really helped put him on the map. He’s still doing interviews for that.”
Ito, Kimura and 2023 Elite rookie sensation Kyoya Fujita, who Wong says is a “crazy brilliant angler,” are the latest group from Japan excelling in America. Bass fishing is “definitely more of a niche thing in Japan,” Wong said. “You can’t survive solely of tournament winnings — the money just isn’t there.”
Fans also focus more on their regional anglers, who have to carve out success before their popularity expands. Competing in the U.S. aids those branding efforts, and Wong marvels at those who find tournament success halfway around the globe in a strange land. Hanging out with Kimura and Ito, he witnessed some of the reasons why.
“The Japanese culture, whatever you’re passionate in and whatever you consider your job, they’re perfectionists,” Wong said. “The Japanese take extreme pride in their craft and skills. It’s like a redefined scrutiny to figure out things, whether that’s a bait or a bass behavior. The amount of thought and work that goes into that space, I think that’s what makes them good.”
Wong wants to follow suit. With his increasing connections to Japan, Wong he said he almost feels like an honorary member of the clan.
“It’s kind of cool to be like their token American who understands them,” he said. “I just have the utmost respect for them. Culturally, I think that’s where I connect with them the most.
“Even though I’m an American, I come from a place that is so different culturally. In Hawaii, there’s a lot of Asian culture. I’m the only American angler who communicates with these guys in their language. I speak enough where conversationally, I’m fine.”
Kimura does well conveying most any thought in English, and Ito continues to improve. While Wong admires their fishing talents, he doesn’t think their personalities have been fully revealed to American fans.
“It’s sad because of the language barrier, the U.S. fan base only knows them for mostly the comical moments,” he said, “the few interactions on LIVE vs. the more subtle humor or inside the mastermind those two anglers are.”
Casting alongside them, Wong gained insight as well as fishing knowledge. He learned Japanese fisheries are much more difficult than most in the U.S., and it was even tougher when he went this winter. It’s in part why varied techniques are further explored.
“The spring and fall, you can maybe catch a couple fish a day,” he said. “The best time is still nothing like some of the lakes in the U.S. There’s a misconception of Japan that there’s a bunch of giant bass everywhere. That’s completely false.”
Wong said he felt privileged that Ito invited him to stay in his home. Ito’s wife cooked for him, and Wong got to play “uncle” to their two children. Wong received an insider’s tour of “a couple cool shops, and some incredible food. It was just a great time.”
There were some interesting facets of a tournament Wong witnessed. With storage limited and not many large tow vehicles, boats were stored at a marina and launched lickety-split by a pair of workers.
“It was pretty fascinating to see everyone’s boats in hangars and two guys who were so incredibly skilled with fork lifts just launching them,” he said. “Then there was real comradery around weigh-ins. Every angler who fished it would stick around and watch, support their fellow fishermen.”
At the tournament, Wong reconnected with former Elite Daisuke Aoki, who had dinner with him and Ito. Also, an angler fishing the event recognized Wong from his YouTube videos, and he made Wong feel more worldwide as they discussed how he qualified to the Elites through the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Through his travels, Wong enjoyed a lot of good food, specifically amazing barbecue, sashimi, sushi and ramen. He made some good connections and gained more Japanese fans. Wong knows he has better relationships with Kimura and Ito, who he might confer with more in 2024.
After qualifying to the 2022 Elites from the Nation, Wong had three top 25s, but five finishes below 80th left him 85th in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. Last year, under the pressure of having to finish inside the top 70 in points to stay in the Elites, Wong started slowly.
“I was extremely pressured mentally, but I tried to not let it affect my performance,” he said. “I tried to be in the moment and enjoy every moment as I fish as an Elite. Given the situation I was potentially not going to have a career next year, it puts you in places you have to be at peace with whichever outcome.”
It didn’t look good early. After five events, Wong was 97th in AOY. A third-place at the Sabine River began his climb, and then he came through in the northern smallmouth events with a 42nd at Lake Champlain and a ninth at the St. Lawrence River. He ended 67th, four points inside his mark.
“I would have been gone,” he said. “It’s just one of those things, when it rolls, it rolls, things just click.
“This is how I wanted my first year to go, but I wasn’t fully committed to the electronics game. Cool. Put it on my boat, I’m in a Top 10.”
Now with some traction and more insight, Wong goes into 2024 with big ambitions. Qualifying for his second Classic is huge, and another title like his 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation championship would be sweet.
“I want a blue trophy,” he said. “I want one of those blue trophies. I don’t know which event it’s going to come. I don’t know when it’s going to come, but hopefully, it’ll make an appearance.”
