Learn more about he career and background of current Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryant Smith.
I’ve heard two different versions of your quote-unquote origin story into bass fishing, whether it’s watching Kevin VanDam win the 2001 Bassmaster Classic or seeing the lure catalog in your grandfather’s shop. So, with the intention of this interview being an in-depth analysis of your journey to the Elites, are there any other angles to your story that remain untold.
Bryant Smith: “There’s a lot in between both of those. You know my love of fishing in general started with the lure catalog in my grandfather’s workshop. Gosh, I don’t even know how old I was, I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8. Then my dad bought a boat for us when I was 10.” Bryant continued through a chuckle, “I know that! And, that’s when I got kind of heavy in the bass fishing. When I was 10 I also saw Kevin VanDam win in 2001, and it all just kinda came together during that time.”
You traveled the infamously difficult path from the West Coast to the Elites. Are there any special advantages or viewpoints you think this uphill battle has given you?
Smith: “Yeah, absolutely. There’s a lot to coming from the not-so-regular areas. Like the Southeast region, when you don’t come from that area, you’re always traveling. Whether it’s the West Coast, Canada, or the guys from Japan or whatever. You know it always adds a little extra, and it’s more difficult no doubt with the travel where you’re going to leave your boat — that list just goes on and on. But, that being said it will weed out some guys, and it’s not for everyone. You really have to love it to do it like that. I can’t imagine some of the Japanese anglers who just leave their country and go to a whole other country giving everything up to chase this dream.
“There’s a lot of motivation to coming out of the West Coast because there’s not a lot of me; there’s not a lot of West Coast anglers. There’s Matty Wong, maybe Palaniuk too … there’s only a handful of western guys. I put a lot of pressure on myself to represent the West Coast because I know we’ve got some special stuff out here, some special anglers. There’s a lot of cool people out here who motivate me to power through those more difficult times.”
Your second-place finish at Lake Hartwell in 2022 placed the final nail in the coffin of your Bassmaster Open run and allowed you to move up to the Elites. Is there anything special from that competition or a specific moment that made you realize this may be your shot at the big leagues?
Smith: “Yes there was. It’s kind of weird how we grab onto little moments. I knew where I was in points, and I knew I had a shot going into that tournament. Day 1 I had a decent day, and when they updated the points that night I was in the Elite Series qualifications. So I go through the motions that night, tie everything up. I was a late boat Day 1, but I was like fourth or fifth the second day. I push off the dock and I remember just kind of taking in the moment. Destin Demarion was in front of me, and I just stared at his motor thinking this could be the day I qualify for the Elite Series. That just stuck with me. You know the fishing that day I had some little good things that went right, but that was what really stuck with me.”
The 2023 season will likely be remembered as the year of the rookie with four of nine tournaments won by newcomers. What was that experience like being among one of the greatest rookie groups the Elites Series has ever seen?
Smith: “We all knew going into it this would be one of the strongest classes there had ever been, and four out of nine that’s unheard of — we had two in the Top 10, and I finished 13th. The Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race was incredible. I led it for like two days, and that was cool, but they pushed me the whole time and motivated me the whole time. Knowing how good they were motivated me to bring my A-game just to keep up with them because they were incredible. It was something to behold, and it was certainly special to be part of that rookie group.”
Last year, you took home a smallmouth record at St. Lawrence River that has stood for 25 years, and you managed to break it during your very first season. Is there anything you’d like to say to Chuck Economou who held the title before you?
Smith: “It’s a pretty cool record, and I hope I do it justice. It’s not a record you think about often. You know, everyone thinks of Dean Rojas with his 45 pounds, but you don’t think about the smallmouth record. But, to actually break the record, it was really cool, and hopefully I can hold it for as long as he did. Because you know 25 years, that’s a long time in bass fishing, especially with how advanced everything is going.
“It was interesting because Dave Mercer actually pulled me aside after Day 2 or 3 and was like, ‘I didn’t think you had the record,’ and he is incredible with his stats. So he goes and pulls me to the side and says, ‘I didn’t think you had the record because the guy who held the record before you actually weighed in at 30 or 31 pounds, but he was three or four minutes late.’ So with the penalty, it was only locked in at 29. He remembered the weight but not the penalty being involved. So I had no idea the record was even a thing until after I got off the stage. Emily who works for B.A.S.S. comes up to me with a piece of paper and asks, ‘Did you know what the smallmouth record was?’ Well I had no idea, and she had on a piece of paper, I think it was the top five smallmouth weights on there. I weighed 29-5, and the top one on there was 29-1. You just never go into your rookie year and think, ‘I’m going to set the smallmouth record.’ So that was crazy.”
