Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., is leading after Day 1 of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River with 29 pounds, 5 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

August 24, 2023

CLAYTON, N.Y. — Momentum matters, and three days after notching the second Top 10 of his career, Bryant Smith kept his season rolling in a major way.

The rookie from Roseville, Calif., weighed in the heaviest single-day, all-smallmouth catch in Bassmaster history Thursday — a 29-pound, 5-ounce limit that leads Day 1 of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

“I have no words,” Smith said. “That was insane. That was probably the best day I’ll ever have smallmouth fishing, especially in a tournament. And to do it on the final event of the Elite Series; that’s unbelievable.

“I didn’t really have a goal weight this morning. I had a really good day on Wednesday (the final day of practice). My best five weighed (approximately) 32 pounds. I’m looking forward to going back out tomorrow.”

Smith said he had his limit by 9:30 a.m. and reached his final weight a couple hours later. Anchoring his bag with a 6-9, he holds a lead of 1-2 over Canadian standout Chris Johnston, who won the 2020 St. Lawrence Elite.

Fishing near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, Smith targeted a spot he found in practice. He caught most of his bass on a drop shot with a Strike King 3X Baby Z-Too and a 1/2-ounce weight.

Smith said his spot was nothing special, except for the large group of hefty smallmouth it’s housing.

“It just has fish,” Smith said. “I fished a bunch of similar stuff and I could not get bit. I don’t know how many are left there, but I’m going to try and find out.”

Despite his record-setting performance, Smith lamented what he described as a random bite. With the day’s strong winds whipping local waters into 5- and 6-foot waves, boat control proved challenging.

“A 52-inch shaft on my Lowrance Ghost trolling motor was key to keeping that forward-facing sonar transducer and the whole trolling motor in the water,” Smith said. “I was trying to take my time, trying to be patient.

“I probably only got seven or eight bites. I know I’m around the right ones.”

While the St. Lawrence presents a different scenario from Lake Champlain, carrying forth the smallmouth focus fueled Smith’s fire.

“I’m just fishing with confidence,” he said. “I proved to myself (at the Champlain event) that I can compete against these guys with smallmouth. It gave me a big boost of confidence coming into this event.

“I’m not going to say I’m the best smallmouth fisherman in the world, but I got fortunate that I found a really, really good spot and we’ll see if holds out.”

Hailing from Otonabee, Ontario, Johnston is in second place with 28-3. Looking at the day’s forecast, Johnston set what he thought was a reasonable goal for such a blustery day. A quick start and then a key move allowed him to crush that goal.

“Going out today, I thought, ‘If I can just get 22 to 23 pounds, I can get through this windy day and then, hopefully, tomorrow I can run and gun and go for a big bag,’” he said. “Turns out, I got it today. So, hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Johnston said his day yielded a surprising opportunity he did not find during practice. Starting in Lake Ontario, he put together a solid limit and then headed into the river, where he found big fish on one of his spots.

“I’ve caught some there in the past, but I haven’t caught them there in a couple of years,” Johnston said. “I started pulling into some protected waters and I thought, ‘I’m just going to pull in here.’

“I had 26 pounds at the time and I was very happy, but I thought, ‘I’ve caught many 6s in this area; maybe I can get one here.’ I got a 6 and two 5s.”

Noting that he caught his smallmouth on a drop shot with a SPRO CJ Smasher, Johnston said he’ll work his big-fish spot into his Day 2 rotation.

“I located something pretty special today, but these things have tails and they know how to swim. I might have to relocate them tomorrow, but I’m going to have fun,” he said.

Cooper Gallant of Bowmanville, Ontario, is in third place with 26-12. With a 6-5 anchoring his catch, Gallant said his day turned out much better than he’d anticipated.

“I had the worst practice ever,” Gallant said. “I was kinda stressing a little bit last night, but I woke up this morning and felt good. I got out to the lake and got a few good bites.

“I’m looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow. It’s going to be a little (calmer). Today was pretty gnarly.”

Gallant caught his bass on a drop shot and what he described as a bottom-contact bait. Close attention to his forward-facing sonar was essential for picking out smallmouth hugging the bottom.

“It can be difficult, especially when you’re (Garmin) LiveScoping them,” Gallant said. “If they’re tight to the bottom, it can be very difficult. I was fortunate. A lot of the ones I caught today were 2 to 3 feet off the bottom, so I was able to see them — even if the waves were rocking and rolling.

“The second they’d get a few inches off the bottom and they were mixed in with rocks and boulders, they’re very hard to see.”

Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., won the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day award for his 6-11.

Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 752 points. Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., is in second with 739, followed by Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., with 709, Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., with 706 and Joey Cifuentes III of Clinton, Ark., with 696.

Cifuentes leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 696, followed by Japan’s Kyoya Fujita with 689.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Antique Boat Museum. The weigh-in will be held at the museum at 3 p.m., with only the Top 50 anglers advancing to Semifinal Saturday. Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms.

2023 Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River 8/24-8/27
St. Lawrence River, Clayton  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  29-05  104
Day 1: 5   29-05
2.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  28-03  103
Day 1: 5   28-03
3.  Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  26-12  102
Day 1: 5   26-12
4.  Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              5  25-12  101
Day 1: 5   25-12
5.  Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              5  25-10  100
Day 1: 5   25-10
5.  Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             5  25-10  100
Day 1: 5   25-10
7.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  25-06   98
Day 1: 5   25-06
8.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  25-04   97   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   25-04
9.  Taku Ito               Chiba, JAPAN             5  24-14   96
Day 1: 5   24-14
9.  Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC          5  24-14   96
Day 1: 5   24-14
11. Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi   5  24-10   94
Day 1: 5   24-10
12. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  24-07   93
Day 1: 5   24-07
12. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  24-07   93
Day 1: 5   24-07
14. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  24-01   91
Day 1: 5   24-01
15. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI        5  23-15   90
Day 1: 5   23-15
16. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  23-11   89
Day 1: 5   23-11
17. John Cox               DeBary, FL               5  23-10   88
Day 1: 5   23-10
18. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           5  23-09   87
Day 1: 5   23-09
19. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  23-07   86
Day 1: 5   23-07
20. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             5  23-03   85
Day 1: 5   23-03
21. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  22-12   84
Day 1: 5   22-12
22. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                 5  22-11   83
Day 1: 5   22-11
23. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN              5  22-10   82
Day 1: 5   22-10
24. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  22-09   81
Day 1: 5   22-09
25. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        5  22-09   80
Day 1: 5   22-09
26. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  22-08   79
Day 1: 5   22-08
27. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  22-04   78
Day 1: 5   22-04
28. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  22-03   77
Day 1: 5   22-03
29. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  5  22-01   76
Day 1: 5   22-01
30. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  21-15   75
Day 1: 5   21-15
31. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  21-14   74
Day 1: 5   21-14
32. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  21-12   73
Day 1: 5   21-12
33. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  21-11   72
Day 1: 5   21-11
34. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  21-05   71
Day 1: 5   21-05
35. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  21-03   70
Day 1: 5   21-03
35. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  21-03   70
Day 1: 5   21-03
37. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  21-02   68
Day 1: 5   21-02
38. KJ Queen               Conover, NC              5  21-00   67
Day 1: 5   21-00
39. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  20-15   66
Day 1: 5   20-15
40. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           5  20-13   65
Day 1: 5   20-13
41. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  20-11   64
Day 1: 5   20-11
42. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  20-07   63
Day 1: 5   20-07
43. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  20-06   62
Day 1: 5   20-06
43. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  20-06   62
Day 1: 5   20-06
45. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  20-06   60
Day 1: 5   20-06
46. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  20-05   59
Day 1: 5   20-05
47. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  20-04   58
Day 1: 5   20-04
48. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  20-00   57
Day 1: 5   20-00
49. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  19-15   56
Day 1: 5   19-15
49. David Williams         Newton, NC               5  19-15   56
Day 1: 5   19-15
51. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             5  19-14   54
Day 1: 5   19-14
52. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  19-12   53
Day 1: 5   19-12
53. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  19-09   52
Day 1: 5   19-09
54. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           5  19-09   51
Day 1: 5   19-09
55. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, Ontario CANADA   5  19-08   50
Day 1: 5   19-08
56. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            5  19-01   49
Day 1: 5   19-01
56. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  19-01   49
Day 1: 5   19-01
56. Frank Talley           Temple, TX               5  19-01   49
Day 1: 5   19-01
59. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  19-00   46
Day 1: 5   19-00
60. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  18-15   45
Day 1: 5   18-15
61. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  18-14   44
Day 1: 5   18-14
62. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  18-13   43
Day 1: 5   18-13
62. Bryan New              Saluda, SC               5  18-13   43
Day 1: 5   18-13
64. Chad Pipkens           DeWitt, MI               5  18-12   41
Day 1: 5   18-12
65. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA     5  18-08   40
Day 1: 5   18-08
66. Larry Nixon            Bee Branch, AR           5  18-07   39
Day 1: 5   18-07
67. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         5  18-06   38
Day 1: 5   18-06
67. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  18-06   38
Day 1: 5   18-06
69. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  18-05   36
Day 1: 5   18-05
69. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  18-05   36
Day 1: 5   18-05
71. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  18-04   34
Day 1: 5   18-04
72. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  18-03   33
Day 1: 5   18-03
73. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  18-02   32
Day 1: 5   18-02
74. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  18-01   31
Day 1: 5   18-01
75. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       5  18-00   30
Day 1: 5   18-00
76. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  18-00   29
Day 1: 5   18-00
77. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN     5  17-14   28
Day 1: 5   17-14
78. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             5  17-10   27
Day 1: 5   17-10
78. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  17-10   27
Day 1: 5   17-10
80. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ           5  17-04   25
Day 1: 5   17-04
81. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          5  17-02   24
Day 1: 5   17-02
82. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  17-00   23
Day 1: 5   17-00
83. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  16-15   22
Day 1: 5   16-15
84. Mike Huff              London, KY               5  16-13   21
Day 1: 5   16-13
85. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               5  16-07   20
Day 1: 5   16-07
86. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  16-05   19
Day 1: 5   16-05
86. Keith Poche            Cecil, AL                5  16-05   19
Day 1: 5   16-05
88. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  16-01   17
Day 1: 5   16-01
89. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  15-06   16
Day 1: 5   15-06
90. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  15-00   15
Day 1: 5   15-00
91. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            5  14-14   14
Day 1: 5   14-14
92. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  14-12   13
Day 1: 5   14-12
93. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               5  14-11   12
Day 1: 5   14-11
94. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  14-08   11
Day 1: 5   14-08
95. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA              5  14-05   10
Day 1: 5   14-05
96. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 5  14-03    9
Day 1: 5   14-03
97. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  12-09    8
Day 1: 5   12-09
98. Bradley Hallman        Edmond, OK               5  11-12    7
Day 1: 5   11-12
99. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  11-07    6
Day 1: 5   11-07
100. Skylar Hamilton        Jefferson, TN            5  11-06    5
Day 1: 5   11-06
101. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             5  11-04    4
Day 1: 5   11-04
102. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               4  05-05    3
Day 1: 4   05-05
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Paul Mueller             Naugatuck, CT       06-11      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       101       509      2012-10
———————————-
101       509      2012-10