Bryan Schmitt is too measured and too calm to say it outright, but in his voice it’s clear that he believes he has unfinished business in Knoxville. He finished as the runner-up to Jeff Gustafson here in 2023 by just over a pound and a half, the best result of his four Bassmaster Classic appearances.
But second place, while certainly not the “first loser,” is a distinctly unhappy place to end up in what effectively amounts to a winner-take-all event. Schmitt takes some solace in that performance, but after two days of official practice he knows that he can’t rest on what he did three years ago.
“I think that past knowledge helps,” he said. “This lake, more than any other Tennessee River lake I’ve been on, fits my style as a river guy. I feel confident right now. Today I developed one little deal, but tomorrow the goal is to do a complete 180 and develop another deal.”…