You already had a taste of that life on the Pro Circuit in 2019 . Maybe trying again after already having that experience would make it easier to adjust .
It definitely would make it easier . It would make it a lot easier . It was tough on me that year . I didn ’ t have any running mates ; I was by myself . I didn ’ t have anybody to share information with . I think I could have a different go at it and enjoy it a little more a second time around .
It ’ s a big leap going from local tournaments on fisheries you know pretty well to going to the national level and fishing new waters .
It is . It ’ s a big leap . It ’ s totally different . It ’ s not even comparable . It takes a big team to be able to get that done . It takes a lot of help .
I guess we ’ ll just have to see what happens . In the meantime , let ’ s talk more about your All-American win . How has life changed for you since your victory ? Other than having a bigger bank account , of course .
I feel a little more respected as a fisherman . Until you win a big event , I feel like people sometimes maybe question whether you can get it done or not , and when you do get it done , it definitely gives you a little more respect with your peers .
You don ’ t strike me as a guy who craves the attention of interviews and articles and podcasts . Do you enjoy doing those things or have you at least gotten a little more used to the spotlight ?
I ’ m getting a little more used to it . I don ’ t particularly enjoy it just because I ’ m not necessarily one to brag . I try to be humble and let my fish do the bragging for me .
You fished the All-American out of a fairly old – though really cool – boat . Any plans on springing for something a little newer and perhaps something aligned with contingency bonuses in the future ?
I think if I were to make the leap ( to the Pro Circuit ), I would definitely have to get a different boat with some contingency potential . I would certainly miss this boat . It suits me . It fishes well and I won the All-American out of it . But I think you ’ d be crazy to make that commitment and not have a Phoenix . You ’ re leaving a lot of money on the line if you were to win .
How pumped are you for the Toyota Series Championship ? No pressure , but winning a pair of championships in the same calendar year would be pretty epic .
I just don ’ t even think … I ’ m not going to say it ’ s not possible , and I ’ m not counting myself out , but I don ’ t know Pickwick like I know Douglas . I ’ m obviously going to try and have fun at it , but I don ’ t see myself being a contender . I ’ m just being honest . I don ’ t have a lot of experience there , and I ’ m just going to do my best , have fun and see what happens .
Have you been fishing Pickwick at all in preparation ? What are your plans for practice ?
I haven ’ t been down there yet . I do plan on spending a couple weekends trying to familiarize myself with the place a little bit . I don ’ t think it ’ ll do a lot of good to be there now , so I ’ m just kind of waiting until a little bit closer to the time and spending as much time as I can on the lake closer to the event .
We know a lot about Brant Grimm the All-American-winning angler . What ’ s Brant Grimm the person do for fun when he ’ s not out catching bass and cashing checks ?
Well , honestly , if I ’ m not taking time to fish , I ’ m usually with my son at his baseball games or I ’ m at work . I work a lot . I work long hours . I ’ m a general contractor . Fishing is the fun . Other than that , I ’ m working trying to make a dollar .
What kind of projects do you work on as a general contractor ?
I do light commercial and mostly residential . I do a lot of additions and a lot of high-end kitchen and bathroom remodels . I ’ ve built new houses , but it ’ s not necessarily my forte . I can oversee and manage and build anything . I ’ m a
Tennessee state-licensed contractor , but I mainly have a little niche in the residential remodeling and additions side of things .
How ’ s business been the last year or so amidst the pandemic ?
It ’ s been good , actually . I think lumber prices have recently hurt me a little bit , but business has been good . People are still spending money . I think people have stayed home and they ’ ve realized they ’ ve needed some projects done more than they realized when they ’ ve been at work 50 , 60 hours a week .
You received a bottle of TINCUP whiskey when you won the All- American . Is it still sitting on a shelf for all to see or did you find something more enjoyable to do with it ?
It ’ s sitting on the shelf . I don ’ t think I ’ m going to crack it open . Maybe 10 years or so whenever I don ’ t feel like still fishing maybe I ’ ll crack it open and reminisce .
Speaking of drinks , after the All- American the MLF tournament coverage crew ran into you at a restaurant and you offered to buy us all a drink . I just wanted to say thanks again for doing that . That was a super nice gesture .
Dude , you ’ re welcome . You all do a fantastic job . All the photos and everything , you all really did a great job . You make us look like celebrities .
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 81