PROFILE :
BRANT
GRIMM
CHURCH HILL , TENNESSEE
For three days in June on Douglas Lake , Brant Grimm lived a waking dream . A local to Douglas and neighboring Cherokee Lake , Grimm got to fish his home waters for an opportunity to win $ 100,000 and his spot in the history books as an All-American champion .
In three days , the former Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro put 46 pounds , 9 ounces on the scales , edging out Leslie Brandenburg by less than 2 pounds for the victory and the glory . Now , a couple months removed from that fateful tournament , Grimm is pondering a future that could include a return to the national level sooner rather than later .
Whatever he decides , though , the general contractor from Church Hill , Tennessee can hang his hat on joining an elite fraternity of anglers lucky enough to hold an All-American champion ’ s trophy above their heads .
QA &
At the All-American , after you hoisted the winner ’ s trophy and your $ 100,000 check , I asked you how long you thought it ’ d take for it all to sink in . What ’ s the verdict ? Has the reality really hit you now ?
It has . Reality ’ s hit me . It really took me a couple weeks before I didn ’ t have to wake up every morning and pinch myself .
By Justin Onslow
PHOTOS BY ROB MATSUURA
During that same interview , I asked you about the prospects of you returning to the Pro Circuit . You didn ’ t seem too big on the idea at the time , but you told Jody White and Kyle Wood on the MLF podcast recently that maybe you were leaning a little more in that direction .
I am . I mean , obviously , anybody that wins the All-American , that ’ s part of the thought process – that you ’ re going to take the next step and try it . I ’ m definitely considering it and thinking about it more and trying to reach out to some potential sponsors .
80 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021