2026 Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray Day 2: Bryant Smith Scores Lead!

Canadians: Kung 14th, Gustafson 45, Gallant 66th, Cory Johnston 70th & Chris Johnston 75th 

California pro Bryant Smith has taken the lead on Day 2 of the Tedy's Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with a two-day total of 46 pounds, 6 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

COLUMBIA, S.C. — One of the oldest and most revered angling axioms states: “Don’t leave fish to find fish.”

Honoring that timeless truth, Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., sacked up a five-bass limit of 24 pounds, 7 ounces and improved to first place at the Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with a two-day total of 46-6.

Smith, who placed 13th on Day 1 with 21-15, heads into Semifinal Saturday with a lead of 1-9 over Paul Marks.

“It was just an amazing day,” Smith said. “I’ve been really fortunate to get the right bites at the right time.”

Days 1 and 2 saw Smith starting on the blueback herring spawn, which typically lasts only an hour or two past daybreak. The first day saw the dimmer lighting of cloudy, rainy conditions extending that activity longer, but with Day 2’s sunnier start, the baitfish congregations concluded as normal.

Knowing that the bass would remain in the general area and continue feeding whenever more herring crossed their radar, Smith committed his day to a focused strategy.

“I’ve been starting in the same spot both mornings and, between two points, I can usually get a limit with a couple good ones,” Smith said. “I know where they’re sitting and that’s the whole key. I’m using my Lowrance ActiveTarget to see if they’re up there.

“You have to be patient. I probably sat and Power-Poled down for an hour, then I’d rotate around, come back and sit there again.”

2025 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork Day 3: Fujita Lead with 100lbs for 15 bass!

Canadians Chris Johnston 15th, Cory Johnston 17th & Gallant 30th 

Japan's Kyoya Fujita maintains the lead heading into Championship Sunday of the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a three-day total of 100 pounds, 10 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS) 

BASS Press Release

YANTIS, Texas — Kyoya Fujita is a man on a mission and he made a clear statement to that effect by catching a Day 3 limit of 35 pounds, 10 ounces and maintain his lead at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork.

Placing fourth on Day 1 with 31-0, Fujita added a second-round limit of 34-0 and took over the lead by a 2 1/4-pound margin. Semifinal Saturday saw him catch the event’s largest bag and boost his cumulative total to 100-10.

“I am very happy,” Fujita said. “I’m having a good week.”

The Bassmaster Century Club recognizes anglers who reach the 100-pound mark in a four-day Elite event. Those who achieve that feat receive the coveted Century Club belt.

Fujita’s amazing accomplishment is only the fourth time an Elite angler has reached 100 pounds in three days of competition. The 2008 Elite tournament at Falcon Lake saw three competitors, the late Aaron Martens (109-8), Mark Davis (102-1) and Byron Velvick (101-12) reach that mark.

“One hundred in three days — very good,” Fujita said.

Since Day 1, Fujita has committed to a section of Caney Creek not far from takeoff. He’s using forward facing sonar to aggressively hunt down large bass amid submerged timber. Selectively casting to quality fish, Fujita’s not catching a lot, but he’s more concerned with quality than quantity.

Consistent with his week’s pattern, Fujita started off catching 3-pound class fish, with his better weights coming mid-morning through early afternoon.

After a late-morning round of trading the (unofficial) lead with Paul Marks, Fujita took over the top spot with a 6-pounder around noon. An hour and a half later, he set the hook on a 9-pound Lake Fork giant that had him noticeably animated.

That big fish — the day’s largest — did not make life easy on Fujita, who was fishing a finesse bait on a spinning rod.