Bryan Schmitt Secures Third Elite Title at Lake Champlain

Schmitt’s path to victory required a late-stage tactical pivot. After leading a strong charge on Saturday with 23 pounds, 8 ounces, he entered the final round facing shifted wind currents that rendered his previous hotspots unproductive. Forced to abandon his primary game plan, he spent the day hopping between isolated rubble, rock veins, and boulder fields north of Plattsburgh. Using a SPRO Rock Crawler Crankbait and a variety of Neko and drop-shot rigs, he managed a final limit of 18 pounds, 13 ounces to hold off the field.

For the Deale, Maryland native, the lake has become a site of consistent professional success. This win marks his third victory at the venue, following titles in the 2016 Northern Open and the 2021 Bassmaster Elite. While Schmitt admitted to feeling uncertain about his final weight after losing two significant fish late in the day, his cumulative total proved just enough to surpass Johnston’s 80-7 effort. Seth Feider rounded out the podium in third place with 79-12, having shifted his final-day strategy to focus exclusively on largemouth bass in deep grass.