Taku Talks to Smallmouth
DID DR. DOLITTLE actually talk to the animals, as in speak their specific language? Or, did he simply understand how to interpret signs, gestures and responses? Debatable, but the same line of thinking seems relevant to Takumi Ito’s impressively rapid mastery of smallmouth bass fishing — and his intriguing claims of communicative ability.
Quick refresher: Qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series through the 2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Opens, where he notched three Top 10s, including a second at Toledo Bend, Ito entered his rookie season with zero smallmouth bass experience. At 2020’s conclusion, the standout from Chiba, Japan, owned a trio of Elite Top 10s — all on smallmouth fisheries: St. Clair (10th), Lake Champlain (10th) and the St. Lawrence River (sixth).
Flash forward to July 2021, and Ito closed his sophomore year by winning the final Elite event on the St. Lawrence. Understandably, some pondered, “How did this happen?”
No slight to Ito — he won fair and square.
