When Andy and Harrison Simm eased their boat off the trailer and into the calm morning water at Lake Guntersville, there wasn’t much talking. Just the sound of a trolling motor humming and the light slap of waves against fiberglass. You could tell this wasn’t just another weekend for the Johnson City, Tennessee, duo. It was something they’d been waiting on for a long time.
“It’s my second Toyota Owners Tournament,” Andy said with a grin, glancing over at his son. “But it’s Harrison’s first. That makes it really special.”
The father-and-son pair grew up fishing side by side across East Tennessee. Douglas Lake is their home water and if you spend more than five minutes around them, you’ll hear its name come up. It’s where Andy taught Harrison to cast, how to follow seasonal patterns and how to slow down when the fish aren’t biting.
“This time of year, when Douglas starts dropping, it just gets good,” Andy said. “You can find ’em shallow, deep, scattered. It’s a fun puzzle. We catch a lot of fish that way in the fall. Hopefully some of that magic traveled with us down here.”
Guntersville, of course, is a whole different animal. It’s one of those storied fisheries that can make you look like a hero or send you home scratching your head. And last week, it leaned toward the latter for most folks.
“Our practice was tough,” Harrison admitted. “We caught a few but nothing to write home about. Still, it’s Guntersville. You’re always one cast away from everything changing here.”
That kind of optimism is exactly what you expect from the Simms. They’re competitive, sure. But it’s clear they’re more interested in what this event represents: time together, doing something they love.
A Truck, a Ticket and a Tradition
For Andy, the road to this tournament started with a truck. A 2022 Toyota Tundra, to be exact.
“I’ve had two Toyotas before this one,” Andy said. “Never had a single issue. Just solid, dependable vehicles. When this one qualified us for the tournament, it felt like the perfect excuse to come back.”
It’s not just Andy’s truck that tells the story, though. His old 2017 Tundra, now driven by Harrison, is part of the family lore too.
“Dad handed it down to me a few years ago,” Harrison said with a laugh. “I love that truck. It’s kind of like our family’s trophy. It hauls the boat, hauls the gear, hauls the memories. Everything we’ve done on the water, that truck seems like it’s been part of it.”
Fresh off earning his degree in Supply Chain Management from East Tennessee State University, Harrison’s stepping into this tournament as both a competitor and a student. But what stands out most about him isn’t his knowledge or confidence. It’s his demeanor.
You can tell a lot about an angler by how they act off the water and that fits Harrison perfectly. Quietly respectful. Well-spoken. The kind of young man who says, “yes sir” and “thank you” to the tournament staff without thinking twice.
“It’s not just about catching fish,” Andy said. “It’s about how you carry yourself. I’m proud of the man he’s become.”
The Tournament Atmosphere
Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners events have a unique energy filled with part competition and part family reunion. Hundreds of anglers fill the docks, all linked by a shared loyalty to the brand and to the sport.
“Honestly, I’m blown away by how well they treat us,” Harrison said. “The hospitality, the giveaways, getting to talk with the Team Toyota pros. It all makes you feel appreciated. It’s more than just a tournament to me.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. The camaraderie here runs deep. Even if the fishing is tough, laughter carries across the docks. Conversations about water temperature, bait selection and ‘what they should be doing right now’ fill the air.
Andy and Harrison spent their practice days sampling grass lines and shell beds in mid-lake areas, hoping to pattern something consistent. They rotated between several baits, but Guntersville can humble even the best anglers and bites were few and far between.
“You can’t get discouraged out here,” Andy said. “This lake has a way of flipping the switch. You might struggle all day and then catch a five-pounder on your last cast. That’s what keeps you going.”
Beyond the Weight
The Simms didn’t talk much about weight expectations or big-fish spots. Their conversations drift toward stories and about years of fishing together, road trips and early mornings where the only sound is a reel handle turning.
“Some of my favorite memories are with Dad on Douglas,” Harrison said. “Fog on the water, cool mornings, the boat idling out… you never forget that stuff.”
That’s the undercurrent that makes the Toyota Owners Tournament special. Yes, it’s about competition. But it’s also about gratitude for good trucks, good people and good moments.
You can see that gratitude in everything the Simms do. The way Harrison politely thanks every volunteer. The way they rib each other just enough to keep things light but never cross a line.
“I tell him all the time,” Andy said with a chuckle, “You don’t realize how fast this stuff goes. Enjoy it while you can.”
The Real Reward
As the sun dipped behind the Alabama hills on the final day, the Simms just smiled. No stress. No frustration. Just quiet appreciation.
Whether they weighed a limit or just a couple of keepers didn’t seem to matter.
“This,” Andy said, gesturing toward the lake, “is what it’s about. Time on the water with my son. You can’t put a price on that.”
Harrison nodded. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
It’s about fathers teaching sons. Sons growing into men. Trucks that carry memories. Lakes that tell stories.
Guntersville didn’t give up its secrets easily this year. But for the Simms, the reward will never be measured in ounces or pounds. It will be measured in smiles, in laughter and in another page added to their family’s fishing story.
Because when the lines are reeled in and the boats are back on the trailer, what lingers longest isn’t the fish. It’s the bond that fishing built.
