The name Cooper Gallant will be familiar to anyone who follows tournament bass fishing.
The 26-year-old Bowmanville native already has more than 35 US events under his belt — mostly on the Bassmaster Elite Series, although he mixes in some other tourneys when he’s north of the border.
Formerly a competitive snow and skateboarder, Gallant gave tournament fishing a try in 2012 when he signed up for the Port Perry Junior Bassmasters event. His first stateside tournament was the BASS Nation Eastern Regional High School Championship in Waddington, New York.
“My tournament partner Danny and I won that St. Lawrence River event, which fuelled the fire in trying to figure out a way to be able to do this for a living,” he said. “That tournament is when I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
Hooked young
Gallant started fishing and caught his first bass at age five. “My family moved to the shores of Lake Ontario, and I grew up fishing with my dad and brothers for a variety of species in the local bodies of water,” he said. “I was definitely hooked young.”
Family still plays a strong presence in Gallant’s career. “There is nothing better than seeing them in the stands and being able to spend time with them on the road,” he said. “My dad came with me to every single Elite event last year and helps me out tremendously. It’s the little things, like plugging in and putting the tarp on the boat, that make a big difference. The support I get from family, friends, and sponsors is amazing, and at the end of the day we are a team.”
Gallant’s performance on the tournament trail is one of consistency. His biggest wins here in Canada were the Canadian Open and FLW Canada Championship, but it was hoisting the trophy at the Bassmaster Open on Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake that was the most memorable. “I’ve always dreamed about fishing the Bassmaster Classic, and the moment I realized I qualified was a feeling I will never forget.”
Offering inspiration
Social media and tournament fishing now go hand in hand but Gallant definitely raises the bar with content he produces. His YouTube channel (Cooper Gallant Fishing) gives viewers incredible insight into the events he fishes and other rod and reel adventures.
“I want to try and inspire other Canadians, especially the younger generation, and show them that it is possible if you put the work in,” he said. “Editing video content also helps me learn by seeing what I am doing wrong or can improve on, such as culling fish more effectively or setting the hook.”
Although life on the tournament trail can be perceived as glamorous by those who don’t fish competitively, it is in fact long and tedious work. Gallant has never shied away from roughing it on the road, which is often necessary when first starting out.
“I spent 10 nights sleeping in a tent during the Bass Open on Lake Cherokee. One day the wind picked up and tossed my tent 50 feet into the forest. That same week a squirrel chewed through the bottom of the tent and ate all of my hamburger buns.”
When asked what advice he would give to young anglers wanting to follow in his footsteps, Gallant offered the following.
“Fish and learn as much as you can. Keep an open mind and always trust your gut. Do your own thing and be yourself. Learn how to create content. And most of all, enjoy the journey and have fun doing it.”
Good luck on the tourney trail in 2024, Cooper. You have an entire country rooting for you.
Originally published in the Spring 2024 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS
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