There’s something about Lake Guntersville that brings out the best in people. The water sits still and glassy, the light just beginning to pour through the mountains and the laughs and storytelling among excited anglers carries a kind of electricity that only anglers understand.
Story and photo by Walker Smith.
For Steve and Kim Sandlin of Spartanburg, South Carolina, that electricity wasn’t just about chasing bass. It was about sharing time together, unplugging from the world and soaking up every laugh and quiet moment in between.
“This is my second Toyota Owners Tournament,” Steve said with a grin. “I loved the first one so much, I just knew I had to come back. I even told my wife, Kim, that she needed to come with me this year. I’m so glad she decided to join me.”
Kim, his wife and co-angler for the weekend, smiled at that. “We took half a week off of work and came down Wednesday morning just to enjoy this beautiful fishery and enjoy spending some much-needed time together,” she said. “We treated this like a mini vacation. We have had a blast.”
It’s clear that for the Sandlins, fishing tournaments aren’t really about competition. It’s about connection to each other and to the tight-knit community of anglers who come together every year for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament.
Joy in the journey
Steve, the Metrology Methods Leader for Michelin Tire, approaches life with the precision you’d expect from a man whose career revolves around measurements and details.
“Metrology is the study of measurements, so I’m a pretty meticulous and detail-oriented guy,” he said. “That’s why I drive a 2022 Toyota Tundra. Heck, I kept my first one for 13 years. I choose them because they’re reliable and durable. I’m always very particular about researching our vehicles before we make the decision to buy one. It couldn’t have been an easier decision when I decided to go with Toyota. I’m doubt if I’ll ever have another brand.”
That same level of research and precision, though, seems to take a backseat when it comes to fishing with Kim. Out on the water, Steve trades spreadsheets and measurements for laughter and lighthearted ribbing. It’s a different kind of balance that’s just as important, if not more.
“I really don’t even fish,” Kim admitted with a laugh. “I normally just let him do his thing but I’m here to catch some fish this year.”
When asked if she’d be the professional net-person, Kim laughed again, shaking her head.
“No! I have to show him how it’s done out there! I’m going to catch a bigger bass than he will!”
Steve chuckled, knowing she just might make good on that promise.
“She actually out-fished me at Hartwell last year,” he confessed. “But don’t tell anyone!”
Quiet moments and big memories
Couples who fish together are special. It’s the way they move around each other in the boat, one setting the hook while the other grabs the net, their laughter rolling across the water. It’s teamwork and teasing, patience and persistence. All wrapped into one experience.
For the Sandlins, that balance comes naturally. They’re a little quiet at first, the kind of couple who takes a few minutes to warm up in a crowd. But once they do, they’re quick to laugh, to tell stories and to poke fun at each other in that easy way that only comes from years of love and partnership.
They’ve made a life together in Spartanburg, surrounded by friends, family and now this growing circle of anglers they’ve come to call friends through the Toyota Owners Tournament. It’s a community that celebrates not only the catch but the stories behind it.
The heart of the tournament
Every year, the Toyota Owners Tournament draws anglers from all walks of life. Weekend warriors, first-time anglers, seasoned pros and couples like the Sandlins who just love the water and the people who gather around it. It’s a place where the brand loyalty that brings them together quickly gives way to something deeper: fellowship.
For Steve and Kim, that sense of belonging is what keeps them coming back. The laughter shared at the weigh-in line, the friendly trash talk between teams and the collective appreciation for the outdoors. It’s all part of what makes the event feel less like a tournament and more like a family reunion.
“This is something we’ll definitely keep doing,” Steve said with his arm around Kim. “We just love the atmosphere. Everyone’s so kind and welcoming and it’s a great chance to meet other folks who share the same passion.”
Kim nodded, still smiling.
“And I get to see him in his element,” she said. “I might not be as serious about fishing as he is, but being out there with him is special. Even when I’m tangled up in the line or casting in the wrong direction, we just laugh about it. That’s what it’s all about.”
More than a fishing trip
For some, a fishing tournament might just be a weekend getaway. For Steve and Kim, it’s something more. Out there on the boat, surrounded by the quiet of the water, everything slows down. The world fades, leaving just the two of them, the lake and a handful of fishing rods.
They may not bring home the biggest bass or the heaviest bag but what they do take home is far more valuable.
As the rain melted the horizon on their last evening at Lake Guntersville, Steve and Kim stood by their Tundra, packing up tackle boxes and gear. The air was cold, carrying the faint smell of the lake and the sound of distant laughter from other anglers wrapping up their own days.
Steve turned to Kim and smiled.
“You know,” he said, “even if we didn’t catch another thing, I’d still call it a great trip.”
Kim laughed softly.
“That’s because you’re just happy I came with you.”
He nodded.
“That’s exactly right.”
