This year’s return to Fort Worth for the Bassmasters Classic is in March as planned before COVID rescheduled the Lake Ray Roberts event in 2021. Will we finally see the hype and big limits of Texas bass that we all hoped for back then?
A 10-day weather outlook shows no major cold fronts leading up to the event should have water temperatures warm enough to get bass moving out of their wintering holes but mild enough to have some of them grouped up on their staging areas which should create some good fishing conditions and solid weights for this year’s pinnacle event.
If the steady warming trend continues there is a chance that we could see a big batch of fish push shallow to keep the offshore scopers honest and have a balanced event with multiple techniques and lures in play. If water temps stay moderate, we may see a strong presence of anglers targeting offshore bass with jighead minnows.
BUCKET A: WALTERS
A Carolina based angler won the last Texas Classic, and Patrick Walters‘ track record in Texas is stout. The forecast looks warm enough for shorts and we know Walters won’t wilt on the big stage. His roommate hoisted the title in Tulsa, is it Patrick’s year?
Hometown pick
By all accounts, Chris Zaldain has put in his homework for this Bassmaster Classic where he currently lives 45 minutes away. Zaldain is definitely not afraid to go for it. I expect big baits and going for less bites. Very much a high risk and high reward Fantasy Fishing pick.
BUCKET B: MILLIKEN
Ben Milliken didn’t have the success he would have liked in Tulsa, but I look for him to bounce back in a big way in Texas. Fueled by the red shirted army in the crowds and expo. Milliken has proven that he has a knack for understanding Texas bass. We will find out if it translates to the big stage.
If they go shallow
I don’t imagine we will see Greg Hackney panning the abyss for high floaters next week. If a good population of the bass are pushing shallow into heavy cover, it could be a blast to watch the Hack Attack do what he does best!
BUCKET C: WILLIAMS
Believe it or not, jigs are a timeless classic for big bass. If anyone is going to force feed big limits of Texas lunkers, Tyler Williams is your guy this week. Williams loves offshore fishing and I am sure he will put his time in with his electronics in preparation for Ray Roberts.
Secret Bait Pick
Kyoya Fujita has a strong record in Texas and in February / March across the country. Not to mention it will be fun to see what bait and rigging tricks he will have up his sleeve for these pressured Texas bass.
BUCKET D: FOTHERGILL
Florida has proven that Easton Fothergill is human, but I think the real Easton shows up at Ray Roberts. Fothergill got the Classic jitters behind him last year in Tulsa, so look for a focused Easton to show out on the big stage.
Under the Radar
Wesley Gore is fishing his first Bassmaster Classic and Florida was not kind to him this spring, but I think he has shown that he matches up well with Texas fisheries. Gore is equally comfortable swimming jig shallow as he is pinging oversized minnows offshore.
BUCKET E: STAHL
Cody Stahl punched his ticket via a win at the Bassmaster Open in La Crosse. He also has cashed a few checks in Oklahoma. I think Cody will capitalize on the bass that move to the bank and be prepared to extract them from Ray Roberts timber.
Nations Best
Blake Capps earned his berth via the B.A.S.S. Nation championship on Grand Lake, if it turns into a grinder, this Bassmaster Elite Series rookie should be poised to do well. Fellow Okie Chris Jones was 3rd last time on Ray Roberts.
Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge
Here we are in season five of the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge. This additional Fantasy Fishing game not only offers a fresh way to play the game, but a completely separate prize pool. Drain the Lake is an elimination / survivor style game where you can only use an angler once all season.
For 2025 we will have 10 events. You will need to use up 80 of the total anglers. I strongly consider taking a hard look at a few of the Classic only anglers to be able to save other elite pros for events down the road.
Here is my Bassmaster Classic Drain the Lake roster:
Matt Arey
Justin Atkins
Easton Fothergill
John Garrett
Cody Huff
Jordan Lee
Ben Milliken
Chris Zaldain
