Fantasy Fishing: The old Champlain?

Written by

Tommy Sendek

Let’s be honest, if any of the Elite Series anglers fished for largemouth last year at Champlain, they weren’t fishing to win. Last year was a weird combination of conditions that made the lake set up perfectly for smallmouth fishing. Flooding in the area made the water level rise and tore up much of the grass spreading the largemouth out, the water dirtied up and looked more like Okeechobee than Champlain. In turn, big packs of smallmouth were roaming over deep water feeding on baitfish and the best smallmouth anglers were able to pick them off.

This year the water has been much more stable and we’ve seen largemouth play in tournaments all summer, even in the most recent Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier just a couple weeks ago. Could the old Champlain be back where big largemouth show up and play a factor come Sunday? Time will tell, but I like the odds of some checks being cashed with green fish where last year they got you a one-way ticket to the expo on Saturday. With that being said, let’s get to pickin’.

BUCKET A: PRZEKURAT

Jay Przekurat is on fire. Not only did he win the St. Croix Bassmaster Open on Lake St. Clair just weeks ago, but he also is having another Top 10 year in Progressive Angler of the Year and he notched.d a fifth place finish last year at Lake Champlain. In a star-studded lineup in Bucket A, there are so many good options, I just don’t see how Przekurat doesn’t catch them.

Don’t forget about: Jacob Foutz is having a dream season on the Bassmaster Elite Series. The Tennessee pro has been vocal that his strength is catching smallmouth and he notched a Top 10 here last year.

BUCKET B: ATKINS

I’m going to go with a risky pick here. Justin Atkins has had up and down success with smallmouth fisheries, he is truly a master with his electronics and he proved it last year where he finished second. He is having a good season and I’m banking on him to have a great finish here.

Don’t forget about: Taku Ito will now likely win the event since I didn’t pick him. In all seriousness, Ito is just a master of catching smallmouth. He will be a threat to win both of these next two events.

BUCKET C: PALMER

Luke Palmer Proved to us last year that he can catch smallmouth. His worst finish in the three smallmouth events was 13^th, at Lake Champlain. With that being said, Palmer can also hang with the largemouth guys if it comes down to it. I like his ability to do both if need be.

Don’t forget about: Bob Downey is one of those guys I think could catch largemouth or smallmouth. He’s a versatile angler and a natural with northern fisheries.

BUCKET D: SMITH

I think Bryant Smith shocked us all with his impressive northern swing last year. The California native finished third here last year and will be looking for another top finish this go around.

Don’t forget about: Tim Dube is a bit of a sneaky pick here. Champlain is one of his home lakes and he is no stranger to smallmouth success. I like the rookie’s odds of surprising everyone and having a good finish here.

BUCKET E: ROBERTSON

Matt Robertson is way down the list in Progressive Angler of the Year points. An uncharacteristically bad season has put Robertson in a spot where he has to win the final event for make the Classic. He is no stranger to smallmouth success where he had a Top 10 at Champlain last year and finished 12^th at the St. Lawrence River. With the exception of a win in the final event, Robertson is out of Classic odds, so I can see him going for broke in these next two events.

Don’t forget about: Joey Cifuentes is having a tough season, but the sophomore slump is nothing out of the ordinary. Cifuentes is always a force to be reckoned with up north and I like his odds of finishing the season strong.