Fantasy Fishing: Time to make it happen

Written by

Kyle Jessie

It all comes down to this – the final event of the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series event. With a tight Progressive Angler of the Year race, anglers vying to make the Bassmaster Classic and other anglers trying to requalify for the Elites, there’s a lot left to be decided in just four days of fishing.

The St. Lawrence River, especially out of Waddington, NY., provides an amazing playing field that will provide an abundance of story lines throughout the event. Do you make the long run to Lake Ontario or play it safe by staying in the river? A lot of those decisions will be made based on an angler’s AOY standings.

Oh, I forgot to mention that this is a “win and you’re in” tournament, meaning that the winner will automatically qualify for the 2025 Bassmaster Classic. Needless to say, there’s a lot at stake for each and every angler in the field.

When it comes to Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing, this event is always hard to stray away from using history to make your picks considering most anglers that have had success here in the past continue to have success each time we visit this amazing fishery. With that said, I think we have all learned to not count out the rookies.

Let’s get into some picks.

BUCKET A: JOHNSTON

Which Johnston brother do you take? You really can’t go wrong with either one, but based on the fact that Chris Johnston has the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title well within reach heading into this event makes it feel like that much more of a homerun pick.

Solid secondary selection: My backup pick would easily be Cory Johnston, but if you’re looking to make a pick outside of the two Johnston brothers, consider Jay Przekurat. The Wisconsin pro already has a win on this famed fishery, and has proven time and time again that he is a force to be reckon with when smallmouth bass are in play.

BUCKET B: ITO

I’ve been burned in the past by not picking Taku Ito, but that won’t be happening again. Ito has had an up and down season, but the combination of positive momentum and a history of success makes him an easy pick in Bucket B.

Solid secondary selection: Despite going with the high percentage pick in Bucket B, I strongly considered selecting Justin Atkins. The Alabama pro has a track record of running to Lake Ontario and putting together great events there. After falling just short a few years ago, Atkins looks to take home the title at the St. Lawrence.

BUCKET C: FEIDER

After an uncharacteristically slow start to the Elite Series season, Seth Feider has really turned it around in the back half of the season. The Minnesota pro will need an extremely high finish to secure a spot in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic, but I’m not counting him out from making a run to the lake and going for it.

Solid secondary selection: This has felt like a magical season for Bob Downey. After missing the Harris Chain Elite event to be home for the birth of his first child, the Minnesota pro has rattled off five straight top 40 finishes and put himself just a few spots outside of projected Classic cut heading into the final event.

BUCKET D: WENDLANDT

Clark Wendlandt has always felt like an overlooked pick when it comes to the St. Lawrence River. The Elite Series veteran had a poor finish here a year ago, but before that, he gathered three straight Top 10 finishes here. Needing a win to make the Classic, Wendlandt will likely go big.

Solid secondary selection: When you break the single day record for the biggest limit of Smallmouth bass, you probably deserve Fantasy Fishing consideration. That’s exactly what Bryant Smith accomplished a year ago at the St. Lawrence River.

BUCKET E: CIFUENTES

It’s no secret that anglers in Bucket E for the final event of the season haven’t had the greatest year. That’s the case with second-year Elite Joey Cifuentes. Despite the down year, the Arkansas pro had a solid finish at Champlain, and excels when fishing for smallmouth.

Solid secondary selection: With this event being “win and in”, you can’t count on Matt Robertson going all-in.