Fantasy Fishing: Wild card weekend

Written by

Kyle Jessie

A Florida swing happening in April seemed like an awesome idea until I started planning out my picks for Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing. If the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain of Lakes was being held in the month February like we’re accustomed to seeing, most Fantasy players would feel fairly confident in their picks. However, with the event being later in the year, this event could be a wild card.

Given that the event is significantly later in the year, a lot of patterns could be at play. My assumption is that there will still be some bass on beds, but offshore shell beds, submerged vegetation and just fishing around shallow cover will play a huge role.

When making my picks, I ultimately factored in a little bit of everything – history on the body of water, history in Florida and anglers who have had success in events where multiple patterns are at play.

Let’s get into my picks.

BUCKET A: LEE

One would think that a ninth and a 15th-place finish to start the Elite Season would have Jordan Lee in the top five in Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, but somehow that’s only good for 10th. In addition to Lee’s hot start to the season, he has a solid history of success in the state of Florida and knows how to balance multiple patterns as we have seen early in the season.

Solid secondary selection: I made the statement early in the season that I was just going to stick with Patrick Walters in Bucket A for the entirety of the season, and I’m still considering it. For now, he’s my backup pick.

BUCKET B: AREY

Matt Arey always seems to be undervalued in Fantasy Fishing, and this event feels no different. The North Carolina pro has experienced consistent success in the state of Florida including a 19th-place finish at the last Elite at the Harris Chain of Lakes. Additionally, Arey excels in tournaments where multiple patterns are at play.

Solid secondary selection: It’s hard to bet against Drew Benton anytime the Elites head to Florida, especially on the Harris Chain where he finished runner-up in the 2022 Elite. If you don’t mind the high player percentage, Benton is a great choice in Bucket B.

BUCKET C: COOK

Not selecting Drew Benton in Bucket B could be a mistake, so I’m making up for it by giving Drew Cook the nod in Bucket C. Believe it or not, Cook has not had the best success at the Harris Chain, but I’m counting on his vast knowledge of fishing this general part of the country to pay off this time around.

Solid secondary selection: At just a 7.9% player percentage, Brandon Lester is a steal of a pick in Bucket C. In three B.A.S.S. events at the Harris Chain, Lester has two Top 10 finishes to go along with a 37th.

BUCKET D: GROSS

It’s not often that you see a previous champion on a body of water like Buddy Gross at just a 5% player percentage the next time around. In 2022, the Tennessee pro perfectly executed an offshore gameplan to notch his second Elite Series win. This event being later in the season could play right into the hands of Gross.

Solid secondary selection: A big part of the reason that Gross is at such a low player percentage is due to the fact that John Cox and Scott Martin are also in Bucket D. If you’re looking for more of a local advantage, look towards Cox and Martin.

BUCKET E: PRINCE

Cliff Prince may be the Prince of Palatka, but over the course of his career he’s proven to catch them across the entire state of Florida. Ironically, his results at the Harris Chain have been less than stellar, but his vast knowledge of patterning fish in Florida over the course of the year could be a massive advantage this go-round.

Solid secondary selection: Clifford Pirch is always going to be a player when big fish are a part of the equation, and at 2.6% player percentage he could be an angler worth taking a risk on especially if there are still enough fish lingering around beds.