As the Bassmaster Elite Series nears its end, Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing players who are struggling realize the need to go big at Chesapeake Bay, and those who have been successful so far are trying to hold their ground.
So, here are conservative and safe picks for players on both sides of the fence.
Bucket A: Crews
Conservative pick: Powroznik
Jacob Powroznik, a two-year pro on the Elite Series, is no novice when it comes to professional competition, and last year, he notched a win at the Angler of the Year Championship and at the Elite Series event on Toledo Bend.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he made a run at the title this week. The downside is the fact that he has 23.6 percent ownership. Unless he wins this week, it would be more beneficial to take a risk and choose a more “under the radar” angler.
Winning pick: Crews
My choice for this tournament is John Crews. He lives fairly close to the Chesapeake and has done very well in tidal fisheries, including a win on the California Delta. Crews knows the water, knows the predominant patterns, and he is going to do very well in this event.
Bucket B: Christie
Conservative pick: Iaconelli
There is no doubt who everyone’s favorite pick in this tournament is. Mike Iaconelli has a lot of experience on this tidal water fishery and he knows where these fish live. With 60.1 percent ownership, Iaconelli would be an easy pick if a person wanted to make sure they secured some solid points.
However, if you’re angling for a big upward move, go for a less obvious choice.
Winning pick: Christie
I went back to the results from the Delaware River to make this pick. Jason Christie had a solid tournament and secured a Top 12 in the process. Christie will take what he learned and used at the Delaware, plus his experience on the Potomac when he fished the FLW Tour, to do well here.
Bucket C: Iyobe
Conservative pick: Montgomery/Biffle/Morgenthaler
It’s hard to pick just one angler in this bucket with so many of the best flippers and grass-fishing anglers in the Elites. If the tournament becomes a dock-flipping tournament, look for Andy Montgomery and Tommy Biffle to do well. If the tournament turns out to be a grass fishing tournament, Chad Morgenthaler may do the best out of the three.
Winning pick: Iyobe
Ken Iyobe has had a pretty up and down season so far, but two of his great finishes were on tidal water fisheries (the Sacramento River and the Sabine River). If he does well, with only 0.8 percent of ownership, his Fantasy Fishing owners will do even better.
Bucket D: Roumbanis
Conservative pick: B. Hite
Brett Hite is definitely one of the most popular picks in this stacked bucket, around 10 percent. He is definitely a well-rounded angler and is always a player at any event that the Elites go. I feel like he will have a solid finish here and definitely would be a safe pick for this event.
Winning pick: Roumbanis
Fred Roumbanis has had a pretty tough year, but at the last two events, he had very solid finishes. Add together the confidence, his ability to dissect grass and his ability to throw a frog all day, and he will definitely be a player. He is a good high-risk, high-reward pick.
Bucket E: Crochet/Jocumsen
Conservative pick: Short
Kevin Short is going to do well this week; he did well at the Delaware River last year with a fourth-place finish. He always does well at tough tournaments, and if there is a square-bill bite, he will be all over it. He might even make a Top 12 at this event.
Winning pick: Crochet/Jocumsen
I’ve got to show some love for my man from Louisiana, Cliff Crochet. He is having a pretty tough season, just like every angler in Bucket E, but this event will play right into his hands. If the frog and flipping bite is happening at the Chesapeake, he will be all over it.
Another solid pick would be the WallaBeast, Carl Jocumsen. He’s had an extremely tough year full of heartbreaks and hard times. But the will and determination of this angler from Toowoomba, Australia, is insane and he won’t be at the bottom much longer.