Zona’s 2017 Elite Series picks

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Bassmaster TV analyst Mark Zona was asked a tall task - pick the winners in the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series. This is the 50th year of B.A.S.S., which Ray Scott began with the All-American on Beaver Lake in 1967. <p> CHEROKEE LAKE: The season opener is this week on Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake, which has hosted only one other B.A.S.S. tournament. That Bass Champs Invitational was in 1981, when Jerry Knicely won the summer event with 20 pounds, 14 ounces. What say ye, Mr. Zona, who will win?
Bassmaster TV analyst Mark Zona was asked a tall task – pick the winners in the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series. This is the 50th year of B.A.S.S., which Ray Scott began with the All-American on Beaver Lake in 1967.

CHEROKEE LAKE: The season opener is this week on Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake, which has hosted only one other B.A.S.S. tournament. That Bass Champs Invitational was in 1981, when Jerry Knicely won the summer event with 20 pounds, 14 ounces. What say ye, Mr. Zona, who will win?

“I’m going for Aaron Martens,” he said. “And for my dark horse, I pick Brent Ehrler. If it’s cold, it could very well set up for that Western style.”
“I’m going for Aaron Martens,” he said. “And for my dark horse, I pick Brent Ehrler. If it’s cold, it could very well set up for that Western style.”
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: This event on the southern Florida fishery Feb.23-26 is a month earlier than the 2012 Elite when Ish Monroe smashed 108-5. Chad Morgenthaler won the last Elite level event there, the 2013 Wild Card.
LAKE OKEECHOBEE: This event on the southern Florida fishery Feb.23-26 is a month earlier than the 2012 Elite when Ish Monroe smashed 108-5. Chad Morgenthaler won the last Elite level event there, the 2013 Wild Card.
“I’ll take any of the Lane Brothers,” Zona said, then checking up. “Instead, I’ll take Randall Tharp, just because of this track record. You can’t go wrong with either Chris or Bobby, but I want Randall Tharp in that tournament.”
“I’ll take any of the Lane Brothers,” Zona said, then checking up. “Instead, I’ll take Randall Tharp, just because of this track record. You can’t go wrong with either Chris or Bobby, but I want Randall Tharp in that tournament.”
BASSMASTER CLASS, LAKE CONROE: Last year, Edwin Evers made it three home-state winners in a row. Keith Combs from nearby Huntington, Texas, is the prohibitive favorite for the March 24-26 Classic, but that’s not who Zona is picking.
BASSMASTER CLASS, LAKE CONROE: Last year, Edwin Evers made it three home-state winners in a row. Keith Combs from nearby Huntington, Texas, is the prohibitive favorite for the March 24-26 Classic, but that’s not who Zona is picking.
“Give me … (pause) … I want … (more pause) ... Jason Christie. I think it’s all weather dependent, but I want some Jason Christie in that tournament for some reason. I guarantee you his ass is still burning from last year.”
“Give me … (pause) … I want … (more pause) … Jason Christie. I think it’s all weather dependent, but I want some Jason Christie in that tournament for some reason. I guarantee you his ass is still burning from last year.”
TOLEDO BEND: Kevin VanDam ended his five-year drought in winning last year’s May event there, coming just 4 pounds shy of the Century Club. This year’s derby is a month earlier, April 6-9, and Zona calculated in his head how it might go down as he tried to name a winner.
TOLEDO BEND: Kevin VanDam ended his five-year drought in winning last year’s May event there, coming just 4 pounds shy of the Century Club. This year’s derby is a month earlier, April 6-9, and Zona calculated in his head how it might go down as he tried to name a winner.
“That’s a hard one to predict,” he said. “Toledo Bend, April 6. I want uh, uh, uh, uh … that is such a hard tournament to pick. It’s wide open as far as techniques go. In that tournament, I’m going to – there’s so many factors – lemme have … I want Greg Hackney.”
“That’s a hard one to predict,” he said. “Toledo Bend, April 6. I want uh, uh, uh, uh … that is such a hard tournament to pick. It’s wide open as far as techniques go. In that tournament, I’m going to – there’s so many factors – lemme have … I want Greg Hackney.”
ROSS BARNETT: For the past several years, the Opens have visited the reservoir just north of Jackson, Miss., with Gene Bishop in 2015 and Randall Tharp in 2013 winning. This year the big circuit comes April 27-30.
ROSS BARNETT: For the past several years, the Opens have visited the reservoir just north of Jackson, Miss., with Gene Bishop in 2015 and Randall Tharp in 2013 winning. This year the big circuit comes April 27-30.
“I want Alton Jones … Sr. Because it’s that screwy time of year when a lot of the fish should be done spawning, and you have to be a lot more patient. And in that weird, weird, funky, post-spawny time of year, he always does well.”
“I want Alton Jones … Sr. Because it’s that screwy time of year when a lot of the fish should be done spawning, and you have to be a lot more patient. And in that weird, weird, funky, post-spawny time of year, he always does well.”
SAM RAYBURN: The famed Texas fishery will host the first Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest May 17-21, where the big fish will earn the angler a $50,000 Toyota truck. Greg Hackney won on Sam Rayburn when the Elites last visited in 2006. Who does Zona like this time?
SAM RAYBURN: The famed Texas fishery will host the first Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest May 17-21, where the big fish will earn the angler a $50,000 Toyota truck. Greg Hackney won on Sam Rayburn when the Elites last visited in 2006. Who does Zona like this time?
“VanDam,” Zona said with no hesitation. “VanDam wins that. He’ll be going up against Keith Combs.”
“VanDam,” Zona said with no hesitation. “VanDam wins that. He’ll be going up against Keith Combs.”
LAKE DARDANELLE: Jason Christie won on the Arkansas River reservoir in 2014, totaling 72-3 in mid-May about two weeks before this June 2-5 derby.
LAKE DARDANELLE: Jason Christie won on the Arkansas River reservoir in 2014, totaling 72-3 in mid-May about two weeks before this June 2-5 derby.
“Dean Rojas,” Zona said of his choice. “He just catches them the way they should be biting then.”
“Dean Rojas,” Zona said of his choice. “He just catches them the way they should be biting then.”
ST. LAWRENCE RIVER: Edwin Evers took the title in Waddington, N.Y., in 2015 with 77-10, two years after Brandon Palaniuk blew away the field with 88-12. The event is a couple weeks earlier than those this year, July 20-23.
ST. LAWRENCE RIVER: Edwin Evers took the title in Waddington, N.Y., in 2015 with 77-10, two years after Brandon Palaniuk blew away the field with 88-12. The event is a couple weeks earlier than those this year, July 20-23.
“(Jacob) Powroznik. He always does good on that body of water,” Zona said.
“(Jacob) Powroznik. He always does good on that body of water,” Zona said.
LAKE CHAMPLAIN: The last time the top circuit visited, Tim Horton was lounging at the dock at midday. His runaway victory of almost 13 pounds over Skeet Reese came in 2007, just a year after Denny Brauer won there. Each totaled more than 80 pounds in events held about two weeks before this July 27-30 derby.
LAKE CHAMPLAIN: The last time the top circuit visited, Tim Horton was lounging at the dock at midday. His runaway victory of almost 13 pounds over Skeet Reese came in 2007, just a year after Denny Brauer won there. Each totaled more than 80 pounds in events held about two weeks before this July 27-30 derby.
“Ike,” Zona said of Mike Iaconelli. “He’s just very, very, very very familiar with that body of water, even though a lot of kids don’t remember that.”
“Ike,” Zona said of Mike Iaconelli. “He’s just very, very, very very familiar with that body of water, even though a lot of kids don’t remember that.”
LAKE ST. CLAIR: In 2015, there was somewhat of a surprise winner on the smallmouth fishery in Texan Todd Faircloth, who totaled 84-7. That event started when this year’s is scheduled to end, August 27. Who will win this time?
LAKE ST. CLAIR: In 2015, there was somewhat of a surprise winner on the smallmouth fishery in Texan Todd Faircloth, who totaled 84-7. That event started when this year’s is scheduled to end, August 27. Who will win this time?
“Chad Pipkens,” Zona said. “He’ll be going where it could be won. He’ll be fishing where many tournaments are won that time of year.”
“Chad Pipkens,” Zona said. “He’ll be going where it could be won. He’ll be fishing where many tournaments are won that time of year.”
MILLE LACS LAKE: The AOY Championship, Sept. 14-17, is again being held where home-state favorite Seth Feider put on a smallmouth clinic last year.
MILLE LACS LAKE: The AOY Championship, Sept. 14-17, is again being held where home-state favorite Seth Feider put on a smallmouth clinic last year.
“I can’t bet against my guy,” Zona said. “I gotta have him. Give me a 5-gallon bucket of Seth Feider. I cannot get through a 2017 season without a Feider victory. He displayed his dominance there last year, and he’ll back it up again this time.”
“I can’t bet against my guy,” Zona said. “I gotta have him. Give me a 5-gallon bucket of Seth Feider. I cannot get through a 2017 season without a Feider victory. He displayed his dominance there last year, and he’ll back it up again this time.”
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: “My Rookie of the Year is going to be Dustin Connell,” Zona said of the Clanton, Ala., angler who qualified through the Southern Opens in 2016 after winning an event on that circuit in 2015.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: “My Rookie of the Year is going to be Dustin Connell,” Zona said of the Clanton, Ala., angler who qualified through the Southern Opens in 2016 after winning an event on that circuit in 2015.
TOYOTA ANGLER OF THE YEAR: “Hackney beats KVD for first, with third being … third being … Edwin Evers,” Zona said.
TOYOTA ANGLER OF THE YEAR: “Hackney beats KVD for first, with third being … third being … Edwin Evers,” Zona said.
That’s it. We’ll check back occasionally to see how he’s doing. If you want to play along, post your winners for each event (i.e.: Cherokee: Angler name, etc.) and include your choices for Rookie of the Year and Angler of the Year. We’ll save all those who respond before Thursday’s launch and monitor their progress.
That’s it. We’ll check back occasionally to see how he’s doing. If you want to play along, post your winners for each event (i.e.: Cherokee: Angler name, etc.) and include your choices for Rookie of the Year and Angler of the Year. We’ll save all those who respond before Thursday’s launch and monitor their progress.