
Last year I had the best finish of my Fantasy Fishing career, edging out longtime savant and student of the game Rich Lindgren for our little group’s title, and I did it John Cox style – going on gut instinct. I didn’t even have to use a transducer or take a polygraph.
Now, however, all of your favorite pundits are tied at zero, and there are lots of changes afoot. For the first time since before Ronnie Moore’s parents were born, I can’t pick Rick Clunn. Clark Wendlandt is off the table, too.
Fortunately, we’re headed to a familiar fishery at a familiar time to start the 2025 campaign. Our pundits’ group has an infusion of new talent, so in addition to fending off a now-angry Mr. Lindgren, I’ll potentially have to deal with some imported ringer who only flies in for game week.
Until it’s proven to be a losing strategy, I’m going to stick with my low-tech approach and grind it out in the shallow end of the river. Last year, they had a few “spring training” events before visiting Palatka. This year the anglers will be thrown right into the fire, and so will we. Here are my picks:
BUCKET A: THE REIGNING CHAMP
Opening Day Pick: It’s a little unfair that the Fantasy gods put both Johnstons in this bucket, but until someone dethrones him Cory Johnston is the king of this river. In five visits with B.A.S.S., he’s been in the top 17 on four occasions, including an 8th place and a victory last April. He also won on the St. Lawrence to close out the 2024 season, meaning he’s the king of anything with “Saint” in the title.
Relief Pitcher: They share info, so unless it all dries up, Cory’s brother Chris Johnston should be a pretty good bet, too. He’s finished in the money four of five times in Palatka, including 2nd and 5th place finishes in 2019 and 2024, respectively.
BUCKET B: HOMETOWN HERO
Opening Day Pick: If Drew Benton is going to put together the legit AOY campaign that he’s clearly capable of producing, he’ll need to start with a strong finish near his Florida home. That’s what he did last year, finishing 4th. Three of his other four Bassmaster finishes on the St. Johns have been in the twenties, and whether things get tough or become a slugfest, he’ll be well-positioned to capitalize.
Relief Pitcher: If for some reason Benton isn’t your cup of tea, pick the other semi-local Drew – i.e., Drew Cook. If there are sight fish to be had, this could fall into his lap. He crashed and burned here in ’24, but his four prior attempts were all in the top 23.
BUCKET C: CARRY A BIG STICK
Opening Day Pick: If a flipping stick comes into play in the Florida vegetation, you’d have a hard time finding anyone better to pick it apart than Greg Hackney. Not only does he relish the chance to fish “old school,” but after an “off year” that still saw him sneak into the ’25 Classic he’ll need to start off strong to mount another AOY season. The St. Johns sets up well for him, and he’s had four Top 10 finishes in six BASS tournaments, including two runner up results. He’d love to earn his first win since 2018.
Relief Pitcher: The combination of grass and tides and assumedly some prespawn fish make Maryland’s Bryan Schmitt a solid value backup plan. He’s never missed a check at the St. Johns, including an 8th place finish in 2021. He’s one of those quiet guys who simply cashes checks, and rivers are his jam.
BUCKET D: THE CAGEY VETERAN
Opening Day Pick: The elder statesman in me likes the idea of choosing two fifty-somethings, so in addition to Hackney I added Mark Menendez. Sadly, it turns out he’s actually 60, but that just adds fuel to the fire. He’s no charity case, though. He has a long record of cashing checks here, including 3rd and 5th place finishes in the modern era. I’d love to see him whack ‘em with a spinnerbait.
Relief Pitcher: Past Classic champ Jason Christie needs to catch big fish early this year to avoid missing another Classic, a rarity in his career. He’s been inconsistent on the St. Johns, but when he’s been on fish the results have been exceptional – with 7th and 8th place finishes in Elite competition.
BUCKET E: GOTTA HAVE A ROOKIE
Opening Day Pick: If we learned one lesson in 2024, it’s that you can never count out the young guns, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t pick at least one rookie. At 32, Dakota Ebare is over a decade older than Trey McKinney, and he’s hardly a true rookie – the dude just catches them everywhere and could prove to be a major bargain in Bucket E.
Relief Pitcher: Joey Cifuentes saw the wheels fall off in 2024 after an amazing rookie season in 2023. Along with the likes of Matt Robertson, he’s in the running to be comeback angler of the year. In order to do so, he’ll have to show that last year’s 97th place finish on the St. Johns was a fluke that won’t be repeated.
Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge
• Drew Benton
• Stetson Blaylock
• Keith Combs
• Drew Cook
• Greg Hackney
• Chris Johnston
• Cory Johnston
• Scott Martin