
It’s about that time.
Time to kick off the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series season and another year of Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing.
Our first stop of the year is a familiar playing field, but there is a bit of a twist this time around. Rodman Reservoir will not be in play in 2025. The infamous Rodman Reservoir has been a major player each of the last several stops at the St. Johns River, so that’s something to strongly consider when making your picks.
The first event of the year is always tricky, even when it’s on a body of water that the majority of anglers have experience on. Do you make your picks solely off of history, or do you factor in other things like anglers who have something to prove in 2025? Or, do you get risky and pick a few rookies in hoping that they have the type of early success that the rookies had in 2024? There’s a lot to consider.
Early season events are also crucial to having success in Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge. Be strategic when making your picks. It’s a solid idea to begin planning out your picks for the entire season before the first event even takes place. From there you can make minor adjustments here and there when necessary. You certainly don’t want to pick all your “top anglers” in the first event, but also don’t want to save so many that you get to the end of the year wishing that you would have played certain anglers.
Before we get into my picks for the St. Johns River, be sure to sign up for the newest Fantasy Fishing game that will soon be released! By the time you’re reading this, it may already be out. If not, be on the lookout for an announcement coming soon!
Let’s get into it.
BUCKET A: CHRIS JOHNSTON
You would think that the first event of the year was at the St. Lawrence River rather than St. Johns when you see that the Johnston brothers are taking up nearly 30% of the picks in Bucket A. That certainly makes sense when you consider the success that both of them have had at the St. Johns River. Cory Johnston won here just a year ago in dominating fashion, but I look for Chris Johnston to come out swinging this year after his first Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title in 2024. In five Elite events at the St. Johns River, Chris has finished inside the top 35 all but one time, including two Top 10 finishes.
Solid secondary selection: Something tells me that I may regret not selecting Jay Przekurat at just 1.1% player percentage. In two Elite events at the St. Johns River, the Wisconsin pro has a solid 33rd place finish and a not so great 66th place finish. Regardless of his history, Przekurat is a solid bet on any body of water.
BUCKET B: LOGAN
Wes Logan may not have a pile of Top 10s at the St. Johns River, but he’s been as steady as you could be in four Elite Series trips. In those four events, the Alabama pro has never finished worse than 32nd. Oh, and by the way, he’s at a 0.3% player percentage. I’ll take my chances with the Little Ball of Hate in any event that he can lock a swim jig or flippin’ stick in his hands.
Solid secondary selection: Selfishly, I’m rooting for a week of warm weather leading up to the event where all the big ones heading to the bank – similar to the Elite event in 2019. If that happens, look out for John Cox.
BUCKET C: HACKNEY
I typically try to play the percentages here and there when I can, but I’m totally throwing that out the window in Bucket C. Honestly, I feel bad for the first bass that bites Greg Hackney’s cricket at St. Johns River. Not only do I think the Hack Attack has a great finish at the St. Johns River, I believe he is going to have a big year in 2025.
Solid secondary selection: After a couple of poor events at the St. Johns River early in his career, Bob Downey has put together a couple of great finishes in his most recent events. A second place and a 15th place are hard to ignore at only a 5.3% player percentage.
BUCKET D: MENENDEZ
There’s something about the St. Johns River that seems to perfectly fit Mark Menendez’s fishing style. In seven Elite events, the Elite Series veteran has only finished outside of the top 50 twice. Amongst those events, he’s got two Top 10s to his record.
Solid secondary selection: Much like Greg Hackney, I fully expect Jason Christie has a bounce back year in 2025. The St. Johns River seems like a perfect spot to begin his comeback campaign.
BUCKET E: BROWNING
Bucket E is full of anglers who have had success at the St. Johns River, but I’m going to take a bit of a risk here with a rookie in Beau Browning. While the Arkansas pro is more than capable using his forward-facing sonar, his roots are based in old-school river fishing. I expect that Browning will feel right at home.
Solid secondary selection: This is the first time in a long time that I haven’t selected John Crews, regardless of the Bucket. It’s no secret that Crew’s history at the St. Johns River is as solid as anyone in the field.
Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge
• John Crews
• John Cox
• Cory Johnston
• Logan Latuso
• Mark Menendez
• Brad Whatley
• Drew Benton
• Scott Canterbury