Fantasy Fishing: Adaptability and versatility key at Fork

Written by

Kyle Jessie

It’s time for a slugfest.

We’re headed to Texas for the fifth stop of the 2025 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season – the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork. Since 2019, the Elite Series has visited Lake Fork five times, each of which resulting in at least one century belt. If there’s one thing we can be certain of at Lake Fork, it’s that giant bass will be a big part of the equation.

Considering Lake Fork has been a frequent stop on the Elite Series, Fantasy Fishing players can absolutely make picks based on history. However, of those five trips, only two have been held in the month of May – 2019 and 2022. Who could forget the 2019 event where Brandon Cobb dominating while mixing in an early morning shad spawn with shallow water power fishing, even catching an 11-pounder off a bed. The 2019 event should theoretically be the best previous event to base your picks off of considering the event was only a few days earlier in May.

Given the time of the year, this tournament feels like one where anglers will need to be able to adapt on the fly and have multiple patterns at their fingertips to succeed.

Usually, we get done with an Elite event and I feel bad for anyone who took my advice on who to pick, but this year things have actually worked out for my Fantasy team (knock on wood) – especially my Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake team! Five events into the season, and I currently sit at 99.8% which has me ranked 53rd in the world.

I only mention all of that because I feel like I haven’t had to opportunity to throw a slight brag into my Fantasy articles the last few seasons.

Let’s get into some picks!

BUCKET A: LIVESAY

Despite his uncharacteristically tough 2024 event at Lake Fork, it’s always going to feel like a no-brainer to select Lee Livesay at Lake Fork, regardless which Bucket he’s in. Livesay knows Lake Fork as well as anyone that’s ever made a cast on this famed fishery, and his results in Elite competition back that up, aside from the 2024 event in February.

Solid secondary selection: There’s a lot to be said for momentum, and nobody has more momentum right now than Jay Przekurat who currently leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

BUCKET B: PALANIUK

Not only does Brandon Palaniuk have an impressive resume at Lake Fork, he also tends to excel in these immediate postspawn events. Whether it’s fishing out deep with a big plug or capitalizing on an early morning shad spawn, Palaniuk should once again find something that suits his style at Lake Fork. In three events at Fork, he’s never finished lower than 23rd.

Solid secondary selection: It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Kyle Welcher find pattern at Lake Fork that suits his style. The Alabama pro had a 14th place finish at Lake Fork just a year ago.

BUCKET C: FOTHERGILL

I recently found out that Easton Fothergill’s dad makes him aware of every time I don’t pick him in Fantasy Fishing, like a couple of weeks ago at Lake Hartwell. I don’t think I’ll be making that mistake again. The Minnesota native currently sit at a 46.5% player percentage, which is a little surprising considering his lack of tournament history at Lake Fork, but he is clearly on a roll right now. I’m sticking with the hot hand.

Solid secondary selection: Tyler Rivet seems to have found his groove at Lake Fork, registering a 15th place finish in 2022 and a 2nd place finish in 2024. Look for the Louisiana pro to have another big event at Fork.

BUCKET D: BLAYLOCK

Stetson Blaylock has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent so far in 2025, but Lake Fork is the perfect place for him to get back to his consistent ways. In five Elite Series events at Lake Fork, Blaylock has only finished worse than 26th once.

Solid secondary selection: If you don’t mind the high player percentage, Ben Milliken is a great option in Bucket D. The Texas resident notched a Top 10 at Lake Fork a year ago, and the big bait, big bass nature of this event perfectly fits his style.

BUCKET E: HACKNEY

It’s only a matter of time before Greg Hackney breaks out of this little slump on the Elite Series. In three Elite events at Lake Fork, the Louisiana pro has never finished outside of the cut. Look for Hackney to employ a shallow water, power-fishing pattern to have success.

Solid secondary selection: Jeff Gustafson hasn’t had the season he was hoping for to this point in the season, but he has some really solid finished at Lake Fork, including a 5th place finish back in 2019.