Fantasy Fishing: Backwater bassin' bonanza

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Minnesota

Fantasy this year has been pretty much a carbon copy of last year for me, where I did terrible the first two tournaments, then made a comeback in the Classic. Anyway, I’m excited to see how the Tombigbee River will play out. We are back to no scope on a fairly unknown body of water for many of the anglers.

It should be a shallow water junk fishing showdown with weather conditions looking favorable for a big push of spawners. In the Open last year, we were a month later, and it was dominated in the bay next to the takeoff. Anglers were either targeting points in the willow grass or fishing the riprap near the lock. I’m curious this year if anglers will group up again or if someone will make a long run and get in an area all by themselves. It should be a fun one!

Let’s get into some picks!

Bucket A: FOTHERGILL

Easton Fothergill is on a hot streak, and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon. This time of year last year, he put together 4 Top 10’s and a 14^th at the Sabine. He can certainly catch them in a shallow river system. I have confidence he will ride this momentum and have a good event on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. If it turns into a grinder event, Fothergill is good at taking it one bite at a time and making adjustments.

Solid secondary pick: I just feel like this place is right up Kyle Welcher’s and Brock Mosley’s alley. I think either of these guys could find something sneaky. They are not afraid to make long runs and risk it for the win.

Bucket B: LOGAN

Wes Logan was very frustrated in his performance at the Classic and I know he’s mad at them. He will be looking for his revenge at a place that really suits his style. The Alabama native should have some experience there and will be able to junk fish his way to a solid event. Laydowns and shallow grass is right up Wes Logan’s alley.

Solid secondary pick: Brandon Lester will be looking to bounce back after a tough Classic. A shallow water junk fishing derby could be just what he needs. We saw some big ones caught last year on a frog and if the weather stays warm, it could also play this go round.

Bucket C: ATKINS

Hot off a Super Six appearance in the Classic, Justin Atkins is another Alabama power fishing specialist. He should have some experience there and is good at navigating tricky backwaters. These shallow backwaters should fish very similarly to some of the backwater areas on the Coosa and Tennessee rivers.

Solid secondary pick: I could see a couple of sneaky picks in Bucket C in Brandon Card and Nick Trim. Card loves to roll around a spinnerbait and other things around shallow wood, and Nick Trim’s mastery of the Mississippi River backwaters should greatly benefit him.

Bucket D: GORE

There are a lot of good options in Bucket D, so it’s hard to go wrong here. I’m going to go with the Coosa River native Wesley Gore. He is one of the very best with a swim jig and running around shallow bodies of water. He is also very talented at fishing current if that is a player.

Solid secondary pick: I’m going to pick another Alabama guy in Will Davis Jr. here. This place should suit him well and he’s one of the best junk fishermen around.

Bucket E: SCHLAPPER

Pat Schlapper took two wins on shallow river systems last year, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he did it again. He has a talent for finding the zones in a river that hold the biggest fish and he picks them apart. He knows how to maneuver in dirty and shallow water and maximize his time when locking is involved. With multiple pools in play, managing time will be critical.

Solid secondary pick: After a couple of tough events back on the Elites, it’s Russ Lane’s time to shine. He was one of the anglers who fished the Open here last year and finished with a Top 10. He was leading after Day 1 after weighing the biggest bag of the tournament at 17-10.