The second quarter of this season is one that has me the most intrigued since the release of the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series schedule. The Bassmaster Elite series and bass fishing fans are no stranger to visits to Florida, but April is a fresh time of the year and I often hear from Florida locals that this can be one of the very best times to fish these famed fisheries. The top-end weights should approach those of some of the early spring events, but at the same time, we should see consistently solid weights down through the field and quite possibly higher check line weights.
There is a good chance we could see everything from late spawners, shallow heavy grass, offshore shell beds and weed edges playing for anglers making the final day. We will also see glimpses of forward-facing sonar, but I expect we will see it leverage in more unique ways. The next two stops could be the most diverse events to watch.
Don’t forget that the 2023 Bassmaster Open EQ anglers finished their season last fall on the Harris Chain, so all these rookie have some of the freshest experience and scouting from last season.
I think we will see a slightly larger percentage of veterans have success in Florida, so finding that perfect mix of young anglers and experienced anglers will be key in Florida for Fantasy Fishing.
BUCKET A: WALTERS
After taking a break from Patrick Walters at the Classic, I am leaning back into my pre-season prediction of Angler of the Year. Sitting in 3rd just one point out of the lead, I figure I might as well keep picking the seasoned Walters until he proves it’s not a wise choice. Walters has mixed results in Florida and Harris Chain, but I am not going to let that shake my confidence in him as my pick.
AOY Deal
Trey McKinney is picked by less than 5% of Fantasy players and he is tied for the current AOY Lead. Also, McKinney had a solid 24th place finish in the 2023 season ender on the Harris Chain. Seems like a pretty good value pick on the youth movement.
BUCKET B: GARRETT
I am going to try to be sneaky and go with one of the elder statesman rookies with John Garrett who is approaching the ripe old age of 30. Garrett has had two solid finishes in his first two elite events and I think is flying under the radar in the rookie class. Mix that with two top 20 finishes in Bassmaster Open events on Harris Chain and feel like Garret is a solid pick.
Lingering Spawners?
If there are a few giants still hanging on beds in April, I am sure Drew Benton will be one of the anglers to find them. I would not be shocked to see Benton kick this event off with a big bag of sight fish, but can it hold up?
BUCKET C: SCHMITT
Anytime the schedule lands on a grass lake, Bryan Schmitt should be a consideration for your Fantasy team. Schmitt is no stranger to winning in Florida and has a pair of Bassmaster Top 10s on his resume. Having the event in April should only be better for what Schmitt does best.
Elite Underdog
John Soukup has come into this season claiming he is the ultimate underdog for the 2024 season. After a lackluster rookie season on the Bassmaster Elite series, Soukup ended his season with a 7th place on Harris Chain in the final 2023 Bassmaster Open. The Oklahoma pro also has a high level win on the Harris Chain in the summer. So, if you are looking to take some chances on low percentage anglers, Soukop is worth a look.
BUCKET D: MARTIN
Both John Cox and Scott Martin have impressive resumes on the Harris Chain, and both are obvious picks. Martin has not had the best start to this Bassmaster Elite season after two events, but he has been absolutely crushing it in his first two Bassmaster Opens, and I think he rebounds big at the Harris Chain.
Hack Attack
Greg Hackney didn’t fare well in the Bassmaster Open in October on Harris Chain, but he has two near top 10s in Bassmaster Elite events on Harris Chain. If you don’t want to pick one of the Florida anglers in Bucket D, Hackney should be able to flip and frog his way into a weekend cut at Harris Chain.
BUCKET E: DAVIS Jr.
I have no great story or research suggesting Will Davis Jr should be a great pick for the Harris Chain. In fact his lone Bassmaster Open event out of Leesburg, Fla. was middle of the pack, but he has earned enough Fantasy points so far this season to grade him as a Bucket B angler. Combining his love for a swim jig with his hot start makes him an obvious pick for me.
Coast to Coast
Even though Bryant Smith calls California home, it doesn’t mean he is a stranger to success on the Harris Chain. He also has cashed a few solid checks in Bassmaster competition in Florida and he is coming off a solid Bassmaster Classic performance.
Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge
Now onto season four of the Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge. This additional Fantasy Fishing game not only offers a fresh way to play the game, but a completely separate prize pool. Drain the Lake is an elimination or survivor style game where you can only use an angler once all season.
In 2024 we will have 10 events and 104 anglers. You will need to use up 80 of the 104 anglers. Hopefully you have saved a few favorites for the Florida Swing.
Here is my Harris Chain Drain the Lake roster:
Scott Martin
Tyler Williams
John Soukup
Drew Benton
Brandon Lester
KJ Queen
JT Thompkins
Clark Wendlant
