Fantasy Fishing: Making Tenn-Tom picks based on angler strengths

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Arkansas

The third stop of the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season takes us to Columbus, Miss. and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. While the “Tenn-Tom” is a new location to the Elite Series, the Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series visited this body of water just a year ago. Opens pro Trey Schroeder won that event in dramatic fashion when nobody thought he would have enough weight on the final day, including Schroeder himself. In my opinion, the final day of that event was one of the most fun Opens events I’ve ever watched on Bassmaster Live.

The Tenn-Tom presents the Elite Series field with an old-school river fishery where shallow water power fishing should be the ticket. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Justin Atkins was featured in a recent preview article where he broke down the body of water that he grew up fishing and gives us a great idea of what to expect.

I had the opportunity to shoot a Day on the Lake feature that will run in the April issue of Bassmaster Magazine with Atkins on the Tenn-Tom, and I will say that it is one of the fishiest looking bodies of waters I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t expect big weights by any means, but the action should be a ton of fun to watch.

As I made my Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing and Falcon Rods Drain the Lake Challenge picks, I had a hard time picking against the veteran anglers that have a history of success when it comes to this style of fishing. I’m sure that will come back to get me, because the young guns will likely find a way to catch them even without forward-facing sonar (not allowed in this event).

Let’s get into some picks.

BUCKET A: COOK

It is officially springtime in the south, which means Drew Cook is always going to be a player. All indications lead to the idea that there should be a spawning bite going down at the Tenn-Tom, and Cook should be able to find it and figure it out. Additionally, Cook has some great momentum after his Top 10 finish in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.

Solid secondary selection: As always, there’s a ton of great choices in Bucket A, but it’s hard to pick a much bigger favorite in this event than Brock Mosley. Not only does Mosley live just over an hour and a half from Columbus, but it also suits his style perfectly.

BUCKET B: LOGAN

Sticking with the style theme in Bucket B with Wes Logan. The Alabama pro is one of the best on tour at dissecting shallow water, something that he does all the time on the Coosa River. It could be a flipping bite, swim jig bite or anything in between and Logan should be able to dial it in.

Solid secondary selection: The player percentage is evenly distributed in Bucket B amongst all anglers, but Patrick Walters leads the way at 20.4%. I feel strongly about Patrick Walters being a good pick at any Elite Series event, so why not.

BUCKET C: ATKINS

Unlike Bucket B, three anglers in Bucket C are taking up most of the player percentage – Justin Atkins, Jordan Lee and Chris Johnston. The three anglers account for over 72% in Bucket C. With that said, I’m going with the hometown hero Justin Atkins. During our day on the water at the Tenn-Tom earlier this year, it was abundantly clear to me that Atkins knows a ton about this body of water and can’t wait to get this event started. He also has the momentum built up from a 6th place finish at the Bassmaster Classic.

Solid secondary selection: Elite Series rookie Tristan McCormick notched a 26th place finish at the Tenn-Tom a year ago, so the history and preexisting knowledge should help.

BUCKET D: DAVIS JR.

Bucket D is loaded with shallow water, river fishing experts, but I’m taking Will Davis Jr. for pretty much all the same reasons I have Wes Logan in Bucket B. Davis is an excellent shallow water angler that understands how to maximize bodies of water like this.

Solid secondary selection: I had to really contemplate the decision of not picking Greg Hackney. Everything about this event should be right up his alley. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Hack Attack pull off a win in this event.

BUCKET E: CHRISTIE

There’s no way I could pass up picking both Greg Hackney and Jason Christie in an event like this. The Oklahoma pro should feel right at home on the Tenn-Tom with a flipping stick or a spinnerbait in hand.

Solid secondary selection: Bucket E might be the most challenging Bucket of them all. Rather than picking just one, here is a list of all the other anglers that tend to do well when fishing shallow river fisheries – John Cox, Beau Browning, Russ Lane, Bill Lowen, Mark Menendez, Pat Schlapper, Gerald Swindle and Brandon Palaniuk. There’s a ridiculous number of great choices in this Bucket.