Fantasy Fishing: Mixture of momentum and history

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Arkansas

From a Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing perspective, I need to pick it up in a hurry. As I said on Bassmaster LiveCast at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Elite, I have got in a bad rotation with my picks this season.

With that said, I’m choosing to build my Fantasy roster for this tournament with anglers who have built up momentum and a couple of anglers who have history of experience on this body of water.

The one wild card with the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River is that forward-facing sonar will be allowed. While on the Arkansas River doesn’t necessarily set up as a “scope-fest” type event on paper, you have to believe that anglers will figure out a way to make it work, especially the experts with it. Overall, I’m still expecting a shallow water beatdown with weights being higher than many would expect.

Let’s get into some picks.

BUCKET A: LEE

Jordan Lee has been on an outstanding run over his last three events, finishing 15th at Lake Martin, 8th at the Bassmaster Classic and 6th at the Tennessee-Tombigbee. In addition to the built-up momentum, the Alabama pro is one of the best on tour at dissecting shallow water and making it last for multiple days. Look for Lee to keep up the hot streak at the Arkansas River.

Solid secondary selection: At this point, it feels like a safe bet to just cement Trey McKinney as your Bucket A pick and let it ride. The young phenom is on a roll to begin 2026 with no finish worse than 20th in four events (including the Classic).

BUCKET B: FEIDER

It feels like Seth Feider doesn’t get the credit for how unbelievably good he is when fishing shallow water, river fisheries. His player percentage is always fairly high in these events, but his track record is extremely impressive. Coming off a Top 10 at the Tennessee-Tombigbee, expect Feider to keep swimming that jig and flipping them up at the Arkansas River.

Solid secondary selection: If you don’t mind the high player percentage, Stetson Blaylock is a strong pick in Bucket B. After a really strong start to the season, the Arkansas pro struggled at the Tenn-Tom and is looking to get back on track not too far from home.

BUCKET C: CHRISTIE

There are probably some Fantasy Fishing players who don’t want to pick Jason Christie after his unexpected tough finish at Lake Tenkiller a year ago, but it feels like too big of a risk to not select him in Bucket C. Coming off of a win at the Tenn-Tom, the Arkansas River event is the perfect event to keep the momentum rolling. Christie has a tremendous amount of history on this body of water that is just down the road from where he lives.

Solid secondary selection: If you’re looking for a lower percentage Oklahoma angler, consider selecting Luke Palmer. While Palmer isn’t the local that Jason Christie is, the fishery still sets up right in his wheelhouse.

BUCKET D: HUFF

Bucket D is where we will make the shift from momentum to history. The Bassmaster Open out of Muskogee in 2020 was full of current Elite Series pros that finished in the Top 10 including John Garrett, Lee Livesay, Brandon Palaniuk and Cody Huff who is my Bucket D pick.

Solid secondary selection: As just mentioned, Brandon Palaniuk notched a Top 10 here in the 2020 Open and has some solid momentum built up with a 35th place finish at the Tenn-Tom.

BUCKET E: HACKNEY

It’s fair to say that one of the biggest surprises at the Tenn-Tom was the fact that Greg Hackney struggled on a body of water where everyone expected him to dominate. I’m not betting on that happening two events in a row, especially on the Arkansas River where he has plenty of experience. I truly feel bad for the first bass that bites on Day 1 of the event.

Solid secondary selection: Besides Jason Christie, Blake Capps is the only true local in the field. Capps calls Muskogee, Okla. home and notched a second-place finish here in the B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier in 2024.