Fantasy Fishing: Pick anglers who live by their instincts

Written by

Pete Robbins

After a month off from Elite Series competition, the upcoming tournament at Oklahoma’s Lake Tenkiller is something of a “trap game” – not just for the anglers but also for those of us playing Fantasy Fishing.

There’s only been one Elite event there – won by Carl Jocumsen in 2019 – so it’s not like we have a ton of data to work with. We know it’s a small lake, and probably a comparatively tough time of year to be there. An angler may get on the winning milk run or pattern and pick a bad rotation, or suffer through a few missteps, and then hopelessly veer off course. I don’t expect it to be a high weight affair, not quite a Sabine, but stingy nonetheless.

The ones who do well, as with any tournament, won’t get thrown off the scent when things go slightly off course. They’ll adjust, and follow some instinct to get off their backs and resume punching. All of that is a long way of saying that we don’t know nothin’ ‘bout nothin’, but I have hunches that the following five anglers (10 if you count my alternates) have the reserves capable of keeping things on a proper path from start to finish:

BUCKET A: BIG MOMENTUM

Eye of the Tiger: Except for the sign at the border of Florida telling him that there are hazards ahead (and which I expect to be removed sooner rather than later), Easton Fothergill has been unstoppable. It’s rare that he misses a Top 10, as he did at the Sabine, where he finished 14th. He also has an Opens win in Oklahoma to his credit, so I’m riding this train until it crashes.

Backup Hunch: When the jig’s in play, Tyler Williams is in his happy place, and it should play big time at Tenkiller. He has two Top 10s and a 12th in his last four events, and finished 4th in a 2023 Open at Eufaula.

BUCKET B: POKER FACE

Eye of the Tiger: After his record-setting effort at the Pasquotank, Kyle Welcher had two duds before getting back on track with a 5th place finish at the Sabine. He’s inside the Classic cut, but not comfortably, and would greatly benefit from another Top 10. He doesn’t have much BASS history in Oklahoma (just the 2024 Classic on Grand) but he seems to be at his best when seeing places with fresh eyes.

Backup Hunch: Luke Palmer is a home state angler who has semi-quietly made five straight Classics. Don’t expect him to miss the next one, and this tournament could be a key element in cementing his place there.

BUCKET C: HOME COOKING

Eye of the Tiger: Yes, I know that Jason Christie has a super-high player percentage, which is often a red flag. He’s also finished in the eighties in three of the last four tournaments. Still, this is a home game for him and you’ll regret it if he wins and you didn’t take the easy money.

Backup Hunch: Pat Schlapper doesn’t have a lot of tournament history in Oklahoma, but after breaking the seal I wouldn’t be shocked if he won two this year. La Crosse is the obvious choice, but sometimes momentum creates trophy winning moments in unlikely places.

BUCKET D: MANY HAPPY RETURNS

Eye of the Tiger: The return of Cliff Pace to the Elite Series has not gone the way he likely expected, as he currently finds himself in 66th place in the AOY race. Still, we’ve seen flashes of his past success, and the greatest moment of that career took place in Oklahoma, when he won the 2013 Classic. His record in the state is mixed, but at some point he’ll notch another Top 10. That time could be now.

Backup Hunch: If you can’t bring yourself to pick Pace, utilize the Bucket D bargain of Greg Hackney, who surprisingly came up far short at the Sabine. He’s too crafty and too talented to continue to struggle, and while he’s had some great tournaments up north, this is the one of the remaining three that should be circled on his calendar.

BUCKET E: SURPRISING STRUGGLES

Eye of the Tiger: It’s shocking to me to see Brandon Card in the nineties in the AOY race, because he’s historically been one of the most consistent anglers on tour, fishing five straight Classics from 2020 to 2024. He finished 4th in the 2019 tournament on Tenkiller, which makes it a particularly optimal place to right his ship.

Backup Hunch: Steve Kennedy has long been a mystery to many of us, but that’s particularly true in Fantasy Fishing where he’s just as likely to Top 10 as he has to chase ghosts and come up empty. I haven’t had the guts to pick him yet this year, but this may be the right time. He was 25th the last time the Elites competed at Tenkiller.