The Bassmaster Elite Series has visited Orange, TX five times since 2013, but this will be the first visit in May and it has become apparent there are two predominant mindsets for anglers approaching this event on the schedule. Are you going to fill your rosters with anglers just trying to get by or anglers who set their sights high?
Many anglers are intimidated by the vastness and lack of big bass on the Sabine, but you want anglers that have the confidence to take calculated risks and put themselves in positions to flourish at this shallow water fishery. Recent rains in East Texas may make finding clean fishable water a challenge for anglers.
Expect shallow post spawn fishing techniques to dominate, but also a fair amount of downsizing to maximize stingy bites and confined areas.
BUCKET A: PRZEKURAT
I said Jay Przekurat was the safe pick at Lake Fork and I didn’t listen. I am going to take my own advice and play it safe with Jay, seems like he is an automatic top 10 machine at this point of the season.
Cox Watch
John Cox has a few strong weekend cuts at the Sabine, but he is probably due for a Sunday appearance this year.
BUCKET B: MOSLEY
Brock Mosley has been a consistent force over his career fishing shallow fisheries and his track record out of Orange, TX has been strong, including a blue trophy in the last visit. Brock has also shown he knows when to make long runs and when to stay close.
Hot hand
Nobody has been on a hotter run since March than Easton Fothergill. Not much tournament data to suggest this will be a good event for Easton, but neither did Pasquotank when he notched a top ten in that event.
BUCKET C: WELCHER
Kyle Welcher has a pair of top tens in his young Bassmaster Elite Series career. Welcher cut his teeth fishing rivers for bass and he is not afraid of a grinder event.
Rookie watch
If you want to pick a rookie for the Sabine, Beau Browning might be your angler. What Beau picked up from his father and his propensity for the chatterbait will likely suit him well at the Sabine River.
BUCKET D: SUMRALL
Caleb Surall had a solid event at Lake Fork and should be looking to keep things rolling not far from home at the Sabine. His past two visits to the Sabine have resulted in solid checks and the style fits his strengths.
Hack Attack
Greg Hackney is another angler that had a strong week at Lake Fork and a long track record of success at the Sabine. Won’t be much that surprised the Hack Attack on this border fishery of Texas and Louisiana.
BUCKET E: WETHERELL
Two years ago, Alex Wetherell notched his first Bassmaster Elite Series top 10 at the Sabine River in June. Alex also has top finishes on other coastal river fisheries like the James River and has experience growing up around the Delaware River. He is also currently one of the top point getters in Bucket E.
Grinders Grind
Gerald Swindle has had a bumpy 2025, but he is one of the most experienced anglers in the field when it comes to visits to the Sabine River. If muddy water throws a wrench into fishing this year, he should have some ideas on where to go and grind out a tough bite.
Drain the Lake
Now onto the seventh event and final southern stop of the Falcon 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.
As we hit the meat of the schedule, you will start to feel the pressure as you have probably used up many of your favorite anglers.
Here is my Falcon Rods Bassmaster Drain the Lake roster:
Brock Mosley
Tyler Rivet
Greg Hackney
Logan Latuso
Kyle Welcher
Caleb Sumrall
Kyle Norsetter
Matt Robertson
