Year two of T-H Marine’s Bassmaster Pick ‘Em Challenge is here, and with the new forward-facing sonar rules, strategy is going to be more important than ever! But, be careful selling the Young Guns short. I think we will learn that they can catch just them just about any way! We are kicking things off at Guntersville in a serious Alabama cold snap, one that has driven water temperatures into the 30s, and coated some of that famous Guntersville rip rap with ice! That brings us to our 1st matchup of the season, Canadian Chris Johnston, looking for an AOY 3-peat and young phenom Trey McKinney.
Johnston won the AOY without making a Top 10 all season, while McKinney had a ridiculous 5 Top 10s in 9 events, and if not for an 89th place bomb in the 1st event of the year last year, he would have hoisted his first AOY Trophy, which would have almost been his 2nd, but that’s another story. I’ll take the mercurial Trey McKinney over steady Johnston in this one.
Match 2 pits a couple of Guntersville neighbors in Gerald Swindle and Randy Howell. These guys have been at this a minute, and, of course, Howell won the 2014 Classic on this pond. G-Man is coming off double knee replacement, just last month, and to be honest, it feels like a minor miracle that he is even out there! I’ll take Randy Howell to edge G here.
Match 3 gives us the reigning Classic champ, and 2024 EQ Angler of the Year, Easton Fothergill, against 2025’s EQ AOY, and young gun, Fisher Anaya. For Anaya, this is basically home, and he has spent a ton of time on Guntersville with his mentor, the aforementioned Gerald Swindle. Not to mention his own dad, who is a heck of a stick out here in his own right. Take the aptly named Fisher Anaya in this one.
Match 4 is all about the Iron Bowl. Steve Kennedy is an Auburn grad who carries the Tigers colors proudly on his boat, jersey and hat. Scott Canterbury (and his wife) are known to throw a great Alabama watch party. No analysis needed here…Roll Tide, because, well, Roll Tide!
Match 5 is a rookie showdown between Tennessee’s Tristan McCormick and Michigander Aaron Jagdfeld. Both these guys can catch and the conditions may favor Jagdfeld, but I like Tristan McCormick experience here. It would not surprise me at all to see both these guys fishing on Saturday after making the cut either.
Match 6 pits a couple of guys who have a Guntersville win under their belts in Jamie Hartman and Caleb Kuphall. Both of those wins came out of some well-known grassy areas not too far from this year’s take off at Goose Pond Colony, but that’s not the kind of deal this event will be. The Hammer is coming off a tough year last year, while Caleb was Top 25 in points…that’s good enough for me, I’m on Caleb Kuphall!
And in our final pairing, we get guys that got it done early last year, John Garrett and Dollar Bill Lowen in Match 7. Lowen is a jig master that excels in shallow, and sometimes muddy water. Garrett is very good with the moving baits, and I have seen that up close and personal, having shared a boat with him before. I’m a huge fan of both these guys, but John Garrett gets the nod here.
Good luck in 2026 in all your Fantasy games!
