Well, it was bound to happen. I finally had a losing week in the T-H Marine Pick Em Challenge, and naturally, it happened at the Pasquotank River, a place none of us had any knowledge of. I did have winner Kyle Welcher in his match up with Kyle Patrick, and since Welcher won the event by 45 pounds, I kinda felt that should have carried over into a few more matches, but that’s not the way the game works. So, I went 3-4 for the week, leaving me at 20-7 for the season. So, time to put a big win together on a place B.A.S.S. is very familiar with – Lake Hartwell in South Carolina and into Northern Georgia.
In Match 1, we find the last 2 Hartwell Classic Champs, Jordan Lee and Jason Christie. Like all of these, this is a tough one, but I like Jordan Lee here. Both guys were good at Okeechobee, and kinda bombed at the ‘Tank, so this one is mostly a gut feeling…
Match 2 is John Garrett and Will Davis, Jr., two guys tied at the top of the Progressive Bassmaster AOY leaderboard. I think the off shore bite is going to be big at Hartwell, so that means John Garrett has the edge for me.
In Match 3, we find a couple of Carolina hammers, Brandon Cobb and Patrick Walters. Brandon Cobb calls Hartwell his home lake, and he and Bassmaster Radio share sponsorship from Visit Anderson, so I have no choice – Cobb is the pick!
Match 4 pits a couple of Herring chasers from nearby Lake Lanier – Paul Marks and Emil Wagner. Neither of these guys are off to great starts this season, but I like Emil Wagner here in what should be a very tight, offshore matchup.
Match 5 is fascinating since we have the last two Elite winners, Kyle Welcher and Brandon Palnuik. Kyle Welcher is on a heater right now, as he went to Lake Norman last week and almost won that event as well. He’ll look for the shallow Largemouth bite while Brandon will more likely be chasing the Herring. I think Welcher keeps it rolling here.
Match 6 is between roommates Jay Przekurat and Alex Redwine. Love Redwine, but Jay Przekurat is a player in the AOY race, sitting in 3rd right now. That momentum is hoard to overlook, and I think Przekurat is a live pick to win this entire derby. Take Przekurat and spend the weekend trying to spell his last name.
And in Match 7, 2nd year studs Tyler Williams and Kyle Patrick are pitted against each other. Big Tyler Williams has been on a roll, but Kyle Patrick was solid in North Carolina as well. I’ll roll with the Tyler Williams here, especially if he can find a jig bite out there – Williams is the pick.
Good luck!
