Let me begin this week with a public service announcement…after you make your selections in the T-H Marine Bassmaster Pick ‘em Challenge, don’t forget to hit the “Save” button! I forgot to do that last week after I wrote my predictions and could not understand why I was in a tie for last with approximately 7.7 % of others who also forgot to hit “Save” or who did hit “Save” and just made some really bad picks. There is, however, public record of my picks in the article archive here, and I can report that I went 4-3…not great, but good enough to win the NFC South.
This week, the Elites hit Lake Martin for Lippert Bassmaster Elite, and to be honest, Martin is a mystery for many of us. I did fish the Open there a couple of years ago, but that was much later in the year. A spotted bass factory, I was able to cash a small check on Largemouth, which should be in play here this week. Martin is not a big fish fishery, but with the scope back in play this week, there could be a few surprises.
A couple of guys who know this water very well are pitted against each other in Match 1, David Gaston and Will Davis, Jr., both from Sylacauga, Ala. and a pair of anglers that have shared a boat in tournaments in their youth. They both struggled last week at Guntersville, but I like Will Davis, Jr. here to bounce back in a big way.
In Match 2, it’s a couple of Bethel Boys in Tristan McCormack and John Garrett. I scored with both of these guys last week, and with the scope in play, these guys will likely be around for the weekend. I’m going to roll with John Garrett here and his added experience.
Match 3 is another battle between college mates, Elite Rookie Sam Hanggi and his Auburn buddy Logan Parks. I think Hanggi, who is from Knoxville, Tenn. is going to surprise some folks this season, but not this week. Parks is actually from nearby Auburn and should be a contender to make it to Sunday. I’m team Logan Parks this week.
Match 4 gives us another Iron Bowl tussle between a couple of vets in Russ Lane, who returns to the Elites this year, and Steve Kennedy, who has had this one circled on the schedule for a while. They both will be chasing those largemouth into the creeks this week, and I think Russ Lane will return with more of them.
It’s Mardi Gras time in Louisiana, so why not get Greg Hackney and Tyler Rivet together in Match 5? The Hack Attack cashed a check last week at Guntersville, while Rivet packed up on Friday and headed for Alexander City early…I like the momentum, I’ll ride Greg Hackney for the win here.
Match 6 gives us Idaho’s Cody Meyer and dice throwing Taku Ito. Ito is tough to beat on these types of fisheries, and if there some big spots to be found, I think he has a great chance to find them. It’s been a minute since we had some Taku Time…I’ve got Taku Ito in this one!
And in the final, Match 7 gives us a couple of guys coming in on a heater from last week, Stetson Blaylock and last week’s Champ, Hank Cherry. Cherry found something last week that no one has done in forever, throwing a chartreuse curly tail grub! What has he got in store for us next? Blaylock’s swimbait deal seems a little safer…I’ll go with Stetson Blaylock to turn the table this week!
Good luck to everyone!
