So on the Monday after the Arkansas River Elite, I scurried to the T-H Marine Pick ‘Em page to see if my ship, or bass boat, had finally come in. I need a big week to get back above .500, and that was going to be the one! As the page popped up on my computer, all I saw was green…Match 1, 2, 3…all green. Time to scroll down…and there is was. Red, red, red, red. 3-4. Like a 25 lb. bag on Day 1, only to get skunked on Day 2 and miss the cut!
Now sitting at 15-20 on the season, we head to the Carolinas with great confidence! So, let’s get to the Lake Murray picks right now!
Match 1 continues to pit the Progressive AOY leaders, the ever present Trey McKinney, and now Cory Johnston, carrying the banner for the Johnston Dynamic Duo. The scope is back in play this week, and Murray is a hearing lake with low water. So I won’t complicate this, I’ll take the kid, Trey McKinney.
Match 2 is between a couple of South Carolina hammers, Patrick Walters and Brandon Cobb. Cobb has been on a heater of late, making sure that he can fish that Hartwell Classic. Walters is always good, though, and a threat to win. Both will have high finishes, Patrick Walters will be a little higher.
Speaking of Blueback Herring, we get a couple of aficionados in Match 3, Emil Wagner and Paul Marks from nearby Lake Lanier. This is a tough call, but I’m going to roll with Paul Marks in this one.
Match 4 has Jason Christie, also working hard to get back to where he won his Classic a few years ago, and Cole Sands. Christie is rolling after a couple of River deals, but the herring don’t scare him, so I’m not scared to continue to role with him. Jason Christie is the pick!
Match 5 gives us the co-stars of The Cutline podcast, Drew Benton and Drew Cook. Both will be above that cutline, but I think Drew Benton will find a few on the bed, and that will put him over the top here. Besides, how can you deny the momentum he has coming off the Tuesday Night Live win with Mike Iaconelli?
In Match 6 we get a couple of 2 timers. Two-time AOYs that is, in Brandon Palaniuk and Chris Johnston. No way BOTH Johnsons lose their matches, right? Since I have McKinney over Cory, I’ll take Chris Johnston here over the ORIGINAL prodigy.
And finally, South Carolinian Jason Williamson and Texan Chris Zaldain square off in Match 7. Zaldain is having a much better year at this point, but man, if not now, when for J-Will, in his home state. I’ll take the big fella, Jason Williamson!
I need a big week here to work back to the .500 mark! Good luck to you all…may your sheet be all green!
