Well, after the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour Pick ‘em, I am still looking for that big week to turn the season around for me! 3-4 at the Tennessee River has left me now 8-13 on the season, so at 5 picks under .500, and need to get going here!
We have the first of two river fisheries up next on the Elite Series, and this one is really old school with no forward-facing Sonar allowed! Trey Shroeder won the Open here last year, fishing dirt shallow not far from the ramp, and with the current weather pattern, we may see a lot of that again.
Match 1 pits one and two in the AOY Standings, Cory Johnston and Trey McKinney. This river could be highly stained, and I think it fits Trey’s eye even more than the Canadian Johnston. I’ll take the kid in this one, Trey McKinney.
Match 2 is between a couple of Mississippi boys, Brock Mosley and Justin Atkins, who now calls Florence, Ala. home. Mosley’s one Blue Trophy came on the Sabine River so it’s hard to go against him here. Brock Mosley is the pick!
Match 3 gives us a couple of guys who did well in that Open last season, Russ Lane and Tristan McCormack. This could be the first spot where Lane shines a bit in his return to the Elites, and with no FFS, I’ll take Russ Lane in this one!
Match 4 gives us another couple of River Rats in Bill Lowen and Beau Browning. No disrespect to Browning, who is outstanding, but I would be more inclined to pick his father, Stephen if he were fishing here. Again, with no FFS, I have to take the vet and his Black n’ Blue jig, Dollar Bill Lowen.
Match 5 gives us a couple of Swim Jig aficionados, Wes Logan and Stephen Kennedy. Kennedy seems to be off to a slow start this season so this time, I will take the young guy this time, Wes Logan.
Match 6 is a doozy! Can I call this one a tie, between John Cox and Greg Hackney? Cox does own a FFS unit, which he uses for a paper weight. The Hack Attack has done well in other events without the technology. Man, this is a tough one, but I will go with John Cox and his tin boat!
And in Match 7, we get a couple of hot guys coming out of the Classic, Easton Fothergill and JT Thompkins. Honestly, as much as I love these 2 guys, I think the battle here is for the cut line. I think Easton makes it first, so Easton Fothergill is the pick!
My sole motivation this week is to get Kyle Jessie and Ronnie Moore to put some respect on my name, so here’s to hoping for a big week!
