BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Who do the competitors think has a good chance to win the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk? During registration Tuesday, several anglers were asked, without choosing themselves, to pick three likely winners at Lake Guntersville this week and give a reason why. Here are their answers:
Cliff Prince
- Paul Mueller – Just because of what he did in the Classic before. And he’s on a roll. It helps to come off a win (at the St. Johns River last month).
- Scott Canterbury – He knows this place pretty good.
- Matt Arey – Because of what he’s done here in the past. He’s got pretty good knowledge of this place.
Hank Cherry
- Ray Hanselman – Just because he’ll put a crankbait in his hand and not put it down.
- Darold Gleason – This is his first Classic, but I don’t think he’s going to let the moment get too big. I’ve talked to him quite a bit, and I think he’s got a pretty good idea of what’s going on.
- Keith Combs – I’m going to go with another crankbait guy. I’m not saying it’s necessarily going to be deep. I just think that bait is going to produce the winning bag this week.
Stetson Blaylock
- Cory Johnston – He had a great season last year. Everybody says those guys from up north, smallmouth is their deal. But they fish grass lakes a lot.
- Mark Menendez – Because he’s fished multiple Classics, and fished bodies of water like this year after year after year.
- Ray Hanselman – He might be a sleeper. He caught ‘em here in June. This is right up his alley. He’s lived on those Texas lakes fishing this exact type of deal forever.
Scott Canterbury
- Brandon Cobb – He just seems to do good in big tournaments. He’s done good at Guntersville. He’s got some history here. He did good two years ago on a Rat-L-Trap this time of year.
- Chris Zaldain – Just because of the chance of big fish on the Tennessee River biting a big swimbait. And it seems like Zaldain is always in the hunt now.
- Matt Herren – Local knowledge, and he’s fished big tournaments a long time. He’s not going to let it bother him.
Shane LeHew
- Bill Lowen – Because I think the fish could potentially pull shallow with it being warm. And he’s had some prior experience here.
- Scott Canterbury – He’s been on a roll since last year, and he hasn’t let up yet.
- Brandon Cobb – I think he’s got just as good a shot as anybody. He likes these big events. He’s been very close in the (FLW) Cup every time he’s fished it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win.
Mark Menendez
- Shane LeHew – He’s a dynamite handler, he’ll handle the pressure well. He doesn’t get rattled. And he’s just an excellent fisherman. Shane is one who will dark-horse around and be good.
- Bill Lowen – He’s due. I think it’s time. He’ll junk you to death. He’s a junkyard dog. Here you can junk around and get you a couple of six-pounders a day.
- Matt Herren – He’s from this area and understands the seasonal pattern. And he’s notorious for catching better-than-average fish.
Seth Feider
- Chris Zaldain – Big swimbait.
- Scott Canterbury – Local knowledge.
- Matt Herren – I don’t think he’s going to win, but I think he’s going to catch ‘em real good. Besides, I’ve got to hold a spot for myself.
Keith Combs
- Scott Canterbury – I know he’s fished here in a couple of FLW events that I fished in way back, and he did well in them. Plus, he’s fishing good right now, and it’s his home area.
- Matt Herren – For part of the same reason as Canterbury. He knows this lake well. Maybe they know a few things that we don’t know, something to fall back on.
- Ray Hanselman – He hasn’t shown his potential on the Elite Series yet, but he will soon. He’s a good grass fisherman who should catch ‘em here.
Drew Benton
- Scott Canterbury – Because he’s from the area and has a lot of history here.
- Brandon Lester – He always has great events at Guntersville. He’s due.
- Drew Cook – He grew up fishing Lake Seminole. A grass fishery sets up well for the way he likes to fish – Chatterbaiting and Rat-L-Trapping. He’ll do good here.
Brandon Lester
- Scott Canterbury – He’s got a lot of experience here, and he’s a really good Tennessee River fisherman. He understands these fish, and he’s a good shallow water fisherman. He’ll know how to adjust with changing conditions.
- Matt Herren – Another solid pick for the same obvious reasons as Canterbury.
- Chris Zaldain – If he gets that swimbait thing going, he could blow it out. It’ll be a high-risk, high-reward deal, but they bite ‘em here.
Matt Herren
- Scott Canterbury – He’s got a lot of knowledge here. I think you’re going to have to fish a lot of different water.
- Cory Johnston – He’s one of those guys that fished FLW here this time of year.
- Keith Combs – It’s right in his wheelhouse. It’s grass-style fishing.
Chris Zaldain
- Matt Herren – I’d say he is the local. He’s got experience here, and in atypical conditions, kind of like we have here.
- Scott Canterbury – For the exact same reasons as Herren. And both of those guys know how to close.
- Cody Huff – I saw him a lot in practice. He’s a young kid, and I hear a lot of good things about him. He’s a hard worker. He’s been winning. And from what I hear he’s very technique and electronics savvy. If the lights-camera-action doesn’t affect him, he’ll be up there.
John Crews
- Brandon Lester – He’s good on the Tennessee River. He’s good in early, pre-spawn tournaments. And I think he’s got just enough experience under his belt to manage everything.
- David Mullins – The first two reasons the same as Lester. He could give a rat’s ass about pressure.
- Chris Zaldain – He seems to show up in the big events.
Paul Mueller
- John Cox – Because he’s a shallow water expert. I feel like this is going to be a shallow water tournament, and you can never count out a guy who’s a shallow water specialist.
- Bill Lowen – Another shallow water guy. You’ve got to kind of look at the shallow water guys. He’s another guy, like Cox, who lives to fish shallow.
- Matt Herren – He’s got experience here and he’s going to know what to do with these conditions.
Davy Hite
- Scott Canterbury – For sure is one to watch. He’s the reigning Angler of the Year. And I’m a big believer in momentum in tournaments. Plus, his knowledge here is an advantage. He’s fished Guntersville a lot.
- Brandon Lester – Just in the last few years you’ve seen him get better and better. And this being Lester’s fifth Classic, he’s over all the distractions.
- Shane LeHew – He has very quietly been a rock solid angler. LeHew is due. He’s done well here in the past. He’s certainly another one to watch.