GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Slugfest of the year may be somewhat of an understatement when looking at this event. Lake Guntersville, aka the Big G, aka Hawgtown, USA, is a 180-degree experience from what the 113 Elite Series anglers faced at the Sabine River in Orange, Texas.
This event will get you in trouble in a hurry because when you pick your Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing team, you will see numerous Alabama anglers and may think they will have an advantage. That could be true, but with the multitude of fish that grace Lake Guntersville, it’s a toss-up. Add in the wild card factor that the spawn will be a factor this event. No doubt that prespawn will be a heavy hitter, but an angler finding a giant on a bed and getting it to the boat could change the game.
With that being said, here are my picks.
Bucket A
Conservative pick: Jordan Lee
How can you go wrong with Jordan Lee on Lake Guntersville? Not only is he an Alabama hammer, but he also notched a Top 10 in the Bassmaster Classic in 2014 on Guntersville. If it wasn’t for a bad Day 1, who knows what would’ve happened as Lee rebounded on the final two days. Lee seems to fish beyond his years and doesn’t slip up often. If he doesn’t have a slip up this season, I don’t expect it to be here, at home.
Dark Horse pick: Dean Rojas
When I think of Dean Rojas, I think of two things: grass master and sight fishing. With Guntersville, you get both this time around. Rojas led on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Classic and, although he didn’t win, he started his season strong. Then he backed it up with a Top 20 at the tough Sabine River. Guntersville is full of big bass, grass and if anglers are looking at them, then it is hard to count out Rojas.
Give me Dean “The Machine” Rojas.
Bucket B
Conservative pick: Terry Scroggins
Terry Scroggins is a Florida grass specialist and a stud in shallow water. I expect that Scroggins will find a shallow bite, whether it is prespawn or those bedding giants. Only 3.3 percent of people are picking him, but if you are on the fence for Bucket B, I would stray from the locals and take a peek at Scroggins.
Dark Horse pick: Hank Cherry
When I hear “prespawn pattern,” a couple anglers shoot into my mind. One of those anglers is Hank Cherry. I’m not selling out on bed fishing in my Fantasy Fishing lineup, and that is why jerkbait specialist Hank Cherry is in my Bucket B. It seems that anywhere the Elites go, Cherry could find a couple quality fish to bite a jerkbait and, because of that, he is dangerous in this tournament.
Cherry is atop my Fantasy Fishing sundae for Guntersville.
Bucket C
Conservative pick: Jacob Powroznik
Jacob Powroznik has shown his skills on the Elite Series already in just one season and at the Bassmaster Classic. Powroznik is a good sight fisherman and proved it on Toledo Bend last year. I expect J-Proz to have some quality fish in his sights and some prespawn areas that he can catch a solid limit real quick.
Dark Horse pick: Skeet Reese
Who knew that Skeet Reese could be a dark horse angler, but I think with so many Alabama anglers in the Elite Series field that many people are quick to forget the success Reese has had at Guntersville. I expect him to have some motivation on his side after back-to-back zeros on Days 2 and 3 on the Sabine River. Big bags may be in the future for this former Guntersville winner.
But I’ll take Powroznik and his consistency at this event.
Bucket D
Conservative pick: Brett Hite
Brett Hite=ChatterBait, ChatterBait=Brett Hite. The relationship between this angler and this bait is unprecedented. I expect Hite to find major success with his favorite bait if he chooses to fish prespawn patterns. The grass is green on Guntersville and we all saw how dominant Hite was last year on Seminole with this tool. I expect to see something similar for Hite again.
Dark Horse pick: Kevin Hawk
Kevin Hawk isn’t the first angler fans think of when they talk about Lake Guntersville, but many would be shocked to know he resides in Guntersville. When Hawk got his big break and fished the Forrest Wood Cup, he moved to Lake Lanier and studied and practiced every day there. It resulted in a championship win for Hawk. Not that this is going to happen again, but he obviously spends a lot more time on and around Guntersville than some of these Alabama anglers do.
I’m happily taking Hite in Bucket D.
Bucket E
Conservative pick: Brandon Palaniuk
Brandon Palaniuk may have had his two worst events back-to-back that he ever will as an Elite angler. I expect a bounce-back effort from him, and he will get back on track in hopes of turning his season around. We saw how tough it is to rebound from a bad start to a season, but as Palaniuk showed in 2013, that just means his desire to win is heightened.
Dark Horse pick: Fred Roumbanis
Roumbanis claimed a giant from Lake Guntersville during the 2014 Bassmaster Classic and is a grass pig in his own right. Roumbanis should find his groove with shallow moving baits.
I’m picking the prodigy (Brandon Palaniuk) on this one.