Fantasy Fishing: Quality over quantity

Written by

Richard Lindgren

Lake Murray definitely showed out this past week for the Bassmaster Elite Series, but now the more storied South Carolina fishery gets its turn to shine and try to retain bragging rights as the king of South Carolina bass fishing.

Santee Cooper Lakes are well known for giant bass and eye-popping 30-pound-plus five-bass limits over the years. Santee Cooper Lakes are likely a little further along and getting towards the tail end of the spawn. There will still be fish to be picked off spawning beds for anglers, but it may be difficult to win on sight fishing alone.

Shallow water spring specialists should dominate at the Santee Cooper Elite. Expect a variety of techniques ranging from Texas-rigged soft plastics, topwaters and frogs, as well as reaction baits like ChatterBaits and swim jigs to all play big. An angler that can mix in some quality fish just fishing along with key bed fish should find themselves in contention.

I expect to see lots of big bass and limits brought across the scales, but the consistency of 3-pounders that Murray shelled out is unlikely. A few key big bites each day will likely carry anglers into the weekend.

BUCKET A: WALTERS

Patrick Walters contended for the win on Murray, and now the Elites are coming to Walter’s other home pond. Other than a slight hiccup on Seminole, Walters has had a very strong start to his 2023 Bassmaster Elite season and I expect another Top 10 at Santee Cooper. Walters has all the knowledge to not need to rely on spawning fish to contend this week.

The other Drew

If there are enough late spawners to carry an angler, then Drew Cook will find them and exploit them to a high finish. Cook has a win and a top 15 on Santee Cooper and is coming off a Top 10 at Murray primarily on bedding bass.

BUCKET B: KENNEDY

I rolled the dice on Steve Kennedy at Okeechobee, and he notched fifth-place from Bucket E. Kennedy’s track record on Santee Cooper Lakes has me feeling bold and ready to play with fantasy fire again. Shallow postspawn fishing is right in Kennedy’s wheel house, and he is coming off a solid finish at Murray.

“Palm”er

Luke Palmer has two to top 20s on Santee Cooper. The Palmetto state has been good to Luke, and I expect he will be his usual solid self this week as well. Palmer was one of the highest finishers last year on Santee without spending much time looking at bedding bass.

BUCKET C: PALANIUK

Ownership percentage is very high for Brandon Palaniuk, but when you combine his value in Bucket C with his win and third-place finish in two Santee Cooper events, he is too hard for me to pass up. Simple terms, pick Palaniuk this week in Bucket C because he will likely be in Bucket A shortly.

Wacky pick

Presenting weightless wacky worms around cypress trees will almost certainly be a big player this week, and Jacob Powroznik is one of the most efficient with this technique. Powroznik has a knack for wrestling giant bass from heavy cover using this finesse style technique as well.

BUCKET D: KUPHALL

Caleb Kuphall nearly won last spring on Santee Cooper without looking at any of the bass, and he loves to power fish around heavy cover. Being slightly later in the year should only play into Caleb’s hands even more.

Cypress specialists

If you find yourself not overly excited with your options in Bucket D based on historical data, consider taking a look at a pair of Louisiana shallow water, cypress tree connoisseurs. Both Logan Latuso and Caleb Sumrall should feel right at home discerning the intricacies of Santee Cooper Lakes’ vast cypress tree offerings.

BUCKET E: WILLIAMS

David Williams is not riding any kind of wave of positive momentum after Murray, but he does have a fair amount of history and reasonable success at Santee Cooper over the years. David should be able to sling his favorite jigs and spinnerbaits to a solid finish. Last season, William’s 28th-place finish at Santee is his best since returning to the Bassmaster Elites.

Old school

Matt Herren made the top 50 cuts in his last two appearances in Clarendon County. If you can get a top 50 cut from your Bucket E selection it’s all gravy from there. Herren loves to flip and swim a jig, both should be strong options this week.

Mercury Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge

Now onto the fifth event of season three of the Mercury Bassmaster Drain the Lake Challenge. This additional fantasy fishing game not only offers a fresh way to play the game, but a completely separate prize pool. Drain the Lake is an elimination or survivor style game where you can only use an angler once all season.

As we hit the meat of the schedule, you will start to feel the crunch as you have probably used up some of your favorite anglers.

Here is my Bassmaster Drain the Lake roster: