Fantasy Fishing: Finding the feeding frenzy

Written by

Kyle Jessie

Up to this point, my Rapala Bassmaster Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing results this season have been less than exciting, to say the least. One thing that is exciting though is knowing that the Elites are about to hit Lake Murray, one of the best lakes in the country, at the end of April.

After the final day of the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, I had the opportunity to catch up with South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb who felt strongly about Lake Murray showing out. Given the time of year, Cobb suggested that the Elites will have the opportunity to fish their strengths in a variety of different ways to have success.

An early spring in South Carolina has everything sped up, as the blueback herring spawn should be firing, but there’s sure to be a good population of fish that are still spawning or holding in shallow water. The anglers who land on a feeding frenzy early will have the ability to go looking for big ones late in the day. To have success over the course of four days, anglers will likely need to have multiple patterns in place.

When it comes to Fantasy Fishing, select anglers who are overall well-rounded and can adjust on a dime.

BUCKET A: COOK

There’s no question that Drew Cook is near the top of the list when it comes to ranking sight fishermen on the Bassmaster Elite Series, but his versatility could be a big factor at Lake Murray. Cook will certainly be able to find the fish that are still on bed, but he could potentially mix in an early morning bite before heading to the bank.

Solid secondary selection: It’s not hard to believe that Brandon Cobb is getting selected by nearly half of the players in Bucket A. While Lake Murray isn’t Cobb’s home lake, he certainly has some history on the body of water and a great understanding of how to fish herring lakes.

BUCKET B: WALTERS

I’m typically not thrilled about selecting anglers with high player percentages, but I’m more than willing to do so for Patrick Walters in Bucket B. As a South Carolina native that went to school at the University of South Carolina, just 45 minutes away from takeoff, Walters has spent a considerable amount of time on Lake Murray. He’s another angler that understands how herring bass act.

Solid secondary selection: Sticking with the theme of Carolina anglers that understand herring lakes, look no further than Matt Arey in Bucket B. The North Carolinian is an expert when it comes to chasing around herring eaters and fishing boat docks.

BUCKET C: QUEEN

KJ Queen’s ability to utilize his electronics and his proven history of being an excellent bed fisherman make him a threat at Lake Murray. With years of fishing tournaments in the Carolinas, it’s likely that Queen has a good bit of history on the body of water, but either way the lake and time of year fit his style perfectly.

Solid secondary selection: Another angler that is currently sitting at sub 5% player percentage that has proven success on blueback herring lakes is Jake Whitaker. The North Carolina pro is also one of the best on tour when utilizing a wacky rig which should play at Lake Murray.

BUCKET D: PALANIUK

It’s not often that you get the chance to have Brandon Palaniuk on your Fantasy Fishing roster in Bucket D, so take advantage of it while you can. Bucket D is loaded with anglers that won’t be there long, but it’s hard to imagine Palaniuk will have another poor event after one of the worst Elite Series finishes of his career.

Solid secondary selection: If you’re looking for an angler that is flying under the radar in Bucket D, Justin Atkins may be your pick. While it was later in the year, the Alabama pro won the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray.

BUCKET E: WILLIAMS

It’s hard to justify not picking Bryan New in Bucket E, but at a much lower player percentage, David Williams is solid choice in Bucket E. The North Carolina native has a history of success on blueback herring bodies of water, and if there’s a dock bite to be had, he’ll likely find it.

Solid secondary selection: As previously mentioned, Bryan New is the obvious choice in Bucket E as he now calls Lake Murray his home lake. If you don’t mind the nearly 70% player percentage, take New in Bucket E.