Fantasy Fishing: Heavyweight bout coming up

Stetson Blaylock is coming off of a third-place finish at the Bassmaster Classic.

Written by

Kyle Jessie

It’s a tough task for a tournament to follow up any Bassmaster Classic — especially one with the magnitude of the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk — but the upcoming event on Santee Cooper is definitely setting up to be a slugfest. Before the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season started, many believed that this event could be the heaviest winning weight event of the season. And that’s on a schedule that features lakes such as the St. Johns River, Harris Chain, Lake Chickamauga, Lake Fork and the St. Lawrence River.

While power fishing with big rods, big line and big baits will play in this event, don’t be surprised if a wacky rig is a factor as well. A wacky rig in the spring on Santee Cooper Lakes is historically a player.

When selecting Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing anglers for this event, I didn’t focus on history considering the 2020 Elite Series event was in the fall. Further, the majority of the field wasn’t fishing the Elites back in 2006 when it took 115 pounds, 15 ounces to win. Rather, I focused on anglers’ strengths.

Let’s get into my picks.

BUCKET A: BLAYLOCK

Stetson Blaylock is having a phenomenal start to the 2022 season, and this event sets up super well for him. Coming so close to hoisting the Bassmaster Classic trophy over his head just a couple of hours away from Santee Cooper has to motivate the Arkansas pro that much more to continue having a great season and get back to the Classic stage. Blaylock is a great sight fisherman and has proved on countless occasions how good he is with a wacky rig in his hand. Look for Blaylock to carry on the momentum that he’s got going.

Solid secondary selection: If you’re looking for an angler with a lower player percentage, look no further than Blaylock’s traveling partner Micah Frazier. After an uncharacteristically tough 2021 season, Frazier is back on track in 2022. The Georgia native has a history of doing well in heavyweight events, and this is certainly going to be that.

BUCKET B: HACKNEY

Even in a Bucket that features the hometown favorite Patrick Walters, I’m counting on Greg Hackney being a safe bet. Really, any time there’s an opportunity to select Hackney in an event like this where he doesn’t own the highest player percentage, I’ll pick him. Of all of my picks, Hackney does have some positive history at Santee Cooper as well. Back in 2006, Hackney finished 11th in the all-out slugfest with 91 pounds, 13 ounces.

Solid secondary selection: It’s hard to believe that Drew Benton is currently at a sub-2% player percentage. The Georgia native is one of the best on the planet when it comes to fishing for spawning fish. If you’re looking for a low-key pick in Bucket B, Drew Benton may be your guy.

BUCKET C: QUEEN

KJ Queen may very well be the most underrated sight fisherman in all of professional bass fishing. Even if he chooses not to go the bed fishing route, Queen has a history of doing well in springtime events in his young professional career. At a sub-3% player percentage, the North Carolina pro could be a solid pick in Bucket C.

Solid secondary selection: Lee Livesay is always going to be a factor when we’re talking about big weight events. The Texas pro has never been scared to go for it and fish for the biggest fish in the lake.

BUCKET D: ATKINS

Justin Atkins has proved over the course of his career that he is more than capable of catching giant springtime bass. The Alabama pro has also proved he can get it done with a spinning rod in his hand, which as previously mentioned, I feel like could play in this event. The next few events sent up really well for Atkins to get back on track and make a jump up the Bassmaster Angler of the Year leaderboard.

Solid secondary selection: Over the course of his long career, Clark Wendlandt is another angler who is always a factor when the fish are spawning or at least thinking about it. Look for the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year to bounce back at Santee Cooper.

BUCKET E: WELCHER

Rarely do I pick the highest selected angler in the Bucket, but it seems like a no-brainer with Kyle Welcher in Bucket E. The Alabama native is a certified shallow water power fisherman that is coming off of a second-place finish at the Bassmaster Classic.

Solid secondary selection: At a much lower player percentage, Hunter Shryock could be a major player in this event as well. The three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier is a great sight fisherman, and he needs to bounce back in this event.