Fantasy Fishing: Running out of chances at Champlain

Written by

Kyle Jessie

Time is running out on the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season. With just two events left, each cast is amplified with implications of qualifying for the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, requalifying for the 2024 Elite Series and of course, the possibility of taking home the prestigious Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

While this isn’t the last opportunity for the Elites, it’s fair to say that their results in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain will play a big role in determining how comfortable they are heading to the St. Lawrence River.

With all that said, I’m running out of ideas on how to angle my Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing picks. Outside of my success in Mercury Bassmaster Drain the Lake, this has been a less than desirable season of Fantasy Fishing. The best I can do at this point is finish the last two events strong and regroup for next season.

Lake Champlain is easily one of the best bass fisheries in the country. It’s one of the few bodies of water where anglers can take their pick on fishing for smallmouth or largemouth and still be competitive. When making Fantasy Fishing picks for this event, I’m factoring in anglers that have had consistent success at Lake Champlain and anglers that can mix in both species.

BUCKET A: WALTERS

I picked a low percentage pick in Joey Cifuentes in Bucket A at St. Clair and it paid off in a big way. Sticking with the same game plan, Patrick Walters is a name that caught my eye right away in Bucket A. The South Carolina angler is having another nice season and has a good track record at Lake Champlain with a 28th and a 7th place finish in recent years.

Solid secondary selection: Bryan Schmitt has been pretty remarkable at Lake Champlain over the course of his career. If you don’t mind the higher percentage, Schmitt may be the closest thing to a safe pick. Brandon Palaniuk is another angler that has excelled at Champlain.

BUCKET B: FEIDER

The only thing Seth Feider is missing at Lake Champlain is a win. In three Elite events at Champlain, the Minnesota pro’s worst finish is 4th. Champlain isn’t Feider’s home lake, but it might as well be with the amount of success he’s had at this famed fishery. Early reports have suggested that largemouth may play this year, and that’s what Feider loves to target despite being one of the best smallmouth fishermen on tour.

Solid secondary selection: If you’re looking for a lower percentage angler in Bucket B, Brandon Lester may be the pick. The Tennessee pro has fished four events at Lake Champlain and has never finished outside of the top 25.

BUCKET C: FELIX

Over the course of his Elite Series career, Austin Felix has a tendency to finish off the season strong when the events head north and I would expect this year to be no exception. The Minnesota pro is one of the best smallmouth anglers on tour, and has two top 20 finishes at Champlain.

Solid secondary selection: Jamie Hartman’s previous results at Lake Champlain have been a little all over the place, but don’t be surprised if the New York native has a good event this go around.

BUCKET D: ZALDAIN

Chris Zaldain certainly isn’t having his best season on the Bassmaster Elite Series, but Lake Champlain is a perfect place to turn things around. The Elite Series veteran has never finished outside of the top 50 at Lake Champlain and finished 3rd in 2021.

Solid secondary selection: Alex Redwine has some positive momentum rolling from St. Clair, and has proved to be a force when smallmouth are in play. Look for Redwine to keep it rolling in New York.

BUCKET E: FRAZIER

Micah Frazier has definitely been at his best this season, but it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see the Georgia pro turn things around in the final two events. The five-time Classic qualifier has finished inside the top 50 in his two most recent events at Champlain.

Solid secondary selection: Josh Douglas is undoubtably one of the best smallmouth anglers on tour, and after a less than stellar event at St. Clair, I’d expect the Minnesota pro finish strong in the final two events.