Fantasy Fishing: The tale of forward facing sonar guys and the one guy that doesn’t

Written by

Chase Sansom

Finally we have made it to the final leg of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season and there is no better place to finish out the season than Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River. I don’t think I could be much more excited to watch these final two events as both events have so much going on. Such as who is going to win Angler of the Year, Rookie of the Year and who is going to slip inside the 2024 Bassmaster Classic cut. The battle between Kyle Welcher and Brandon Cobb going into the final events is going to be pretty entertaining to watch.

Tournaments on Lake Champlain and generally northern tournaments have been so interesting to me in the sense that it’s not about the biggest fish in your bag that makes or breaks you. A lot of times in the south, it’s all about the kicker fish that sets you apart on the leaderboard, but up north it tends to be the smallest fish in the bag that determines whether you finish in the back of the pack or near the front.

As far as a Fantasy team goes, it’s hard to not take guys who excel with forward facing sonar. This tournament will most likely be dominated by it, minus a handful of guys who spend their time largemouth fishing. In my picks you will find a selection of guys minus Seth Feider, who I feel like are going to excel with forward facing sonar this week.

BUCKET A: PRZEKURAT

Jay Przekurat hasn’t missed the cut while he has been up north and one would assume he will continue that streak into this tournament. Przekurat hasn’t fished a B.A.S.S. event on Champlain, but with smallmouth and forward facing sonar in play he will feel right at home in this event. If you’re looking for safe option in Bucket A, look no further.

Alternate: Bryan Schmitt

BUCKET B: FEIDER

The one person in my Fantasy Fishing Team who will likely not be utilizing forward facing sonar is Seth Feider. But he’s a solid pick in Bucket B for a good reason. Feider has never missed a Top 10 on the Elites each team they have visited Lake Champlain and actually has never finished worse than 4^th on the Elite’s there. Feider, will most likely run the largemouth game and he might mix in some smallmouth as well, but nonetheless a solid choice in Bucket B.

Alternate: Chris Johnston

BUCKET C: FELIX

Taking full advantage of forward facing sonar on Champlain will be Austin Felix. Felix who has been to Champlain twice with the Elite Series has never missed the Top 10 and scored a 5^th place finish there in 2021. Any event where forward facing sonar is going to play, Felix is going to take full advantage.

Alternate: Cory Johnston

BUCKET D: ZALDAIN

Chris Zaldain has had a steady track record at Lake Champlain. He has visited there three times with the Elites and his worst finish was a 42^nd, but in 2021 he finished 3^rd. Zaldain, who still hasn’t captured an Elite Series win will be looking to do that this week on Champlain. He has had a kind of uncharacteristic season and there is no doubt he will be looking to turn it around at the last two events.

Alternate: Taku Ito

BUCKET E: FOUTZ

Jacob Foutz and his 22” NBT Marine unit for his forward facing sonar will look to make a splash at Lake Champlain. Foutz, who is arguably one of the best on the Elite Series with the new technology had a great finish on Lake St. Clair just a few weeks ago. He will be looking to carry that momentum into Champlain and one could expect for Foutz to have a good finish on Champlain.

Alternate: Bradley Hallman