The 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season ended with a bang at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River as the winner of the event, Bryan Schmitt, was victorious by just 4 ounces. Also, the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year award was essentially decided by one single keeper that Brandon Palaniuk boated in the last hour on Day 2.
Let’s get into the best and worst Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing picks.
The overall winner of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River was (“Teamtanner”), who selected just two of the five picks that would have made up the perfect roster. Overall Rank: No. 1, Total Points 1,401.
BUCKET A: Brandon Lester
BUCKET B: Jason Christie
BUCKET C: Brock Mosley
BUCKET D: Koby Kreiger
BUCKET E: Keith Combs
The perfect Fantasy Fishing roster for the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River would have been:
BUCKET A: Brandon Lester
BUCKET B: Bryan New
BUCKET C: Bryan Schmitt
BUCKET D: Ray Hanselman
BUCKET E: Keith Combs
Total: 1,456
BUCKET A: LESTER
Fighting for the top spot in the AOY race, Brandon Lester notched his third Top 10 of the Elite Season at the Mississippi River. The Tennessee pro scored 325 points with the help of some bonus points, and was selected by 4.5% of players.
Second best selection: Chris Johnston was another angler who was battling for a chance at the AOY title, and did everything he could to give himself a chance by finishing second at the Mississippi River. The Canadian scored 305 points and was selected by 10.1% of players.
Lowest scoring angler: Despite his great season leading up to the Mississippi River, David Mullins scored just 97 points in the final event of the season.
BUCKET B: NEW
Bryan New notched his third Top 10 of the Elite Series season at the Mississippi River with a fifth-place finish. The second year Elite was selected by just 2.6% of players and scored 280 points.
Second best selection: After a tough event at Lake Oahe, Jason Christie bounced back with a 14th place finish. The 2022 Classic Champion scored 248 points and was selected by 12.7% of players.
Lowest scoring angler: Due to illness, Micah Frazier wasn’t able to fish on Day 2 at the Mississippi River, and only scored 90 points as a result of that. Frazier was selected by 0.3% of players.
BUCKET C: SCHMITT
Bryan Schmitt sealed the deal at the Mississippi River with his second Elite Series victory in as many years. The Maryland pro scored 310 points while being the third highest selected angler in Bucket C at 13.7%.
Second best selection: With the help of a few bonus points, Brock Mosley was the second highest scoring angler in Bucket C. Th Mississippi pro scored 297 points and was the highest selected in the Bucket at 16.6%.
Lowest scoring angler: Elite Series rookie Jacob Foutz never got it figured out on the mighty Mississippi. The former Bryan College angler was selected by 1.3% of players and scored just 99 points.
BUCKET D: HANSELMAN
Despite being selected by just 2.6% of players, Ray Hanselman finished 13th and was the highest selected angler in Bucket D. The Texas pro scored 251 points.
Second best selection: Koby Kreiger finished up in 17th and scored 241 points, which was good enough for second best in Bucket D. The Floridian was selected by just 0.7% of players.
Lowest scoring angler: Elite Series veteran Bernie Schultz never got it going this time around at the Mississippi River. Schultz scored 101 points while being selected by 0.4% of players.
BUCKET E: COMBS
Keith Combs made a run at winning at the Mississippi River in hopes of qualifying for his ninth Bassmaster Classic. The Texan fell just short, but still scored 290 points and was selected by 4.8% of players.
Second best selection: Alex Redwine continued his momentum by making his third cut in a row. The Elite Series rookie scored 243 points and was selected by 3.6% of players.
Lowest scoring angler: Frank Talley had a tough event at in Wisconsin. The Texas pro scored just 103 points and was selected by 0.8% of players.
