Locals or steady sticks? KVD or no KVD? Flippers or finesse fanatics?
These are the questions I’m trying to answer as I pick my fantasy team for this week’s Bassmaster Elite Series event at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida.
Florida is a weird place when it comes to bass fishing (in my mind, at least). The lakes are all shaped like bowls. The water bodies typically fish small. There’s grass everywhere, and it all looks fishable. The bass are temperamental. And a “contour change” by Florida standards might be a slope of only a foot. It’s just… weird. Add to that the factor of having fish in all three stages of the spawn and it really gets messy.
I always have a hard time picking a fantasy team when B.A.S.S. rolls through the Sunshine State and this time is no different. I just spent a good 45 minutes editing my team and pondering picks, and I still can’t say I’m completely confident in my five-man squad.
Lots of folks will trot KVD out there, like they do every event, but the Harris Chain hasn’t treated Mr. VanDam very well in the past. I’m not saying that doesn’t mean he won’t go out there and put everybody to shame, but I think if there were ever an event NOT to have KVD on your roster, this would be it. (DISCLAIMER: I’m not responsible if you ditch the VanDaminator and he smokes the field. Take that advice at your own risk.)
I’ll wait until tomorrow to share my roster, but I will say that if my team stays the way I have it now, I’m taking a major risk with my Group A pick. My goal in fantasy fishing every year is to attain the highest percentile rank possible, and in order to do that you have to swing for the fences every now and then—which means letting guys like KVD and Skeet ride the bench. The best way to climb up in the standings is with the under-the-radar picks that most folks overlook. I did it at the Classic by picking Martens, Rook and Palaniuk. Had Snowden not burned me I may have finished in the Top 50 of all fantasy players worldwide. As it stands, I’m ranked 87th.
I’ll admit I’ve been awfully tempted to load the roster with locals, hit save and call it done. But you know as well as I do that these derbies never work out like that. Sure, a couple Florida sticks will place high, but just as many are likely to bomb. Lots of folks are loading up with the Lane brothers (and Russ, the ‘other’ Lane, is a hot pick too), and I don’t blame them. Terry Scroggins is another popular pick, and I’m sure he’ll be on even more rosters next week at the St. Johns River. I’ll have a Florida pro, maybe two, in my lineup, but I’m far from putting all my eggs in the local basket.
How about you? Do you feel good about your team? Do you think you’ve found the magical combination to propel you to the top of the BassParade fantasy league standings and earn a prize package courtesy of Strike King?
Make sure to come back tomorrow after the event has kicked off to share your rosters and talk a little smack.
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Greg Huff
March 9, 2011 at 5:49 pm
On our podcast, Rich Lindgren and I release our picks BEFORE rosters lock. You afraid of us, Bryant? Why so secretive! ? ! Heh, heh. … Podcast dropping soon. We’ve got Keith Alan, David Walker and a bass fanatic weatherman who dials us in to the exact winning pattern the weather conditions will create. … Don’t believe it? Tune it beeyotches! …
http://www.twincitylimits.podbean.com/
Jason
March 9, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Haha, not that at all. Just don’t want people copping my picks. 😉
I’ve got Howell in Group A. Yep, Randy Freaking Howell. How’s that for a risk? I’ll be hero or zero after this one, baby!
Greg Huff
March 9, 2011 at 6:00 pm
I came THIS close to picking Todd Faircloth in Group A, but last year I made too many gambles early and started in too deep of a hole to dig out of. My only gamble — and that’s relative — this week is Rook. All my others re pretty conservative — although i did take Peter T over Chris Lane, and he’s a definite Hero/Zero proposition.
Jason
March 9, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Well, that’s two we’ve got alike.
Greg Huff
March 9, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Rook or T Money?
Jason
March 9, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Both. My roster is certainly subject to change, though. I’m an 11th-hour kind of guy.
Greg Huff
March 9, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Podcast just dropped here
http://www.twincitylimits.podbean.com/
and on iTunes.
Dick Durbin
March 10, 2011 at 8:41 am
Here’s my shot in the dark: Skeet Reese, Terry Scroggins (duh), Matt Herren, Chris Lane (another duh), and Ott Defoe.
The weather coming in is going to make it tough for everyone. I think that Scroggins and Lane’s experience with the effect of the weather on Florida’s bass will give them an edge.
Greg Huff
March 10, 2011 at 8:50 am
Although its too late to change line-ups, if you like to hear how a bonafide professional meterologist forecasts the weather will affect the bite, check out the podcast mentioned above.