Fantasy Fishing Picks: 2010 FLW Tour: Lake Norman, NC (3/24 - 3/27)

1. Brent Ehrler (Redlands, CA) – Ehrler is riding a hot streak like no other coming off of back to back tournament wins including a dominant performance at the FLW Tour Table Rock event. In fact, he is averaging a 4th place finish in his last four tournaments, finishing no worse than 11th in any of them, proving once again why he is ranked as one of the top 5 bass anglers on the planet. In addition, Ehrler’s track record at Lake Norman is rock solid having never finished lower than 15th there in three tournaments. The deadly combination of serious momentum and a fishery that has granted him plenty of success in the past should be enough to carry Ehrler to his third FLW tournament victory in a row and his first at Lake Norman. He is a no brainer for your Lake Norman fantasy fishing line up. Winning weight: A rough guess would be somewhere between 45 and 55 lbs. based on the current forecast and past tournaments at Lake Norman.

2. Greg Pugh (Cullman, AL) – He heads into the Lake Norman event coming off of a top 5 finish at Table Rock and Pugh’s track record at Norman is outstanding to say the least. In 3 FLW tour events at Lake Norman, Pugh has cracked the top 10 each and every time with finishes of 4th in 2008 and 2009 and an 8th place finish in 2007 respectively. With this tournament being held a month earlier than usual, Pugh’s chances for success are even better in 2010. He is considered by most to be the odds on favorite to win at Lake Norman and Pugh makes for an ideal fantasy prospect for this event.

3. Andy Morgan (Dayton, TN) – He is typically a strong fantasy fishing pick anywhere on the tour, but that holds especially true at Lake Norman where Morgan finished 2nd last year and has never finished lower than 12th in three career events on the fishery. Morgan should easily flip and pitch his way into contention again in 2010 and it would not be shocking in the least if he ends up being the man to beat.

4. Jim Moynagh (Carver, MN) – From a match up standpoint, Moynagh appears to be an unlikely candidate to do well at Lake Norman. However, a track record on this fishery that ranks second to no one suggests otherwise. In 3 career tournaments on Norman, Moynagh has finishes of 2nd, 6th and 6th. He obviously has this place wired and no fantasy fishing roster would be complete for Lake Norman without Moynagh.

5. Clark Wendlandt (Leander, TX) – This 3 time and reigning FLW Angler of the Year is always a threat to win any event on the Tour in addition to being a fantasy fishing favorite. Wendlandt is especially dangerous this time of year when the bass start to head towards the shallows during the pre-spawn to spawn transition. While Wendlandt has yet to break into the top 10 in 3 previous tournaments at Norman, the sight fishing ace has improved his status there each and every year, finishing 21st in ’08 and 14th in ’09. We expect that trend to continue in 2010 and we are extremely optimistic that Wendlandt will finally make his way into the big money at Lake Norman.

6. Jacob Powroznik (Prince George, VA) – He has improved his stock on Lake Norman each and every year that the FLW Tour has made stops there taking home a 12th in 2008 and a 7th in 2009. Powroznik is an excellent match for this lake and an even better fantasy pick. We look for him to improve his stock on Norman once again in 2010, albeit not by much.

7. Scott Canterbury (Springville, AL) – He may be the most underrated angler on the FLW Tour and while he has yet to record a tour victory, Canterbury has a very impressive resume’ overall. We look for him to add to that resume’ with yet another solid effort at Lake Norman where Canterbury scored a 3rd place finish in 2008. If conditions play out as expected, Canterbury should be in contention to not only make the top 10, but possibly win his first FLW Tour event as he matches up as well as anyone with this fishery.

Fantasy Fishing Picks: 2010 FLW Tour - Table Rock

1. Scott Suggs (Bryant, AR) - A master angler when it comes to fishing cold deep clear impoundments, the current conditions at Table Rock could not be any better for Suggs. He is also versatile enough to keep up with challenging day to day changes in fishing patterns that Table Rock has been known to present which will likely be the key to victory. He is very familiar with these waters and Suggs will be poised to improve on a 2nd place finish in last year’s FLW Tour event on Table Rock. In our opinion, Scott Suggs will be the man to beat and makes for a top fantasy pick.

2. Brent Ehrler (Redlands, CA) – He is arguably the best angler on the FLW Tour and is widely considered one of the best bass anglers in the world. Ehrler will be riding the momentum of a serious hot streak into the 2010 Table Rock tournament and he matches up quite well with this particular fishery. Finesse fishing highland impoundments are his specialty and he excels in cold water with a jerkbait which is likely to be the bait of choice for Table Rock success. Ehrler finished a solid 6th place in the 2009 FLW Tour stop here and he is a legitimate contender to win the 2010 event. Ehrler is definitely a guy you want on your fantasy roster for Table Rock.

3. Greg Bohannan (Rogers, AR) – He hails from near by Rogers, AR and Bohannan knows Table Rock extremely well which is indicative of his stellar track record there and on Ozark area lakes in general. He has cracked the top 10 in his last 3 events on Table Rock and has 4 Top 10’s to his credit in various series’ at Table Rock since 2005 which includes an impressive 8th place finish in last year’s FLW Tour stop at Table Rock. Bohannan is not only a strong contender to make the final cut; he is a serious threat to win.

4. Anthony Gagliardi (Prosperity, SC) – He won the FLW Tour event at Table Rock in 2009, so it stands to reason that Gagliardi will be a solid fantasy pick to contend for the title once again in 2010. He is considered an excellent pre spawn finesse angler and highland impoundments are his specialty. So, from a match up standpoint, Table Rock suits him well this time of year. As Gagliardi proved last year, he is also a wiz when it comes to keeping up with changing patterns fish are known to display on Table Rock from day to day. This is an attribute that should serve him well again this year in addition to his skillful use of a jerkbait.

5. Shinichi Fukae (Palestine, TX) – If not for being disqualified for unknowingly going into a restricted area of the lake last year, Fukae may have very well won the 2009 tournament at Table Rock as he weighed in two hefty bags and sat comfortably in 2nd place following the cut. That said, barring any unforeseen trips into restricted areas, this year’s event at Table Rock seems to bode even better for Fukae. Cold water and sunny skies are in the forecast (at least thru Friday) and Fukae is an ace at finesse fishing on clear deep water under those conditions. He has been off the fantasy fishing radar for the most part recently, but conditions at this event are practically ideal for his strengths as an angler and like last year, Fukae should be in the running to take home the big check when all is said and done.

6. Scott Canterbury (Springville, AL) – A relative unknown just a couple of years ago, Canterbury appears to be on the fast track to becoming one of the biggest names in all of bass fishing. Just check out the number of top 10’s he has racked up in BFL and FLW sanctioned events over the last few years. He is the real deal and despite being classified as a warm weather shallow power fisherman (which doesn’t match up particularly well with Table Rock this time of year), Canterbury’s track record for conjuring up the cold water bite speaks for itself. At the end of the day, results are all that matter and the bottom line is, Canterbury gets results. A 3rd place finish at Table Rock just last year is all the proof we need to believe that he deserves a spot on fantasy rosters for this event.

7. Dion Hibdon (Stover, MO) – While Hibdon hasn’t had a great deal of recent success on the FLW Tour, he is a very skilled angler and it would be unwise to bet against the man in his own back yard. Hibdon knows Table Rock well and based on his strengths and the time of year, the current conditions at Table Rock could not be any better for him. He just missed the cut there last year finishing in 16th and he has a solid 12th place finish to credit at Table Rock in 2005 on the Bassmaster’s Tour. In our opinion, this is the year that Hibdon gets over the hump and competes for the big check at Table Rock. So, do yourself a favor and pencil him into your fantasy roster.

8. Dan Morehead (Paducah, KY) – From power fishing the shallows to finessing the deep, there are few (if any) anglers on the FLW Tour more versatile than Morehead. This is an attribute that served him well at Table Rock last year and versatility will likely be a huge factor in determining the outcome again this year. Morehead is also great at locating fish and figuring out their patterns. After all, you first have to find them to catch them and Morehead has already proven that he is capable of doing just that at Table Rock. While he is kind of a hit or miss fantasy prospect for this event; we really like his chances.

9. Robbie Dodson (Harrison, AR) – He may not be a household name on the FLW Tour, but when it comes to Table Rock, this local product is not to be overlooked. After dominating local and smaller professional tournaments at Table Rock and Ozark area lakes for years with his father as co-angler, Dodson is poised to take it to the next level at Table Rock with the big boys on the FLW Tour. He does have a 6th place finish at Table rock to his credit in the FLW American Fishing Series and a 2nd place there on the Owners Tour. While he didn’t make the cut here last year, Dodson did finish a respectable 31st and we think he will improve on that this year. He may be a dark horse in the eyes of many, but we think Dodson makes for a great sneaky fantasy pick that might just put you over the top.

10. David Walker (Sevierville, TN) – He pulled in the biggest bag of the Table Rock tournament last year and led at the halfway point, but mediocre weigh ins the final two days left him in 5th place. If combined weight for all four days were taken into account in 2009, as it will be this season, Walker would have easily won this event in 2009, so consistency is not as big a factor this time around. That said, Walker has already proven that he can weigh in a monster sack at Table Rock and one or two big days may be all it will take in 2010. He is an excellent pre spawn angler and despite being primarily known as a shallow water power angler, Walker is talented and versatile enough to get the cold water bite in the deeper waters at Table Rock.

Additional fantasy anglers worthy of serious consideration at Table Rock include:

Edwin Evers (Talala, OK) – A newcomer on the FLW Tour, Evers has had plenty of success fishing on the Bassmasters Tour for years, including a 2nd place finish at Table Rock in 2006. He is no fantasy sleeper here and it was a real struggle to keep him out of our top 10.

Michael Bennett (Panama City, FL) – He scored a 7th place finish at Table Rock in 2009 and Bennett is a strong candidate to be in the hunt again this time around. He’s by no means a bad bet to have on your fantasy roster.

Luke Clausen (Gainesville, GA) – He matches up extremely well with this particular fishery and finished a strong 11th in 2009 at Table Rock. He could easily crack the top 10 this year, but we were scared off a bit when looking at his overall track record on Table Rock. He had some very poor results there in the Bassmaster series.

Stacey King (Reeds Spring, MO) – As a former guide on Table Rock, King probably knows these waters better than anyone in this tournament and he could definitely be a factor when all is said and done. Unfortunately, his recent tournament history on Table Rock is mediocre at best.

Clark Wendlandt (Leander, TX) – He scored a top 20 at Table Rock last year and we wouldn’t bet against this guy anywhere.

Dave Lefebre (Union City, PA) – He had a bit of a disappointing tournament finishing 40th at Table Rock in 2009, but he has reportedly had a strong practice and could be a contender in 2010.

Chad Morgenthaler (Coulterville, IL) – He has done very well at Table Rock in the past even scoring a top 10 in last year’s tournament. Morgenthaler is not to be taken lightly this week.

Jacob Powroznik (Prince George, VA) – He is a pretty safe fantasy pick anywhere he fishes and scored a solid 14th place finish at Table Rock in 2009.

David Dudley (Lynchburg, VA) – He had a lousy week at Table Rock in 2009 finishing a disappointing 90th, but Dudley is one of the best when it comes to fishing in cold weather and he is typically a contender everywhere he fishes.

Jay Yelas (Corvallis, OR) – He has a Bassmaster victory to his credit on Table Rock, so he knows how to win here despite a lackluster finish in 2009.

Guido Hibdon (Sunrise Beach, MO) – He finished 17th at Table Rock last year and he knows these waters extremely well.

Well CRAP! FLW Tour Event on Red River Canceled

FLW Outdoors announced that due to unsafe conditions on the Red River, the FLW Tour event scheduled for Shreveport, La., Feb. 10-13, along with the Family Fun Zone & Outdoor Expo, has been canceled.

“This was a tough, tough decision,” said Charlie Evans, President and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “After consulting with local authorities and FLW Outdoors staff members, we feel this was the best decision for the safety of the anglers. Unfortunately there is not a winning formula and we apologize for any hardships resulting from this decision. The weather in Shreveport has been a little cold, but the hospitality shown to our staff, partners and anglers has been very warm.”

"We will do this again,” said Mary Ann Tice, executive director of the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority. “Shreveport has beautiful blue skies and the mighty Red River, and we look forward to (FLW Outdoors) coming back to show off its talents."

Bart Schad, representing Ranger Boats, who was serving as presenting sponsor for the event stated, “We applaud our partner for making the right decision."

“I know there was a lot of money invested, but I think it was the safest thing to do,” said National Guard pro Brent Ehrler. “The river is so high and the current is so fast, there were a couple of times I was really scared [during practice]. Many of the channel marker buoys are underwater and you can't tell what color they are, it was scary. All the ramps are closed except for the launch, so if you get in trouble out there it could be very dangerous and a long time before anyone could even get to you."

The decision was made after much consideration as well as exploration of every other possible alternative to ensure the safety of our anglers and FLW Outdoors staff members. This marks the first time an FLW Tour event has been canceled since the 2001 Forrest Wood Cup was canceled due to the 9/11 attacks.

The 2010 FLW Tour season will now consist of five qualifying events and the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing.

Top 10 Fantasy Fishing Picks: 2010 FLW Tour Red River Tournament

    The 2010 fantasy fishing season is finally upon us and the first event of the season will take place on February 10 – 13 on the Red River. It has been 9 long years since the FLW Tour has made a stop on the Red River and never have they held a tournament there this early in the year. Thus, this particular event taking place in the Bossier City-Shreveport areas of Louisiana will certainly be the toughest event of the fantasy season to predict. But after countless hours of research, we are confident that we have comprised a list of the most qualified anglers to compete for the crown at this event.

1. Andy Morgan (Dayton, TN) – One of the strongest competitors on the FLW tour, Morgan has the experience, tools, and ability to be in the money at the conclusion of every tournament he enters and the Red River event is no exception. In fact, this particular stretch of the Red River plays heavily into many of Morgan’s strengths as an angler. He is also well noted for his ability to adapt to changing conditions, a challenge that the Red River is notorious for presenting to anglers. Morgan is not only a strong contender to break into the top 10; he is widely regarded as the man to beat. Anticipated winning weight: Somewhere between 40 and 50 lbs. is our best guess and that may end up being a generous estimate based on the reports we have heard.  Conditions are tough on the Red River right now (cold with high muddy water) and while a few anglers reported having some success in practice; the vast majority of the field struggled to even get a bite. Unfortunately, conditions do not look like they will improve by Wednesday and may actually get worse by tournament's end. So, long story short, someone will probably find a sweet spot and pull in a solid weight, but we expect it to be lower than previously expected due to the unfavorable conditions.

2. Sean Hoernke (The Woodlands, TX) – If anyone knows how to find the big bass on the Red River, it is Sean Hoernke. He has not one, but two tournament victories to his credit on the Red, winning the 2003 FLW Everstart Series event and the 2005 Bassmaster Open tournament. Hoernke classifies himself as a very strong river system angler and he loves to power fish in shallow water which should play to his advantage in this particular tournament. He obviously knows how and where to fish in these waters and Hoernke could easily take home his 3rd tournament victory on the Red River.

3. Dave Lefebre (Union City, PA) – He is coming off of a banner year in which he cracked the top 20 (2 of which were top 10’s) in each of the last 3 tournaments of the 2009 FLW Tour season. Even better, this particular tournament on the Red River suits his comfort zone perfectly. Lefebre loves river systems (especially muddy river systems), he is an excellent cold weather pre spawn angler, and he is one of the best when it comes to finding great spots under the expected conditions. If it were later in the year, Lefebre probably wouldn’t be a contender for the Red River event, but under the circumstances, he is one of the    favorites in our opinion.

4. David Dudley (Lynchburg, VA) – One of the more accomplished anglers on the FLW Tour (2008 FLW Angler of the Year), Dudley has proven in the past to be a serious contender in every tournament he enters, no matter time or place. Fortunately, the place is the Red River, which only increases his odds of winning because Dudley is known for being a top shelf river angler. In addition, the timing couldn’t be better. It’s February and Dudley is arguably the best cold and poor weather fisherman on the tour. In other words, this tournament bodes extremely well for the past champion and he is probably as close to a lock for cracking the top 10 as you will find in this field of anglers.

5. Edwin Evers (Talala, OK) – He may be a relative newcomer to the FLW Tour, but those of you who also follow the B.A.S.S. Series probably know the name Edwin Evers. He has been one of the top contenders in that series over the last few years and is now making what should be a smooth transition to the FLW Tour. Evers is no stranger to the Red River, taking home a top 5 finish in last year’s Bassmaster Classic and he is also credited with an 11th place finish in a 2001 Bassmaster tour event there. He is regarded as a strong pre-spawn shallow water power fisherman who excels in river systems in the south and loves to fish deep cover, all of which are attributes that should come in very handy for this particular event. Evers has a proven track record on the Red River and we are optimistic that he will be in contention for the win.

6. David Walker (Sevierville, TN) – A past champion on the FLW tour, Walker is no stranger to fishing river systems and while he has limited tournament experience on the Red River, this tournament bodes well for the veteran angler. He typically excels in pre spawn early season fishing and shallow waters are his strong suit. Two of Walker’s three top 10 finishes last season occurred in February and early March. If conditions play out as expected, Walker should easily crack the top 10.

7. Jason Christie (Park Hill, OK) – In just his 2nd season on the FLW Tour in 2009, Christie managed to crack the top 10 twice and placed 20th overall. He has achieved success in every series in which he has competed, placing in the top 10 an amazing 25 times in 92 tournaments and winning 7 events. The Red River tournament should be right up his alley as he is considered a strong river angler in pre-spawn deep cover conditions. A top 10 finish is very likely and Christie is more than just a dark horse candidate to win this tournament.

8. Greg Pugh (Cullman, AL) – A solid angler with a skill set that matches up well with this particular tournament. He has a great track record in winter and pre spawn events, especially in river systems. Considered a shallow water power fisherman, Pugh should excel in the shallows of the oxbows where the bigger bass of the Red River are expected to lurk this time of year. Unlike most of the anglers in this event, Pugh has the advantage of previous tournament experience on the Red River in February, fishing in the 2009 Bassmasters Classic event.

9. Jim Dillard (West Monroe, LA) – He has had very limited success on the FLW Tour, but if you are looking for a guy with real sleeper potential to win this tournament, Dillard is your man. Dillard’s strengths are an almost perfect match for the Red River. He also hails from near by Monroe, so chances are he knows these waters well and where the sweet spots will be this time of year.

10. Mark Rose (Marion, AR) – Rose has been kind of hit or miss in FLW Tour events over the years, but based on his skill set and experience on Mississippi River tributaries, the Red River event has home run written all over it for the veteran angler. For starters, Rose is an excellent river system angler and pre-spawn events are his strong suit. He knows how and where to fish in these waters and should be a serious player when the time comes for final weigh in.

* Additional noteworthy fantasy options for the Red River Tournament include:

Clark Wendlandt (Leander, TX) – It was difficult to keep him out of our top 10 and it would by no means be foolish to keep him out of yours. After all, he is the 2009 FLW Tour champion and Wendlandt is typically in contention everywhere he competes. We just aren’t sure his skill set matches up particularly well with this event.

Randall Tharp (Gardendale, AL) – While his first season on the FLW Tour in 2009 was not a huge success, Tharp has been dominant in every other series in which he has competed and it is likely only a matter of time before he is competing for Angler of the Year honors on the Tour. The Red River event is a great place for Tharp to begin that quest.

Dan Morehead (Paducah, KY) – From a match up standpoint, Morehead would appear to be a long shot to win the Red River tournament, but his track record on the Red suggests otherwise. The last time the tour had an event on these waters, Morehead took home an impressive 5th place finish and in his only other tournament appearance on the Red River, he took home a 2nd place finish in the 2004 FLW American Fishing Series. He is an expert when it comes to flipping and pitching and that could be the key to taking home a win in this event.

Luke Clausen (Gainesville, GA) – Last year’s runner up for Angler of the Year honors on the FLW Tour, Clausen is one of the best anglers in the world and he is definitely worthy of consideration for the Red River event. Our only concern is that to our knowledge, Clausen has no prior experience in these waters.

Steve Kennedy (Auburn, AL) – He knows how to fish these waters and he has tournament experience on the Red River competing in the 2009 Bassmasters Classic event there. Unfortunately, he placed 35th out of 51 anglers in that event which leaves room for skepticism for this year’s FLW Tournament.

James Stricklin Jr. (Texarkana, AR) – He finished 3rd in a BFL tournament on the Red River last year and has plenty of experience there. That being said, Stricklin is a rookie on the ultra competitive FLW Tour for 2010 and that alone makes him a risky selection.

Michael Bennett (Panama City, FL) – What he lacks in age, Bennett makes up for with experience and a proven track record of success. He’s also known for being a strong river angler. Unfortunately, we just aren’t sure that the expected conditions on the Red this time of year will match up well with his style of fishing. That said, conditions can change quickly on the Red River and Bennett is still a solid sleeper pick to win this event.

Scott Canterbury (Springville, AL) – He is certainly capable of finishing in the money at Red River, but we would like his chances a lot more if this tournament were being held later in the season.

Larry Nixon (Bee Branch, AR) – This seasoned veteran has had some past success on the Red River, but it has been a while and never this early in the year.

Brent Ehrler (Redlands, CA) – One of the best pre-spawn early season anglers on the FLW Tour, Ehrler can not be counted out here, but his style of fishing does not mesh particularly well with the Red River.

Fantasy Fishing News: Clark Wendlandt Talks Fishing

A one on one interview with 3-time FLW Tour Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt.