This is one of those events we like to have mixed into a competitive season. It’s not necessarily about who’s the best angler, but who best can fight through adversity to come out on top. It’s going to be a grind and decision making becomes more critical in events like this. Stay or go, move or camp, multiple casts to one piece of cover or hit as many pieces as cover as possible. Those types of decisions will make or break guys in this event.

But still there are guys that we think will do well either because of the work they put in or the experience they have on the fishery or their proven ability to do well in tough conditions like these.

Terry’s Picks

Alton Jones – He flew over the system and knows how to fish rivers. Big event for AOY, and he seems to like the pressure.

Gary Klein - He needs a break out tournament after a tough year and has had great success on muddy rivers. Put a flipping stick in his hands and watch out.

Fred Roumbanis – It’s hard to go against "hot" and Boom Boom is on fire. He fishes rivers well and has been on this one before.

Clark Reehm – Rheem is my dark horse and needs a break. Has the skills, and since he is a new father, he may have one of those tournaments.

Ott DeFoe – I’m still riding the horse that I brought me here. He’s tough as nails, and a johnboat may be in his plans. Good strategy if he chooses to use it.

Todd’s Picks

Edwin Evers – He’s having a banner year and he’s hungry for that AOY title. He’ll fish 24 hours a day if necessary and we expect he’ll leave no stone unturned in this event.

Cliff Pace – We just like Cliff. He’s a versatile angler. He’s from the muddy fisheries of Louisiana and he’s going to have a comfort level on this fishery most won’t find.

Matt Herren – We like Herren with a flipping stick in his hand fishing visible shore grass in muddy water. He’s won on Dardanelle up river before and he’ll use that confidence and history to finish well here.

Billy McCaghren – He knows the fishery and excels at catching fish in this muddy conditions. He’s my wildcard pick for this event.

Ott DeFoe – Sticking with my regular pick here. I picked him to win Rookie of the Year in the first event and I’m holding faith that he’s going to keep placing well and runaway with the title.

Jason’s Picks

Edwin Evers – the guy has been on a roll since last year and he’s an incredible “junk” fisherman. This event is going to be the definition of junk fishing and he gets the nod as my odds on favorite based on how this tournament is setting up.

Mark Davis – he’s been quiet this year on tour and we’re thinking being in his home state on a fishery he’s familiar with and his uncanny ability to catch fish in variety of ways will make him a strong pick in this event.

Scott Rook – Let’s see he’s won here before, knows this fishery better than any angler in the event and he’s sleeping in his own bed this week. That all makes for a comfort level, few anglers will have in this event and sometimes the guy who is the calmest does the best.

Billy Mccaghren - He’s just a stone’s throw down the road in Mayflower, Ark., and is another angler who knows this fishery. He’s also a strong frog and jig fisherman which should be hot tickets on this fishery this week.

David Walker – I like Walker in tournaments where it’s about fishing the obvious targets quickly before anyone else gets to them. If he gets a good draw the first day, I expect him to work his magic on visible cover. He’s done well on Dardanelle up the river from here and he’s a good river angler generally speaking.