Well we had a little easier time making our picks for this event. The tournament pre-practice reports say there are big fish up shallow and the bite is going to be wide open. We've also heard that there are a lot of fish on beds but a lot of guys have caught them cranking. So who knows what pattern is going to prevail here. One thing for sure is we all agreed on two of our picks and two of us agreed on two other picks. There are a lot of "if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it" picks in this one. Mark Rose won the last time the FLW Series came to Chickamauga. We like him again here even though it won't be an all out ledge bite this time around.
Jason
Mark Rose - He won the last time FLW made a big stop on the Tennessee River fishery. Word on the street is he's on them again. Mark Rose and Tennessee Rivers have become like Peanut Butter and Jelly. So we like him in this one again.
Wesley Strader - Going with a strong local flavor on this pick. He did well in the fall here and we have no doubt he's got a few ace in the hole areas on this fishery.
Bryan Thrift - We're not picking against him in any tournament this year. Certainly not one that is power fishing filled. If there is a flipping, chatterbait or even a bedding bite, he'll be a threat to win another event.
Brent Ehrler - Like Thrift, it's hard to count out Ehrler in a slugfest and this tournament looks to be one of those events.
Craig Powers - He's great this time of year on Tennessee River impoundments. If they are up around beds or in the bushes or on some points to be cranked, Powers will be a threat to not only do well but notch an FLW Tour win.
Terry
Chad Brauer - He's a flipper and pitcher, and he should do well if he can get a day two as strong as his day ones have been.
Brent Ehrler - He's just a flat-out stick, and he adapts better than most to changing conditions. A cold front is scheduled to hit the area and Brent has proven he knows how to get them in the boat when conditions change during tournaments.
Rusty Salewske - He's equally great flipping a Sweat Beaver or throwing a vibrating jig and both should play big here.
Mark Rose - He's equally good on the Tennesse River whether it's spawn or post spawn as well as anyone. He's proven he can do post spawn on fisheries and we like him to prove he can do it during the spawn too.
Terry Bolton - This one is a gut pick He's a stud up shallow with a blade and has a kinship with the Tennessee River.
Todd
Mark Rose - He's a stick on the Tennessee River and there's no reason he won't catch them in this event.
Bryan Thrift - How can you bet against this guy right now. You just have to have him in your top 5 until he proves otherwise.
Brent Ehrler - Like Thrift its hard to leave Ehrler out of a tournament that's going to be wide open like we expect this one to be.
Glenn Browne - He somehow gets it done shallow when everyone else seems to be looking at them. He goes and flips up competitive limits. This tournament is setting up nicely for his strengths.
Chad Brauer - This is Brauer's first time on the lake, but his Dad seems to think the lake is going to set up just how he likes to fish and we like him to fish with an open mind in this one.
