Pundits’ Picks: Lake Champlain

This is getting cutthroat. After Kentucky Lake, the remaining pundits had their alliances built and were all geared up to eat one of their own, but then came a twist in the game: The losers were brought back to vote on who to kick out of Punditville. With Mark Zona winning his first round of picks and protection in Kentucky, the losers quite unceremoniously pulled Randy Blaukat into their fold. To be certain, his unique brand of punditry will be missed in competition.

Here’s how the vote turned out (six losers voted):

Blaukat: 3

Clark Wendlandt: 2

Gary Mortenson: 1

So Blaukat’s gone, and just Zona, Mortenson and Wendlandt are left with two tournaments to go. Folks, you may or may not have noticed, but this Pundits’ Picks thing is getting downright ornery. Zona and Wendlandt have been at each other’s throats all season long after a series of promises made and alliances broken. That alone should provide plenty of fireworks over the next event or two, but watch out for the Mortenson factor. He’s a wily competitor and former Pundit of the Year, plus his happy-go-lucky demeanor belies a vicious competitive streak. Let’s just say, if you ever bring your kids to a ballgame and a foul ball comes your way, you better hope that Mortenson’s nowhere nearby.

So, it’s on. Zona. Mortenson. Wendlandt. One of these guys will be your 2004 Pundit of the Year. Stay tuned.

Tournament site

Lake Champlain. Some call it the best bass fishery in the country. If not the best, it’s certainly in the top five or 10. The number of fish here is astronomical, and it’s going to take more than your average limit of bass to win this FLW event. In fact, catching just a limit here means very little, competitively, since nearly the entire pro field caught limits in the opening round here in 2002. What it takes is what Sam Newby and Dean Rojas did that year: catch big, spawning largemouths. Sure, the lake’s plethora of smallmouths will help you make the cut, but look for a nice stringer with kicker buckets to take the win. In the end, Newby edged Rojas by a single ounce and took home $210,000 – which is roughly the same first-place payout at this year’s Forrest Wood Open at Champlain. So look for the financially inclined pros to make a decent showing and jump at another chance for a big payout. But don’t forget about the pros who make their living in this part of the country; the northern boys likely know where the big ones are in this abundant fishery and they will do well.

Hot picks

Top vote-getters among the remaining three pundits: 2003 EverStart Northern Division points champ Mark Zona with three picks, David Dudley, Chip Harrison, Kevin Vida and Clark Wendlandt each with two.

Good luck, fellow Fishing Challengers, and good luck to everybody in New York.

– Jeff Schroeder

__________________________

Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop No. 6

Forrest Wood Open

Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

June 23-26

Mark Zona

EverStart pro, Sturgis, Mich.

Previous tournament score (Kentucky Lake): 866

1) David Dudley. Seems to flex his shoulders when FAT money is on the line. This time will prove no different.

2) Mark Zona. If it’s calm and sunny, everyone will punish them. But if the weather turns bad and the waves build, I’ll feel right at home.

3) Kevin Vida. Got to get some northern spice in my picks sometime this year. Kevin truly excels when smallies are a factor. I expect him to be a big force at this tournament.

4) Jim Moynagh. Consistently finishes high on this lake and rises to the occasion when mixed bags are possible.

5) Chip Harrison. He’ll be out there throwing his Gambler tube until he’s blue in the face. A couple of his new colors could be just the ticket.

Gary Mortenson

Editor, FLWOutdoors.com

Previous tournament score: 667

1) Tom Monsoor. Yes, despite his average showing at last month’s FLW Tour event, I’m staking my pundit reputation that the Wisconsin great will wreak havoc at Lake Champlain this time around. Monsoor is the Mr. Northern Angler, and I can’t imagine a place more suited to his abilities and talents.

2) Clark Wendlandt. Nothing really to add here. I’ve picked “Clean Shoes” all year and I’m not about to sit him on the bench now. Basically, Wendlandt is as consistent as they come.

3) Shinichi Fukae. Okay, I haven’t picked Shinichi all year and I’ve paid the price every time. I have no idea if the native from Osaka, Japan, and presumptive 2004 FLW Angler of the Year has ever fished Champlain before. However, if this past season is any indication, the guy can catch fish out of a bathtub. So, I’m not too worried here.

4) Mark Zona. For starters, anyone who refers to himself in the third person as much as “The Z-Man” does deserves to be on my list. However, this isn’t just an arbitrary choice. Although Zona just got into the Champlain event from the waiting list, he’s been a fairly dominant force in upstate New York for many years. Is this pick a flyer? Sure. But in this situation, it’s a gamble worth taking.

5) Kevin Vida. Sure, Vida isn’t as recognizable a name as, say, Rick Clunn on the FLW Tour. However, Vida is certainly no slouch when it comes to fishing Northern waterways. In fact, in the majority of the tournaments he’s had on Champlain, he’s usually turned in one stellar performance after another. To be sure, this is another gut call. But when all is said and done, my critics will be wishing they were the ones living the Vida Loca.

Clark Wendlandt

FLW pro, Cedar Park, Texas

Previous tournament score: 592

1) Chip Harrison. Strong here in 2002, having just missed the cut.

2) Dave Lefebre. Has a great understanding of the fisheries in the North. I look for him to be strong this week.

3) Clark Wendlandt. Smallmouths are my favorite fish and Champlain is my favorite lake. Just like everyone else in this tournament I am really looking forward to this week.

4) David Dudley. Dudley is versatile and has one of the best intuitive minds in professional bass fishing. He will be good this week.

5) Mark Zona This is one of the hardest picks I have made. If you have followed Pundits’ Picks this year you know that Zona and I are not exactly best buddies. Put another way, my back still aches from the stab wound he inflicted in the first round. One thing about him, though, is that he can flat-out catch smallmouth bass.

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