Not many people know Florida bassin’ better than JT Kenney. So, when Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops heads to Orange Lake May 16-21, the Florida resident and MLNOW! color commentator will look to use his Sunshine State savvy to climb the standings in Beat JT Kenney Presented by 13 Fishing.
Beat JT Kenney is a new game for Phoenix Fantasy Fishing players in 2026. Everyone who picks a lineup for Bass Pro Tour events (including Heavy Hitters, even though it’s not a regular-season event) is automatically entered. You get points for each place in the standings you finish above JT’s team, or you lose points if JT beats you. The player with the most points at the end of the year will win a snazzy championship belt plus a premium prize package from 13 Fishing.
Here are JT’s picks for Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake. For a chance to beat him, make sure to submit your picks before lines it at 7:45 a.m. ET on Saturday.
MAKE YOUR PICKS I WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ORANGE LAKE
Group A
JT’s picks: Cole Floyd, Drew Gill, Takahiro Omori, Terry Scroggins, Bryan Thrift
Orange Lake should be a fantastic place to host Heavy Hitters. I’ve fished there a fair share of times, and it is absolutely full of giants.
That said, with the water being low right now and the field not having a ton of experience there, I could see it fishing a little bit tricky. That’s why I’m starting off my picks with Terry Scroggins. “Big Show” is a local who only lives about an hour away from Orange Lake. He might have a little bit of a head start on everybody else because of his history there. I also know that Bryan Thrift has fished there several times before. Between the low water and the fish moving out for summer, he should be able to show off his offshore grass fishing prowess.
Speaking of what to expect, there’s almost always a good vibrating jig bite in Florida, and I think that’ll especially be the case with fish likely grouped up offshore at this event. So, how could I not pick Takahiro Omori? You won’t have to twist Tak’s arm to lock a bladed jig in his hands and go. Cole Floyd is red-hot coming off his win at Beaver Lake, and he’s a great power fisherman. Whether it turns out that winding or flipping grass is the way to win, he’s adept at both. Lastly, if Drew Gill is in the field, it’s pretty much mandatory to pick him.
Group B
JT’s picks: Keith Carson, Mark Davis, Bobby Lane, Jeff Sprague, Martin Villa
I think Florida knowledge is going to play big in this one, so I’m riding with the other two Florida boys in the field in Keith Carson and Bobby Lane. I know Carson has spent some time on Orange Lake, and Bobby is just a killer all over the state. The man Bobby edged for the win last time we were in the Sunshine State, Mark Davis, is also really good in Florida. If he can make it through the early rounds, I think Davis’ slow, methodical style could be really dangerous as the offshore schools get pressured. Plus, he’s overdue to win a BPT event in Florida with two near-misses.
You can’t deny Jeff Sprague’s success in Heavy Hitters. He’s caught the $100,000 bass in the Championship Round twice before, including last year. He knows how to play the game and keep advancing. Finally, Martin Villa wears cool sunglasses. Look good, fish good, right?