After a season that’s already included a Florida fishery, a couple clear, spotted bass lakes and a Tennessee River shootout, the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals pros will face a new test at Stop 5 Presented by 7Brew Coffee. The field will head to Virginia’s James River June 20-22, a sprawling, tidal fishery that’s full of shallow cover and quality largemouth.
The Invitationals previously visited the James River in 2022, and the Bass Pro Tour competed there last June. Aside from those two events, though, there’s not a ton of tour-level history to study. Still, there are some locals and other anglers who have experienced success on the James in the field, plus a few others whose styles should jive with the fishery. Here is everything you need to know to assemble a winning Phoenix Fantasy Fishing team.
LeBrun headlines the past winners
Nick LeBrun may live in Louisiana, but there’s something about the James River that suits him. LeBrun won the 2022 Pro Circuit event on the fishery, then finished third in BPT competition a year ago. He’s a must-roster this week.
LeBrun is the only angler in the field with a national win on the James, but there are several others who have racked up hardware at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League level. Headlining that list is Dennis Burdette, who has a win, a runner-up and a sixth-place finish on the James to his credit. Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Lachniet is a James local who has already logged a win and three other Top 10s on the fishery. Todd Walters also won a BFL on the James in 2018.
Other locals to watch
Local anglers commonly jump into the field when the Invitationals come to town. Given the tricky nature of tidal fisheries and the sheer volume of water in play on the James, they could be particularly dangerous at this event.
In addition to Burdette and Lachniet, there are seven other Virginia natives in the field. Among them, Chaz Carrington and Charlie Reed Jr. have both notched BFL Top 10s on the James. James Maupin and Jason Tibbetts both live nearby and fish the river regularly. Terry Olinger and Thomas Wooten both have more experience on the Potomac than the James, but the two tidal rivers tend to fish similarly, so they’re both worth watching.
Stick with Shaw
At this point, it would be foolish to bet against Banks Shaw. He’s coming off a win at Pickwick and has finished among the Top 10 at every Invitationals event this season. All year long, he’s impressed on Day 2 when Invitationals competitors don’t have forward-facing sonar at their disposal; so there’s no reason to believe he’ll struggle fishing shallow cover on the James.
None of the other anglers in the top five of the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year standings would be bad picks, but this event figures to especially suit Dustin Smith. Always on the lookout for a power fishing bite, Smith should certainly find that on the James.
Other names to know
Flight 1:
Bobby Lane – Lane had a solid showing when the Bass Pro Tour visited the James last summer, making the Knockout Round and finishing 15th. Plus, you know he’ll be in his element fishing shallow.
Christian Greico – Greico is a Lane protégé who is a similarly strong flipper and power fisherman. He recently relocated from Florida to North Carolina, where he should have been able to gain some experience fishing tidal rivers.
Flight 2:
Mitch Crane – Crane is coming out of retirement to fish this event, so you have to figure he fancies his chances of making some money. When the Pro Circuit visited the James in 2022, he finished third.
Jimmy Reese – Jimmy’s brother Skeet Reese won on the James last summer, so perhaps Jimmy can glean some insight from his younger brother and replicate his pattern.
My picks
- Flight 1: Christian Greico, Bobby Lane, Dustin Smith, Jason Tibbetts, Thomas Wooten
- Flight 2: Dennis Burdette, Mitch Crane, Ryan Lachniet, Nick LeBrun, Banks Shaw