The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech will continue its 2026 season with Stop 3 Presented by Suzuki Marine at Wheeler Lake on March 19-21. Unlike the first two stops of the season, on the Harris Chain and Santee Cooper, there will only be one lake in play for the field. Yet this event might bring more uncertainty than any other, as there should be no shortage of ways to catch a bass. We could see fish caught off spawning beds, offshore, dirt-shallow on the bank or even in the tailrace. The weather will likely have a major say about the complexion of the event – fitting considering how much it’s impacted the first two stops.
That kind of uncertainty makes it difficult to narrow down a lineup for Phoenix Fantasy Fishing Presented by 13 Fishing. Throw in the fact that the field has a surprising lack of history on the Tennessee River impoundment (we don’t have a single past winner on Wheeler), and this one feels wide open. But we’ve dug deep to find a few nuggets from past tournaments and other notes to help you pick the perfect team.
Two recent events of note
Wheeler might not have the same tournament track record as other Tennessee River fisheries like Guntersville and Pickwick, but there have been plenty of tournaments contested on the lake through the years. Thus, it’s somewhat surprising that none of these pros has won there before (unless you count Allen Armour’s co-angler victory in a 2016 Toyota Series event).
Still, there are a couple recent events in which quite a few of these anglers competed – the 2025 Columbia PFG College Fishing National Championship and the 2024 Toyota Series Championship.
The former event was much closer in time of year, taking place in early April. Ethan Fields, Tripp Berlinsky and Hayden O’Barr were all part of teams that finished in the Top 10 at that event. Pay particular attention to Fields at this one; the Illinois native also finished in fifth at the Toyota Series Championship on Wheeler, and he’s coming off a Top 10 on Santee Cooper. Lastly, while they didn’t end up making the final day, brothers Carter Nutt and Dylan Nutt sacked up 22-15 to take the Day 1 lead at the 2025 natty, and both always deserve to be in consideration on the Tennessee River.
As for the Toyota Series Championship, Keith Poche finished second in that event, largely on the strength of a massive 27-5 bag on Day 2 – the heaviest limit ever weighed on Wheeler in MLF/FLW competition. We’ll see whether the backwater that produced that limit holds fish in March (you can bet Poche will check). Regardless, with so many bass likely to be shallow, Poche should be able to fish in his comfort zone. Drew Gill, Levi Thibodaux and Kennie Steverson also made that Top 10.
Local advantage?
There’s no shortage of anglers in this field from Alabama, but a few are true locals to Wheeler. Terry Fisher, Lake Johnson and Blake Hall all essentially live on the lake. This isn’t the time of year when you’d expect a local edge to be the most pronounced, but knowing the fishery sure can’t hurt.
Shoo-in selections
A handful of anglers have established themselves as safe picks all over the country. Tops on that list is Banks Shaw, who got back to his Top 10 ways on Santee Cooper after a rare hiccup at the season-opener. Gill struggled on Santee, but he’s another auto-pick, especially considering his past success on Wheeler.
Brody Campbell and Chad Mrazek have worked their way onto this list, too. Campbell currently sits second in the 7 Brew Angler of the Year standings and is coming off a runner-up finish at the Toyota Series event on the Kissimmee Chain. Mrazek, too, made the Top 10 at that event – his fifth in his past six events dating back to last year. Lastly, if you’re going to pick the guy sitting second in the points, it would be foolish to discount the leader. Aaron Yavorsky didn’t fare great in his one past event on Wheeler, but the Floridian knows how to utilize forward-facing sonar and catch spawning bass, both of which could be in play at this event.
Other anglers to keep an eye on
Matteo Turano – Any time he launches his boat on a Tennessee River fishery, the defending Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American champion has to be considered a threat. He also has momentum coming off a runner-up finish on Santee Cooper.
Cal Lane – Lane has been fishing great lately, with four Top 10s already in 2026. He should be able to put his Guntersville knowledge to use on Wheeler.
Andrew Nordbye – Another Guntersville local, Nordbye should not only be comfortable fishing the offshore river bars that often hold fish on both lakes. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him mix in some forward-facing sonar fishing for spawning smallmouth like he did when he won on Kentucky Lake two springs ago.
Ryan Lachniet – Lachniet will look to keep his strong rookie season going after excellent events at the Harris Chain and Santee Cooper. Having some knowledge of Wheeler should help. The former Campbellsville University angler and his partner finished 13th at the 2025 national championship.
My picks
Flight 1 – Tripp Berlinsky, Drew Gill, Ryan Lachniet, Carter Nutt, Hayden O’Barr
Flight 2 – Brody Campbell, Ethan Fields, Cal Lane, Banks Shaw, Matteo Turano