Pro Picks: Lake Okeechobee

The Wal-Mart FLW Tour is set to begin the 2005 season, so here goes the next edition of Pundits’ Picks.

I’ve been a bit lucky in winning the past two years, but I have a feeling that this year will be much tougher. Good solid picks will prevail in the long run, and, hopefully, I can get lucky again for the third straight year.

On a personal note, I’m not sure yet if Mark Zona is even man enough to play the game this year. But if he does, this will be my only prediction of the overall outcome: Zona will not win the Pundits’ Picks. This seems like a ridiculously easy prediction, considering how poor a pundit he really is. But even if he gets lucky, I will do all I can to see to it that he will never claim victory.

Good luck to all (except Zona). Let the battle commence.

– “Clean Shoes” Clark Wendlandt, 2004 Pundit of the Year

I join my fellow pundit, Clean, in welcoming everyone back to another season of Pundits’ Picks. The purpose of this column is to give FLW Tour fans a little insight into the possible contenders for every tournament this season as well as to provide a possible starting point for your own picks in the FLW Outdoors Fantasy Fishing Challenge.

This year the rules have changed for this column. We have a cast of 12 pundits: six actual pro anglers who think they know what they’re talking about and six FLW Outdoors communications staffers who say they don’t. Divided into two divisions – Pro and Staff – we will compete in head-to-head matchups – a la fantasy football – all season long to determine who qualifies for the Pundit Championship and eventually becomes the 2005 Pundit of the Year.

The cast remains much the same as last year, so expect to see some sparks fly from old rivalries (ahem, Clark and Mark) as well as some new ones. I would like to welcome three new pundits to the fray: FLW pro Dave Lefebre, “FLW Outdoors” TV host Keith Lebowitz and FLW Outdoors editor Chris Eubanks.

(Some friendly advice to the new guys: Let’s hope you can swim better than you make picks because this pundit pool is filled with sharks.)

Also, the usual disclaimer: The picks in this column in no way represent any sort of favoritism on the part of FLW Outdoors staff or its pro anglers. These are merely guesses – only arguably educated – as to who we think might do well at any given tournament.

(Disclaimer to the disclaimer: Actually, one FLW staffer is playing favorites in that I am making it my personal mission to ensure that Wendlandt does NOT win his third Pundit of the Year title in a row.)

The gauntlet is thrown. Let’s get on with it.

– Jeff Schroeder, editor, FLWOutdoors.com

Tournament site

Obviously, as the customary season opener for the FLW Tour, the Big O is familiar territory for pro anglers and fantasy-fishing fanatics alike. However, the Lower 48’s second-largest freshwater lake is a new animal this season and might be as tough to pick this year as any. The reason? Last summer’s hurricanes. The Big O’s been all stirred up. Areas that once held Okeechobee’s thick grass and monstrous bass have been blown away, but they’re not gone. Pros will find new water all over the place. As evidenced by the EverStart event here earlier in the month, the keys will likely remain the flipping bite and, perhaps more importantly, the ability to find fish in a crowd.

Hot picks

The pros liked local favorite Mike Surman the best. He earned picks from four out of six of them. Greg Hackney, J.T. Kenney and David Walker were next with three votes apiece. Also earning multiple nods were Randy Blaukat, Glenn Browne, Dave Lefebre and Clark Wendlandt, each with two picks apiece.

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Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop No. 1

Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.

Jan. 19-22

Randy Blaukat FLW pro Lamar, Mo. Record: 0-0 Points: 0	VS.	Mark Zona EverStart pro Sturgis, Mich. Record: 0-0 Points: 0
1) DANNY CORREIA .Back on tour after a three-year absence, Danny has a knack for finding fish in Florida. He guided on Okeechobee for several years and is dropping the BASS Tour to focus totally on the FLWs. He is one of the best post-cold-front anglers out there, which is always a big key on Okeechobee in January. 2) BERNIE SCHULTZ .I look for this to be a top-heavy tournament: a few big weights, but most of the field could struggle with the fishing pressure. I think this will help Bernie because he has good skills in finessing big fish in tough events. Bernie is one of the few anglers who has the knowledge to win here by doing something besides flipping 80-pound braided line. 3) DAVID WALKER .David has one of the most impressive resumes for January fishing on Okeechobee. He is a strong flipper, but can back it up with other techniques. Plus, he understands the personality of Okeechobee fish. He is one of about five pros on tour who are way overdue for a win. 4) RANDY BLAUKAT .I’ve really gotten comfortable fishing Okeechobee in January. There are several keys to doing well on this lake at this time of year. Each year we fish there I am learning more and more about the energy of the lake and the moods and movements of the fish. 5) BRENT CHAPMAN .Brent will be in a lot of my picks this season. In my opinion, he is one of the top five anglers in the world today. For Brent, like all the rest of us competing on Okeechobee, the key will be fishing well in crowded conditions. Okeechobee fishes smaller than any lake we go to, and Brent has the focus to block out that issue and do his own thing.		1) DAVID WALKER .Walks softly but carries a big flippin’ stick. He’s going to get the party started at the Big O. 2) J T KENNEY .He gets that creepy, I’m-gonna-go-postal look every time the word Okeechobee is brought up. This is a no-brainer. 3) MIKE SURMAN .I’m kicking out some local sugar here. Plus, I wanted to see him beat Wendlandt, seeing as how they’re roommates on the road. 4) CLARK WENDLANDT .Why do I do this to myself? Picking him turns my stomach every time. But after a long hunting season, I’m sure he’ll come out swinging. Hopefully Clark will be able to pry himself away from that Rob “I’m a big-time writer so give me an interview” Newell long enough to catch a fish. 5) RANDY BLAUKAT .Don’t let this mild-mannered pro fool you. He’s going to pick up right where he left off in `04 and explode out of the gates this week.

David Dudley FLW pro Lynchburg, Va. Record: 0-0 Points: 0	VS.	Clark Wendlandt FLW pro Cedar Park, Texas Record: 0-0 Points: 0
1) J T KENNEY .The Okeechobee King. I said it last year and I’ll say it again this year: He has taken over that title from the well-known Roland Martin. If there is any doubt, just look up Kenney’s finish at last week’s EverStart. 2) SHINICHI FUKAE .A Japanese, sword-fighting, pole-bending, fish-catching machine. This dude has serious skills, and I think he will pick up right where he left off last year. 3) GREG HACKNEY .The king of second-place finishes, hot-hand Hackney will be on pace knowing that there is a flipping bite going on. You would have to be an idiot not to vote for him. 4) MIKE SURMAN .Mr. I’m Not Catching Anything will use his knowledge of the lake to his advantage. Even though he will tell you that he’s not catching them, don’t believe it. Look for him to be on top. 5) DAVID WALKER .Mr. Consistency. This dude is always in the top third of the field. Knowing his background on this lake, he will be in the top five finishers this year instead of just the top third of the field.		1) DAVE LEFEBRE .Dave is possibly the hottest angler in the country right now, and I look for him to charge out of the starting gates with a great finish. 2) GREG HACKNEY .This used to be my favorite dark-horse pick, but now he is everybody’s choice to finish in the top five. I don’t see how you can pick against him right now. 3) MIKE SURMAN .Mike is another guy who used to slip under the radar, but now people know that he is a great fisherman all over the country. Okeechobee is his favorite lake and I expect great things from him this week. 4) GLENN BROWNE .Glenn had a great year last year, not only on Florida lakes, but all over the country. I think he’ll come with a lot of confidence this year and he is dynamite on Florida lakes. 5) CLARK WENDLANDT .Okeechobee has always been one of my favorite lakes. My only concern this year is that the lake is fishing very small. Hopefully some new water will become fishable with the decent weather they’ve had in Florida the past few weeks. Even if it fishes small I still love the Big O.

Dave Lefebre FLW pro Erie, Pa. Record: 0-0 Points: 0	VS.	Carl Svebek FLW pro Siloam Springs, Ark. Record: 0-0 Points: 0
1) GLENN BROWNE .Flipping is always strong here. Glenn’s very good at it and knows Okeechobee as well as anyone. After a great rookie season last year, I look for him to come out of the gate fast and not settle for 11th place again. Ouch! 2) BILLY BOWEN JR .Three words: “Who’s you’re daddy?” Billy said it on camera last year and he will say it again this year. He is always in the hunt on the Big O, and conditions are going to play right into his hands. 3) DAVE LEFEBRE .I’m not crazy about Florida bass, but I’ve done well here in the last two FLW events. I don’t mind fishing in crowds and it looks like the Big O is going to fish a lot smaller than usual. 4) GREG HACKNEY .After last season, this pick is a no-brainer. Greg whacked them here a month ago and has two top-15 FLW finishes in the last two events. I think he’ll pick up right where he left off in `04. 5) MICHAEL IACONELLI .Gut pick. He’s been practicing quite awhile for this one. Okeechobee fits his style of fishing. I’ve got a feeling that Ike is going to find some toads and put them in the boat.		1) J T KENNEY .This guy has won on Okeechobee before. With a second-place finish in the recent EverStart here, he probably wants some satisfaction with another first-place finish. This plus the big sacks that he caught in the EverStart make him my first pick. 2) MIKE SURMAN .You just have to pick the guy. He’s seen Okeechobee at its best and worst, and he can flip with the best of them. With Okeechobee just across the peninsula from his home, he’ s had plenty of experience on the lake – just like fishing the pond in his own backyard. 3) SCOTT MARTIN .Local favorite. Always a contender, there’s nothing like fishing your home lake. Of course, there’s a lot of pressure in that, too, so that’s why he’s third and not first. 4) CHRIS MCCALL .Finished second here last year. He’s new to the 7-Up team and wants a top-10 finish. Besides, he’s short and thinks he looks like me. Anyone like that just deserves to win, which brings me to my fifth pick. … 5) CARL SVEBEK III .I’m ready to fish and my wife has been listening to too much Brad Paisley, saying if I don’t bring home a trophy, “she’s gonna miss me.” … See you in Florida. I’m headed that way, so watch out!

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