Pros’ Picks: Lake Murray
FLW Tour pros counter the pundits with their own picks for the Lake Murray FLW Outdoors Fishing Challenge
FLW Atchafalaya scores
Pundits: 3,064
Pros: 2,939
Yearly totals
Pros: 5,876
Pundits: 5,818
First, let me offer my congratulations to pundit Jeff Schroeder for his first-place finish and spectacular comeback at the Atchafalaya Basin.
Although the pros are enjoying a respectable and well-deserved lead over the pundits for the year, a close look at the stats indicates that there might have been some funny business at the last tournament.
I find myself a little suspicious of Schroeder’s amazing turnaround. You see, Schroeder compiles all of the picks for publication on FLWOutdoors.com. It just so happens that he was on vacation during the Lake Okeechobee event, so he had to make his picks early. As you will recall, he finished dead last at that tournament. However, for the Atchafalaya event, the opportunity was there and the result seems to be an amazing turnaround.
Is it possible that he studied each pro and pundit pick prior to formulating his own slate? Is it possible that he skimmed the cream off the top?
It may just be a far-fetched theory, but I’m calling for closer monitoring of the system.
And so, without further ado, here are the winning Lake Murray Fishing Challenge picks.
– Clark
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Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop No. 3
Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C.
March 12-15
Clark Wendlandt
FLW pro, Cedar Park, Texas
Previous tournament score (Atchafalaya Basin): 793
Yearly total: 1,605
1) Clark Wendlandt. I have had success on Murray in the past and am really looking forward to this tournament. Yes, I am concerned about the risk of picking myself first because I will never live it down with the pundits if I don’t do well, but I am willing to take that chance.
2) Craig Powers. This pick is just a hunch.
3) Bud Pruitt. Bud is fishing better than anyone in the country right now, and I look for his hot streak to continue.
4) Davy Hite. Davy has had some tough luck lately, but he knows Murray very well. He will do very well this week.
5) Steve Daniel. Steve is really focusing on FLW tournaments. He did well at Atchafalaya despite a very limited practice. This will not be a bed-fishing tournament and Steve is excellent during the prespawn.
Koby Kreiger
FLW pro, Osceola, Ind.
Previous tournament score: 768
Yearly total: 1,582
1) Clark Wendlandt.
2) Mike Wurm.
3) Wesley Strader.
4) David Dudley.
5) Mickey Bruce.
Gerald Swindle
FLW pro, Warrior, Ala.
Previous tournament score: 726
Yearly total: 1,381
1) John Sappington. Sight-fishing.
2) Pat Fisher. Sight-fishing.
3) Gary Klein. Sight-fishing.
4) Clark Wendlandt. Sight-fishing.
5) Gerald Swindle. Sight-fishing.
Randy Blaukat
FLW pro, Lamar, Mo.
Previous tournament score: 652
Yearly total: 1,308
1) Rick Clunn. First, let me explain that the reason for my miserable showing at the Atchafalaya Basin was due to the fact that many of the top finishers received much local help, which threw a curve into any indication of true talent in the pundit/pro selections. Now, Rick is my first choice at Murray because he has never done well here before. Therefore, I look for him to dominate this event despite having a short practice due to the preceding week’s BASS event.
2) Takahiro Omori. I know, I know. Takahiro has not lived up to my expectations yet, but I have confidence he will break out of this pattern at Murray. He is a good run-and-gun angler, and I think this will be a key here.
3) David Fritts. Fritts is one of my picks in case there are still a lot of big prespawners out on the main lake. Depending upon the weather, his style could pay off here. I look for him to either smoke or bomb.
4) Mike Wurm. I’ve got to include Wurm because of pure momentum. He has been fishing well and has won here before, and I think the combination of the two should add up to a good finish.
5) Tom Mann Jr. Again, another angler on a roll. He’s very good with a Carolina rig, which should be good here if the cold weather continues. This is another tough one to pick because the techniques that work here will be totally dependent upon the water temps and weather conditions.
Links:
Pundits’ Picks: Lake Murray
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