ESPN Elite Series

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With the 2007 Elite Series returning to many of the same waters as last year, one might expect those who did well in 2006 to reign on the same lakes again this season.

"Maybe, maybe not," says ESPN Outdoors commentator Mark Zona. "A week or two difference in weather patterns this year could open the door for domination by different pros. It's going to be an interesting season."

The insightful yet zany commentator has agreed to offer readers and Fantasy League players his preseason picks for each stop along the 2007 Elite Series trail.

Here's his prognosis of who to watch at each event:

Lake Amistad

Money
Greg Hackney: Had three major-league big fish patterns going here last year and my gut says one or more will work again. He'll weigh in a daily limit of more than 30 pounds at least once in this event

Gut
Aaron Martens: I picked him last year and he fizzled. This event was won shallow in 2006, but if the weather holds back the spawn and keeps them deep, he'll knock their lights out.

Dark Horse
Gary Klein: This is a great jig lake — shallow or deep — and he'll be throwing the bait he's most confident with. Plus he's not freaked out by clear water.

California Delta

Money
Skeet Reese: This is possibly the most obvious pick of the year, except for picking him in the next one, too. He's chomping at the bit for the game to come to his field

Gut
Mark Tyler: He qualifies as the second most obvious pick. He knows the big fish areas and won't get wrapped up in the numbers game. Tyler will go for quality, not quantity.

Dark Horse
Todd Faircloth: Obnoxious amount of flippin' water to be had. We always talk about guys fishing their strength on The Bassmasters, and flippin' is his biggest weapon. Watch him!

Clear Lake

Money
Ish Monroe: Clear could turn into a slugfest before it's over. Ish is a big bass specialist, and based upon his performance last year, he will be hard to beat.

Gut
Dean Rojas: Not an original pick. He also will be vicious the first three stops, but there will be big sacks coming in and guys who are used to this kind of fishing should really excel.

Dark Horse
Terry Scroggins: Total gut pick, but he has proven to be slow and steady in early spring. Whoever says that "Big Show" is only a Florida fisherman is wrong. When it's spring, he catches 'em everywhere.

Clarks Hill

Money
John Crews: Clear could turn into a slugfest before it's over. Ish is a big bass specialist, and based upon his performance last year, he will be hard to beat.

Gut
Gerald Swindle: The winner of this one will need a couple of different techniques to last the whole week, and he does great when an event requires multiple ways to catch them.

Dark Horse
Alton Jones: This is held during a goofy time of year when you have prespawn, spawn and postspawn, so it really sets up good for sight fishermen. Alton's great at catching cruising bass, and there should be a ton of that going on.

Guntersville

Money
Timmy Horton: You have to show a little local love at each tournament. It's going to be a little early for an all-out ledge tournament, but Timmy's knowledge in shallow and mid-range depths at Guntersville could prove key.

Gut
Kevin VanDam: I was told I couldn't pick him every tournament. I didn't, but you would be wise to include him on your list in this one (and every other one for that matter).

Dark Horse
Kelly Jordon: Great grass fishermen who can sight fish will be the guys to watch. Kelly is good at both and worthy of consideration.

High Rock Lake

Money
Takahiro Omori: Shallow, dirty water usually plays a role here. If the skinny water crankbait bite is on, he should do well.

Gut
Rick Clunn: He has fished every Bassmaster Classic held here, which should give him an advantage, especially if the deep crankbait bite turns on.

Dark Horse
Mike Wurm: The event could be a tough, deep water bite with not many fish caught. When that happens, Wurmy excels.

Smith Mountain Lake

Money
Mike Iaconelli: Look for a complete show from Ike at this one. He should crush them all week on a shaky head worm. The fish will be funky after the spawn, and Ike's at his best when that happens.

Gut
Dave Wolak: Smith is a big-time jig-and-finesse worm lake, which sets up sweet for this guy. And, if fish are schooling, little Davey Wolak's the man.

Dark Horse
Denny Brauer: There are a million boat docks on this lake and by the end of the week it could be the primary deal. Denny has caught more bass off docks than any man on the planet.

Grand Lake

Money
Mike McClelland: He won last year by like, 100 pounds. Likely to repeat due to his intimate, offshore knowledge of Grand.

Gut
Davy Hite: The one guy who is capable of taking McClelland. He'll throw a jig on deep structure from beginning to end, and that will make him a threat.

Dark Horse
Edwin Evers: Little Ebenezer doesn't have one strong suit; he's all about catching them the way they're biting at the moment, and that will pay off here.

Lake Champlain

Money
Tommy Biffle: He should make a big-time run at this one. Everybody punished the largemouth on the north end last year, but the south end of the lake should produce this time.

Gut
Kevin Wirth: He's done well here fishing a section of the lake that holds above-average smallmouth. Knowing where the deep pigs feed will be huge.

Dark Horse
Kotaro Kiriyama: I don't think we'll see all the freakish largemouth in play again. If it's about smallies and the drop shot works well here, he knows exactly where to do it.

Lake Erie & Niagara River

Money
Peter Thliveros: He's a world-class smallie fisherman and loves fishing this side of Lake Erie

Gut
Aaron Martens: Drop shotting will rule, so Aaron will have a huge event regardless of weather conditions.

Dark Horse
Jon Bondy or Frank Scalish: This was a tossup; Frank has won here but it could be Bondy's time to win. Both men know which reefs to fish and that's huge when practicing on this big water.

Oneida Lake

Money
Kevin VanDam: There are smallmouth swimming here and the lake fishes like Michigan waters, so he'll feel right at home.

Gut
Mike Iaconelli: Guys "fishing their strengths" may be a cliché, but this event suits his style and he knows how to catch the ones that weigh 1/4 pound bigger than others.

Dark Horse
Dave Wolak: He was the only guy who consistently caught both smallmouth and largemouth in the 2006 event. He'll know when to quit catching smallies and go after green fish.

Potomac River

Money
Rick Morris: Even though he had a meltdown on Day 4 in 2006, you cannot deny his knowledge of this place. He's always in the hunt on the Potomac.

Gut
Greg Hackney: When you combine a river, grass and tons of shallow bass, Hackney's the best in the field.

Dark Horse
Steve Kennedy: This will be a big-time flippin' tournament and Steve is the most underrated flipper on tour.

Arkansas River

Money
Gerald Swindle: A multitude of methods worked here last year. When you can lay 20 rods on the boat deck and start firing away, he's awesome.

Gut
Scott Rook: He's the defending champion. I was going to pick Kevin Short, but he wears pink and that frightens me.

Dark Horse
Greg Hackney: Aside from Rook and Kevin Short, nobody knows better where the quality fish live. That's key at this time of year.

Lake Tohopekaliga

Money
Terry Scroggins: This one is easy. He knows the water better than anyone.

Gut
Chris Lane: One of the most promising young guys on tour and one whose family cut its teeth fishing Florida. If he can ignore the hometown pressure, look out.

Dark Horse
Kevin Wirth: Every time I call him, he's playing golf around this body of water. He will be smoking at this tournament, in more ways than one.

You've seen Zona's picks, now go and register for Fantasy Fishing today!

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