For this week’s Best Bets, we tapped Mississippi pro Pete Ponds, who’s made the transition from the Elite Series to the FLW Tour this season.
His perspective on this week’s Sabine River Elite Series is unique because, A) he spent the last nine seasons as an Elite Series competitor so he knows the field, and B) he fished there back in 2013 when Todd Faircloth claimed the win. Ponds took 41st and cashed a $10,000 paycheck that week.
"With the brackish water there, you catch yourself pulling into an area wondering if it has any bass in it," Ponds said. "It all looks good, but you wonder, 'Is it too salty for bass?' The first thing is you have to get away from the salt water. Because of the brackish water, the fish are small. Catching 9- to 11-inchers isn't a problem. Catching those 14-inch keepers was a problem."
Here are Pete’s picks to click:
1. Takahiro Omori
> Ponds says: “He and I roomed together that year and I remember he had a terrible day 1 fishing in that (Sabine National Wildlife) Refuge. He went back and learned it on day 2 so he knows that area pretty well and he likes shallow, dirty water.”
2. Bill Lowen
> Ponds says: “I feel like Bill is a thorough and methodical fisherman and I have a feeling he’ll do well.”
3. Alton Jones
> Ponds says: “He did well there last time and that’s a place where confidence is real important. ”
4. Dennis Tietje
> Ponds says: “He had all the pressure of being the hometown guy last time and made the Top 12. I expect him to do it again.”
Darkhorse: Billy McCaghren
> Ponds says: “He’s a great guy and Billy’s a shallow-water guy and fishes a lot of muddy rivers with stumps .”
