It's Post time!
SACRAMENTO Ca. - Some of you may already have it in your mind what team might win this historic event, but we have compiled our own “racing form style” list of contenders that we think could win it all based on their strengths, weaknesses, and/or past performances in FPT competition.
Remember, this is only OUR list of “top picks”, and many of the teams listed below may not necessarily match with the list of teams you feel could win.
But that’s only half the fun.
If you pick the winning team from our “Coors Light - Sweet Sixteen” list of teams – or from your own personal list, you have the chance to win a load of great prizes courtesy of your northern California RAM Truck dealers!
If you pick the winning team from our “Sweet Sixteen” list – or from your own personal list you will win all of these great prizes:
A Hummibird fish finder
A Daiwa Rod/Reel C
2 premium Lucky Craft crankbaits
2-packs of the Yamamoto heart-tail worms
2-packs of Gamakatusu hooks
You can also play and win via the “Win, Place, or Show” method!
Just pick any three teams that you think will Win, Place or Show – in any order, and win a FREE entry into any Angler’s Press event held in 2016 of your choice!
That means you will receive a FREE entry into either the 2016 Yamamoto Big BASS, 2016 (Ultimate Frog Challenge), or 2016 River2Sea Open! (up to a $200 value)!
You must place your bets (or guesses) of the team(s) you feel will win, on the Future Pro Tour Facebook page no later than midnight March 10th, 2016 to be eligible to win. In the case of any ties, the FPT Competition Committee will place all correct guesses in a raffle bin and randomly draw a winner!
It’s post time….and we’re off to the races….so good luck to everyone!
2015 Coors Light – “Sweet Sixteen” FPT Classic Picks”
1. Mike Sanders/Matt Lindsey
2012 BBT anglers of the year, and now FPT anglers of the year, these guys are strong performers and experienced in big event competition. If they stay on course, this could be their event – and their decade.
2. Irwin Williams/Ray Pearson
Solid performers that have learned to fished well as a team and perform well on the central regions deep-water spotted bass lakes. Oroville’s deep-water spots could be just what the doctor ordered for this dynamic duo.
3. Jeremy Choffel/Jay Fieber
How can you not include a team that embodies the whole idea of amateur-level angling? In spite of fishing out of a 10-ft aluminum boat, they win 100 boat events, and have made the final 15 in two FPT Classics. Their small boat may leave a small wake, but these two could make big trouble for a field stacked with 18-20ft rigs.
4. Anthony Souza/Matt Frazier
Perhaps the central valley’s best overall team. They know how to step up the pace in high-level events (they won 2015 Coors Light Delta Teams Championship), and could very well find that “sweet spot” during this all-important event.
5. Dan Pollard/Mark Pollard
WAY overdue for a good showing, these two love deep-water, drop-shottin’ required lakes. If Mark can calm his nerves during the playing of the national anthem at blast-off, this team has a legitimate shot.
6. Cliff King/Colby King
Colby has fished FPT with his dad since he was six years old. Now 16, Colby and dad put together a magical season of big performances to win the prestigious Coors Light Silver Bullet northern region Angler of the Year titles. Question is, can they handle the pressure of their new found fame and focus on winning the coveted FPT Classic title.
We shall see.
7. “Sugar” Shane Peirson/Austin Wilson
“T-Rex”, and “Raptor”, are names that best describe these two “carnivores”, as both have no taste for vegetables (drop-shotting), but prefer the “power” fishing that has placed them arguably at the top of the food chain of FPT anglers. Both have been bridesmaids for past Coors Light Silver Bullet AOY titles – which has created a “blood lust” for payback before they leave the FPT in search of higher-level competition.
Couple this with the fact that both Shane and Austin are true BIG FISH hunters, and those that move on with the top 15 at Bullard’s Bar for the final day of Classic competition, could have a very long and disappointing day.
8. Kevin Wallace/Kirby Wallace
Both are quiet and unassuming, and look harmless, but there is a reason this former small boat division AOY team has won several FPT events and have come very close to winning FPT Classics (they brought a 34-pound limit to the scales during the first day of last year’s championship event). These guys seem hard wired for survival and know how to put patterns together to win. Look for an outstanding, if not dominant performance in this event.
9. Mike Harmon/Jim Markham
A rough year for this pair of AOY winners, but they made it to the big show where nothing else matters but how you do during this particular event. If they can get it together come game day…there could be trouble.
10. James Everhart/Mike Cole
Experience, and well-rounded in all disciplines are just a few of the reasons these two made the 2015 Coors Light Sweet Sixteen list. Mike Cole can be a beast, and when Ed is on his game, he can be unstoppable. Personally speaking…these are good odds.
11. Dale Burkett/Doug Langley
Perhaps the best team in the field that has never won a Classic.
As stated many times regarding these two, it takes a TEAM effort to win an FPT event, and with Dale’s strong leadership skills and Doug improving his game with each passing year, this team could turn in a command performance that could produce a long day, and a quiet ride home for the rest of the field.
12. Aaron LeSieur/Aidan LeSieur
Some would say that fishing with your 12-year old son is a handicap. But Aaron LeSieur seems to use the synergy created by his experience and his son’s youthful energy, to his advantage during competition, allowing him to make both unencumbered and instinctive decisions. Don’t be surprised ….just sayin’.
13. Frank Ono/ Mike Stodghill
Frank is extremely confident at Oroville as he considers it his best lake. A dominating win at the Berryessa opener, along with several “near misses” throughout the year, makes this veteran and his protégé a very good bet to finish high – and perhaps take home the gold.
14. Duggan Wilson/Danny Cross
No doubt they have the ability.
The questions are, can they handle the pressure of defending their Coors Light FPT Classic crown, can they parlay the momentum they received from winning the final event of the 2015 season into an even bigger win, and will they be able to keep in context the confidence boost Danny received by being named to George Kramer’s “Top 40” Best anglers in the west roster. We will find out come March 13th.
15. Mike Caddick/Doug Gregory
Consistent and powerful performances throughout the year highlight the sheer talent this team possesses, as they came within a hair breath of winning the coveted 2015 Coors Light Angler of the Year title. A low ranking on this list does not necessary reflect on their ability, but more on our lack of information regarding their past angling history.
16. Scott Burke/Garrett Maddex
An uncanny knack to place well – and always be in the money, simply means we can’t look past this team and their Classic chances. Again we say..these guys will come to play – and win.
Dark Horse team: Nevada Bretz/Joey Verna
They are both tournament veterans in the mother lode/central regions. They have good team chemistry. They are at home with deep-water spotted bass lakes. A+B+C could equal W (a win), and a big surprise for some central valley doubters.
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