Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

 Two of professional bass fishing’s kindest characters and good friends offer a pre-game look at what to expect at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship on Lake Chatuge in the mountains of North Georgia.

Q: What will be the biggest challenge to success this week on Lake Chatuge?

Kevin:Consistency from day to day. Fans can expect a lot of flip-flopping on the leaderboard.

Casey:Figuring out something different that everybody else isn’t doing to catch quality fish. Like, everybody knows they’re schooling on topwaters, but what can you do to catch better quality fish right behind a guy on the same patch of water? Plus, it’s fall, so fish are chasing bait, and that scatters them.

Q: What percentage of Day 1 do you expect to be fishing with a Quantum spinning rod/reel?

Kevin:It’ll be about 50/50, spinning and baitcasting.

Casey:I’ll say 40% spinning.

Q: Lake Chatuge is “postcard pretty” – a clean, fairly clear water reservoir, surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Name two other bodies of water you’ve competed on that rival the beauty of Lake Chatuge.

Kevin:Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Thousand Islands, NY.

Casey:Smith Mountain Lake, VA and Clear Lake, CA.

Q: Name four lures the Elite Series field will throw a lot this week on Chatuge.

Kevin:Topwater, swimbait, drop shot, and a shaky head.

Casey:A Spook, a Fluke, drop shot, and a shaky head.

Q: What Elite Series anglers should fans have on their fantasy fishing team this week?

Kevin:Ott DeFoe, Andy Montgomery, Justin Lucas, and Josh Bertrand

Casey:Justin Lucas because he’s on fire and is a great finesse angler, Aaron Martens because he’s one of the greatest finesse anglers that’s ever lived, and Swindle for his junk fishing skills.