As the popularity of the Bassmaster Elite Series soars, fans continue to flock toward the Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing games surrounding the league. Falcon Rods recently hooked the newest of the games, becoming the title sponsor of the Drain the Lake Challenge.

Unlike the original Fantasy Fishing game, Drain the Lake requires players to choose eight anglers per tournament who they believe will do well at that particular event. They earn points based on those anglers’ performances and then must choose a new group of anglers for the next event. An angler can only be used one time per season.

“That’s where the strategy comes into Drain the Lake,” said Kyle Jessie, B.A.S.S. digital editor. “If you believe Brandon Palaniuk, for example, is definitely going to do well in the third event, you need to save him. If you believe certain anglers will do better when the season shifts to Northern smallmouth fisheries, you need to keep those anglers available for those events.”

Falcon Rods, which has been supplying anglers with cutting-edge equipment for more than three decades, fits perfectly as the title sponsor for Drain the Lake, considering their pro staff includes Elite Series anglers Jason Christie, Luke Palmer and Clark Wendlandt — three anglers who routinely score well in Rapala Fantasy Fishing.

“If your group of eight anglers includes the winner of an Elite event, you earn 600 points,” Jessie said. “For the Classic, if your selections include the winner, you get 900 points. Those are the kind of picks that really make a difference.”

For each Bassmaster Elite Series event, individual winners will earn a $250 B.A.S.S.-provided gift card to Bass Pro Shops and a $100 Falcon Rods gift card for a total value of $350. If the winner is also a B.A.S.S. member, total winnings will equal $500.

The end-of-season grand prize winner will earn a $2,500 B.A.S.S.-provided gift card to Bass Pro Shops and a Falcon Rods fishing trip with Palmer valued at $1,050 for a total prize value of $3,550. If the winner is also a B.A.S.S. member, he or she will earn an additional $500.

“We know a lot of B.A.S.S. anglers are using our rods, along with a lot of the Drain the Lake players,” said Chris Beckwith, president of Falcon Rods. “We’re excited to be the title sponsor of this unique game that allows anglers and fans across the world to be part of the action.”

To sign up for Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing and the Falcon Rods Drain the Lake Challenge, go to Bassmasterfantasy.com.