How-To

Top 12 patterns from Table Rock

Get tips on everything from patterns to lures from the Top 12 finalists at the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #2.

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<p> Casey Scanlon outlasted the final 12 anglers on a tough Saturday on Table Rock to claim the first-place trophy and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Here is how he and the rest of the Top 12 caught their fish over the course of the event.</p>
Casey Scanlon outlasted the final 12 anglers on a tough Saturday on Table Rock to claim the first-place trophy and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Here is how he and the rest of the Top 12 caught their fish over the course of the event.
<p> The key bait for Scanlon all week was a chartreuse sexy shad Strike King 6XD crankbait. He used that to probe brushpiles that he had located on prior visits to Table Rock. He also mixed in a Strike King Series 5 crankbait when the water was shallower. Most of his best bites came when the 6XD deflected off cover. “The brushpiles were all on or close to the main lake. It helped if they had a spawning pocket close.”</p>
The key bait for Scanlon all week was a chartreuse sexy shad Strike King 6XD crankbait. He used that to probe brushpiles that he had located on prior visits to Table Rock. He also mixed in a Strike King Series 5 crankbait when the water was shallower. Most of his best bites came when the 6XD deflected off cover. “The brushpiles were all on or close to the main lake. It helped if they had a spawning pocket close.”
<p> In practice, he found better fish hanging around bluff walls and targeted those with a Luck "E" Strike Series 2 square-bill in a spotted shad pattern. “We came down here from Bull Shoals,” Scanlon said. “A lot of the fish I caught there were on bluffs. I think the bigger fish spawn on the bluffs. They were just moving up because everything I caught was prespawn. I kept the boat in 8 to 12 feet, and the lure was running in 5 to 6 feet on the first ledge off the bluffs.”</p>
In practice, he found better fish hanging around bluff walls and targeted those with a Luck “E” Strike Series 2 square-bill in a spotted shad pattern. “We came down here from Bull Shoals,” Scanlon said. “A lot of the fish I caught there were on bluffs. I think the bigger fish spawn on the bluffs. They were just moving up because everything I caught was prespawn. I kept the boat in 8 to 12 feet, and the lure was running in 5 to 6 feet on the first ledge off the bluffs.”
<p> A 7-foot Razr Rod E-Glass deep cranking rod as well as the Bass Pro Shops version of the same rod helped him land most of the fish he hooked. He spooled up Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier reels with 12-pound Bass Pro XPS fluorocarbon. “I was reeling all those crankbaits really fast, trying to get a reaction bite.”</p>
A 7-foot Razr Rod E-Glass deep cranking rod as well as the Bass Pro Shops version of the same rod helped him land most of the fish he hooked. He spooled up Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier reels with 12-pound Bass Pro XPS fluorocarbon. “I was reeling all those crankbaits really fast, trying to get a reaction bite.”
<p> Local ace Kelly Power turned in a strong third-place finish on Table Rock. His strategy consisted of switching between a buzzbait and crankbait. He threw a 3/8-ounce War Eagle buzzbait with a black skirt and a gold blade. “I threw the buzzbait in the back end of creeks,” Power said. “They were shallow, in less than 3 feet of water. They would bite it throughout the day, but the best bite was in the morning.”</p>
Local ace Kelly Power turned in a strong third-place finish on Table Rock. His strategy consisted of switching between a buzzbait and crankbait. He threw a 3/8-ounce War Eagle buzzbait with a black skirt and a gold blade. “I threw the buzzbait in the back end of creeks,” Power said. “They were shallow, in less than 3 feet of water. They would bite it throughout the day, but the best bite was in the morning.”
<p> When the bite on the buzzbait slowed down, Power switched to Phantom Green Storm Wiggle Wart. He focused on channel banks in 8 to 12 feet of water and used a steady retrieve to bump the big rocks on the bottom. Believe it or not, his local experience actually hurt him. “I laid off my fish the first day because I didn’t think they would bite with the conditions changing on the main lake. I probably could have upgraded 2 to 3 more pounds and I think that was what cost me the victory.”</p>
When the bite on the buzzbait slowed down, Power switched to Phantom Green Storm Wiggle Wart. He focused on channel banks in 8 to 12 feet of water and used a steady retrieve to bump the big rocks on the bottom. Believe it or not, his local experience actually hurt him. “I laid off my fish the first day because I didn’t think they would bite with the conditions changing on the main lake. I probably could have upgraded 2 to 3 more pounds and I think that was what cost me the victory.”
<p> Brian Potter leveraged a crankbait bite into a fourth-place finish. This Lucky Craft RC 2.5 was a big bait for him early in the mornings. “I needed wind for the crankbait bite,” Potter said. “I caught them on a square-bill early, then later in the day on shaded banks, like you would find along bluff walls. I caught them best off the bluffs on the first day.”</p>
Brian Potter leveraged a crankbait bite into a fourth-place finish. This Lucky Craft RC 2.5 was a big bait for him early in the mornings. “I needed wind for the crankbait bite,” Potter said. “I caught them on a square-bill early, then later in the day on shaded banks, like you would find along bluff walls. I caught them best off the bluffs on the first day.”
<p> After the early square-bill bite slowed down, Potter picked up this Norman’s DD22 in a ghost color that he called “Jelly Bean.” The deeper diving bait allowed him to pick off fish that had backed up from their early feeding up shallow. “I would get back in 20 feet of water and parallel the bank,” Potter said. “It seemed like they were suspending in trees in 14 to 20 feet of water.”</p>
After the early square-bill bite slowed down, Potter picked up this Norman’s DD22 in a ghost color that he called “Jelly Bean.” The deeper diving bait allowed him to pick off fish that had backed up from their early feeding up shallow. “I would get back in 20 feet of water and parallel the bank,” Potter said. “It seemed like they were suspending in trees in 14 to 20 feet of water.”
<p> On the final day of the event, the wind died off and Potter couldn’t buy a crankbait bite. His 12-pound, 9-ounce bag was enough to jump him into fourth after many of the other anglers couldn’t buy a bite. The change he made was to use a Sooner Run colored Biffle Bug with a 1/2-ounce Biffle Hardhead. “Without the wind, I beat myself up until 11:30,” Potter said. “Then I picked up that Biffle Bug and caught seven keepers right back here near the take-off in a pocket. Most of those were smallmouth.”</p>
On the final day of the event, the wind died off and Potter couldn’t buy a crankbait bite. His 12-pound, 9-ounce bag was enough to jump him into fourth after many of the other anglers couldn’t buy a bite. The change he made was to use a Sooner Run colored Biffle Bug with a 1/2-ounce Biffle Hardhead. “Without the wind, I beat myself up until 11:30,” Potter said. “Then I picked up that Biffle Bug and caught seven keepers right back here near the take-off in a pocket. Most of those were smallmouth.”
<p> Tommy Martin stayed on a square-bill bite all tournament long and moved up to finish in fifth place. He alternated between a Luck "E" Strike copper perch Series 2 square-bill and an Academy Sports + Outdoors H2O square-bill in the bluegill color. “Those bass are feeding on bluegill real heavy right now. These baits will catch bigger fish and you can cover a lot of water with it, too.”</p>
Tommy Martin stayed on a square-bill bite all tournament long and moved up to finish in fifth place. He alternated between a Luck “E” Strike copper perch Series 2 square-bill and an Academy Sports + Outdoors H2O square-bill in the bluegill color. “Those bass are feeding on bluegill real heavy right now. These baits will catch bigger fish and you can cover a lot of water with it, too.”
<p> Martin had a total of 43 pounds, 14 ounces for the three-day event. His crankbait pattern was not unique – many in the Top 12 tossed a square-bill – but he had the retrieve and location dialed in. “The fish were all in 4 to 7 feet. The bait deflects off cover real well, and I was just trying to keep it bouncing off rocks and laydowns. I used Seeker Rods S-Glass crankbait rods with 20-pound Bass Pro XPS fluorocarbon to land all those fish.”</p>
Martin had a total of 43 pounds, 14 ounces for the three-day event. His crankbait pattern was not unique – many in the Top 12 tossed a square-bill – but he had the retrieve and location dialed in. “The fish were all in 4 to 7 feet. The bait deflects off cover real well, and I was just trying to keep it bouncing off rocks and laydowns. I used Seeker Rods S-Glass crankbait rods with 20-pound Bass Pro XPS fluorocarbon to land all those fish.”
<p> Dustin Lester walloped the biggest bag of the tournament on Day Two, 21 pounds, 15 ounces, to take the lead. Ultimately, the lack of wind hurt him on Day Three, but he still finished in sixth place in the event. Lester was doing something different from many of the other competitors in the Top 12, running over 40 miles up the river to fish bluff ends.</p>
Dustin Lester walloped the biggest bag of the tournament on Day Two, 21 pounds, 15 ounces, to take the lead. Ultimately, the lack of wind hurt him on Day Three, but he still finished in sixth place in the event. Lester was doing something different from many of the other competitors in the Top 12, running over 40 miles up the river to fish bluff ends.
<p> Lester started every morning with a War Eagle 1/2-ounce spinnerbait in the Spot Remover color. “I would slow roll the spinnerbait parallel to the bluff walls in 15 feet of water,” Lester said. “They were suspended and on that second day, the wind was blowing so hard, I think the bait got pushed up there and that’s why fishing was so good.”</p>
Lester started every morning with a War Eagle 1/2-ounce spinnerbait in the Spot Remover color. “I would slow roll the spinnerbait parallel to the bluff walls in 15 feet of water,” Lester said. “They were suspended and on that second day, the wind was blowing so hard, I think the bait got pushed up there and that’s why fishing was so good.”
<p> As the day went on, Lester switched to a peanut butter jelly color Elk River Finesse Jig with a PBJ Zoom Super Chunk Junior. “It’s got a stout hook, that’s why I like it so much,” Lester said. “When they stopped biting the spinnerbait, I flipped the jig. Every one bit the jig on the fall.”</p>
As the day went on, Lester switched to a peanut butter jelly color Elk River Finesse Jig with a PBJ Zoom Super Chunk Junior. “It’s got a stout hook, that’s why I like it so much,” Lester said. “When they stopped biting the spinnerbait, I flipped the jig. Every one bit the jig on the fall.”
<p> Like many of his fellow competitors, Brady Winans relied heavily on a square-bill bite. He used both a Bandit square bill in the pearl white/black back color and a Lucky Craft 4.5 square-bill in the black shad color. “I cranked as fast as I could crank them in rocks from 2 to 6 feet of water using 12-pound Sunline Sniper FC fluorocarbon. If I reeled it slow, I couldn’t get bit. I could only get bit fishing it fast, but that was conducive to losing fish, like I did on the final day.”</p>
Like many of his fellow competitors, Brady Winans relied heavily on a square-bill bite. He used both a Bandit square bill in the pearl white/black back color and a Lucky Craft 4.5 square-bill in the black shad color. “I cranked as fast as I could crank them in rocks from 2 to 6 feet of water using 12-pound Sunline Sniper FC fluorocarbon. If I reeled it slow, I couldn’t get bit. I could only get bit fishing it fast, but that was conducive to losing fish, like I did on the final day.”
<p> Winans balanced his square-bill attack with Table Rock classics like the Storm Wiggle Wart in natural crawfish and a Jewel Eakins Jig in orange craw with a Zoom Super Chunk Junior. “Wherever I was on a bank I knew had some fish, I slowed down with the jig. There was a certain type rock I was looking for. They had to be on transition banks with bigger-sized rock, not pea gravel.”</p>
Winans balanced his square-bill attack with Table Rock classics like the Storm Wiggle Wart in natural crawfish and a Jewel Eakins Jig in orange craw with a Zoom Super Chunk Junior. “Wherever I was on a bank I knew had some fish, I slowed down with the jig. There was a certain type rock I was looking for. They had to be on transition banks with bigger-sized rock, not pea gravel.”
<p> He fished the square bills on a Revo STX 6.4:1 ratio reel and the Wiggle Wart on a Revo Winch 5.4:1 ratio reel. Both were tossed on the Falcon Cara CIC417, which is a 7-foot medium action glass cranking rod.</p>
He fished the square bills on a Revo STX 6.4:1 ratio reel and the Wiggle Wart on a Revo Winch 5.4:1 ratio reel. Both were tossed on the Falcon Cara CIC417, which is a 7-foot medium action glass cranking rod.
<p> David Gillham moved up from 12th to 8th place on the final day with 12 pounds, 14 ounces. Conditions changed Saturday, and he was forced to abandon the pattern that got him to the Top 12. He picked up a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper, and it turned out to be the right move. “I caught a few on that on Day Two, but today, that was all I was able to get them to bite.”</p>
David Gillham moved up from 12th to 8th place on the final day with 12 pounds, 14 ounces. Conditions changed Saturday, and he was forced to abandon the pattern that got him to the Top 12. He picked up a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper, and it turned out to be the right move. “I caught a few on that on Day Two, but today, that was all I was able to get them to bite.”
<p> His primary pattern the first two days consisted of a Lucky Craft custom painted 2.5 square bill and a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko. The color was a lot like a bluegill, which he attributed to his success. “I had one fish spit up a bluegill and it looked like this crankbait. It also has some brown and orange, so it kind of looks like a crawdad too.” The crankbait was successful around rocks, but when he found a bush in some pockets, he would pull out the wacky rig. “It seemed like every bush I’d fling had fish.”</p>
His primary pattern the first two days consisted of a Lucky Craft custom painted 2.5 square bill and a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko. The color was a lot like a bluegill, which he attributed to his success. “I had one fish spit up a bluegill and it looked like this crankbait. It also has some brown and orange, so it kind of looks like a crawdad too.” The crankbait was successful around rocks, but when he found a bush in some pockets, he would pull out the wacky rig. “It seemed like every bush I’d fling had fish.”
<p> Gary Klein was the only other Elite Series angler to make the final 12 cut. His primary bait was a Tennessee Shad-colored Strike King Series 5 crankbait. “For me, it was all about deflection. I never caught any in open water. That’s one of the few baits I could fish like a spinnerbait and not get hung. They were on a shad spawn and so that became more predictable. If I saw a rock, I would throw beyond it and bring it into the rock. Most of the fish took it off the back of the rock.”</p>
Gary Klein was the only other Elite Series angler to make the final 12 cut. His primary bait was a Tennessee Shad-colored Strike King Series 5 crankbait. “For me, it was all about deflection. I never caught any in open water. That’s one of the few baits I could fish like a spinnerbait and not get hung. They were on a shad spawn and so that became more predictable. If I saw a rock, I would throw beyond it and bring it into the rock. Most of the fish took it off the back of the rock.”

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