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Top lures from 2026 College Championship

Check out the baits that carried college teams to the top of the leaderboard during the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

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Photography by
Chase Sansom
West Virginia
Photography by
Christopher Decker
Photography by
Solomon Glenn
Minnesota
Captions by
Christopher Decker
The best college teams in the country arrived at Leech Lake hoping to claim the 2026 Strike King College Bassmaster Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops title. Smallmouth and largemouth were in play, and teams had to decide which would carry them to the top.
The town of Walker, Minn., was excited to see what these young anglers could do on their home lake. Big crowds watched weigh-ins each and every day of the tournament.
Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow braved the wind and waves to catch the giant smallmouth Leech Lake is known for. At times it was a borderline impossible task, but the duo were rewarded for their grit and determination.
After coming close several times before, Sorrow and Robison claimed the trophies with a three-day total of 61-3. They collected limits weighing 24-1, 20-8 and 16-10, all consisting of smallmouth.
Late summer is arguably the best time to head up north to target big brown bass. Bass Pro Shops has everything needed to make it a successful trip, including the baits the College Series teams used at Leech Lake. Visit Basspro.com to find your favorites or new techniques.
Joe Vaulton/Walker LaRue, Carson-Newman University (12th; 44-4): Vaulton and LaRue rotated between two different baits at Leech Lake.
This Burtek Wrangler was their primary choice. They rigged it on a 3/16-ounce jighead.
For a change of pace, they tossed this 20mm Burtek Jerkin’ Urchin with a Ryugi Quad Hook and a 3/16-ounce nail weight.
Banks Buck/Jack Gioffre, Dallas Baptist University (11th; 47-7): A multitude of baits were on the front deck for Buck and Gioffre.
This 7-inch Deps Sakamata Shad was a key offshore bait.
To give the smallmouth a different look, Buck and Gioffre threw a drop shot with a Tightlines UV Fuzzy Beaver.
They also tossed a Strike King Pad Perch to trigger topwater strikes.
Jerry Brumbaugh Jr./Quade Lobo, Adrian College (10th; 48-5): The Adrian College duo went all-in on smallmouth at Leech Lake.
A Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ was a primary weapon in this tournament for the Adrian duo. They rigged it on an 1/8-ounce jighead.
A Pulse Nugget also produced key smallmouth bites.
Grant Pursifull/Ben Burns, Stephen F. Austin University (9th; 48-15): A smallmouth-centric gameplan carried this SFA duo into the Top 10.
Burns and Pursifull tossed a 4-inch Roboworm rigged on a drop shot.
A 12mm 6th Sense Abstract rigged on a treble hook with a 3/32-ounce nail weight played a role as well.
The new 6th Sense Bodega Jig paired with a craw trailer was an important player around rock.
Evan Sutton/Jaxson Freeman, McKendree University (8th; 49-0): Three baits helped Sutton and Freeman achieve a top finish.
This 5-inch Strike King Z Too was a primary bite getter in this tournament. The duo rigged it on a 3/16-ounce jighead.
They also rigged a Strike King Baby Z Too on a drop shot with a No. 2 BKK drop-shot hook and a 1/4-ounce tungsten weight.
For a different look on the drop shot, Freeman and Sutton used a Strike King Half Shell rigged on the same BKK No. 2 hook and weight.
Dallas Copeland/Mario Botan, Texas A&M University (7th; 49-9): A unique approach helped Copeland and Botan achieve a Top 10 finish.
This unnamed jerkbait was one of those lures.
A southern staple, Botan and Copeland tied on a Texas-rigged Zoom Magnum Ol’ Monster.
Finally, a Booyah Pad Crasher was key to getting largemouth bites around vegetation.
Visit Basspro.com for the largest selection of baits and terminal tackle.
Easton Drennon/Chase McCarter, Carson-Newman University (6th; 53-12): Drennon and McCarter notched their second-straight National Championship cut, focusing on largemouth.
A Big Bite Baits buzzbait paired with a Z-Man Billy GOAT triggered big largemouth strikes.
A Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens Flipping Hook and a 1-ounce weight helped the duo find bass in thick vegetation.
They also flipped this Z-Man GOAT.
Peyton Harris/Dalton Head, University of Montevallo (5th; 55-6): An all smallmouth strategy yielded a top five finish for Harris and Head.
This NetBait BaitFuel HexTekVirus rigged on a 1/4-ounce drop shot with a Gamakatsu Rebarb produced several big smallmouth bites.
A CAST Nova Neko Worm was their other drop-shot lure.
But their best lure was a 5.25 Berkley Lab Series Minnow rigged on a 3/16-ounce Queen Tackle Ghost Jighead.
Nicholas DellaPorta/Drew Pitts, Carson-Newman University (4th; 55-7): This Eagle duo targeted brown fish to notch a top finish at Leech Lake.
This Deps Sakamaka Shad was their best bait. They rigged it on a 3/16-ounce jighead.
Secondarily, they dragged a Beast Coast Lil Magnum Jig paired with a NetBait Paca Chunk.
During the lulls of the day, a Gummy Shark was the perfect snack for Pitts and DellaPorta. It even doubles as a Ned rig bait.
RJ Sanger, Campbellsville University (3rd; 55-8): The only solo angler to compete on the final day, Sanger stuck with a largemouth strategy all week.
For flipping around submerged vegetation, Sanger flipped a Rapala CrushCity Cleanup Craw. He rigged it on a Trokar TK 130 Flipping Hook and a 1 1/2-ounce Flat Out Tungsten weight.
Around reeds and other emergent vegetation, the Berkley Swamp Lord shined.
Ethan Fields/Lane Stephens, McKendree University (2nd; 60-10): Fields and Stephens used one bait to generate smallmouth bites on Leech Lake.
A Big Bite Baits Rollerama rigged on a 3/16-ounce jighead generated big smallie bites all week.
Peyton Sorrow/Brody Robison, University of Montevallo (1st; 61-3): Robison and Sorrow used one bait to bring home the National Championship title.
All of their smallmouth ate a 1/2-ounce Beast Coast OW Sniper Jig. One jig was paired with a CAST Nova Neko Worm trailer.
The other jig was paired with a Berkley Flat Worm as a trailer.

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