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Top lures at Arkansas River 2026

See the lineup of heavy-cover lures used at the second consecutive river tournament.

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Photography by
Andy Crawford
Photography by
Dalton Tumblin
Photography by
Chase Sansom
West Virginia
Photography by
Grant Moxley
Photography by
Shane Durrance
Captions by
Craig Lamb
Two options were in play at the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River, neither of which involved the mechanics of fishing. Both carried a risk-reward factor requiring sound strategic decision making. Photo: Craig Lamb
The anglers could lock up or down into the adjoining pools of the lock-and-dam system comprising the Arkansas River. A long commute and locking time with less fishing — and above all else prioritized commercial barge traffic — carried a lofty risk. The payback was better fishing. Some stayed local; others took the risk. 
Jacob Foutz went for it and reaped the benefits. The Tennessee pro caught daily limits weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce, 18-15, 20-10 and 14-10 on Championship Sunday for a tournament total of 72-4. A 6-1 largemouth sealed the deal for a winning margin of 6-15.  
“I’ve been waiting for this since I was 5 years old,” Foutz said. “Bass fishing is all I’ve ever known. I love it more than anything else in the world. This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little, little boy.”
Foutz was able to settle in for the duration of the tournament without any angling pressure in an obscure backwater area. Forward-facing sonar was allowed in this split season rotation, but you’ll see old school lures used by the anglers (using traditional tactics) to catch fish from heavy cover. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Trey McKinney (10th; 55-13)
McKinney fished heavy cover strike zones with this lure lineup. 
For flipping and pitching he used this 6th Sense Bongo on 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook with 6th Sense 5/8-ounce Pitch Black Tungsten Weight.
He also favored this 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Mineral Swim Jig with 6th Sense Bongo trailer.
Cole Sands (9th; 58-13)
Sands rotated through a spinnerbait, finesse worm and creature baits. 
He covered water and fished through heavy cover with a 3/8-ounce Diamond Baits Spinnerbait with gold Indiana and red Colorado blades.
For a lighter approach he used this 4-inch FishCo FC Finesse Worm on 2/0 Owner Cover Shot Worm Hook with 1/8-ounce drop-shot weight.
For flipping in heavy cover, he used a lineup of assorted creature baits all rigged on 4/0 BKK Armor Point Heavy Cover Flipping Hook with 1/4- and 5/8-ounce weights.
Caleb Hudson (8th; 59-3)
Hudson used a crankbait and a new Zoom lure to be released soon. 
That choice was this Zoom Rock and Roll Minnow on 1/16-ounce Gamakatsu Horizon Head. 
For covering water, he used this SPRO Hunter 65 Crankbait.
Cory Johnston (7th; 61-15)
Swim jigs proved productive for Johnston. 
A top choice was this 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Braid Swim Jig in white with 6th Sense Bongo.
So was a 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Braid Swim Jig in black/blue with 6th Sense Bongo.
Luke Palmer (6th; 62-4)
Palmer went to combat in heavy cover with a swim jig and Texas rig. 
This 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Mobster Swim Jig with Craw Chunk Trailer was the choice for covering water. 
For flipping heavy cover, he used this YUM Wooly Bug on 3/0 straight shank flipping hook with 5/16- or 3/8-ounce weights.
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Fisher Anaya (5th; 63-0)
Anaya rotated through a jerkbait, swim jig and bladed jig. 
A 3/8-ounce swim jig with Zoom UV Speed Craw was ideal for covering water. 
A 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer with CrushCity The Mayor was another top choice
This Rapala PXR Mavrik 110 Jerkbait was another top choice. 
Jason Christie (4th; 63-8)
Christie used baits allowing him to key on specific isolated structure while covering water along the way. 
A Heddon One Knocker Spook was a top choice. 
So was a 1/2-ounce War Eagle Jiu-Jigsu with YUM Craw Chunk. 
A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Mobster Swim Jig with YUM Craw Chunk was another top choice. 
Pat Schlapper (3rd; 64-10)
Schlapper focused on various shallow-water backwater habitat similar to his home waters of the Upper Mississippi River. 
For flipping in heavy cover, he chose this Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver on 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Power Heavy Cover Worm Flip and Punch Hook with 1/4-ounce weight.
For a changeup he used this Brazalo Custom Lures Schlapper Pro Bushwacker Buzzbait with white blade.
Schlapper also used homemade a 5/16- and 3/8-ounce Do-It Molds Casting Jig with 5/0 Gamakatsu 345 Swim Jig Hook and paddletail type trailer.
Austin Felix (2nd; 65-7) 
Felix had just 3 1/2 hours of fishing time given the long commute and locking schedule. He made the most of the time fishing various habitat features. 
For covering water, he used this 3/8-ounce Tree Shaker Tackle Spinnerbait with double gold and silver willowleaf blades.
For flipping he chose this Strike King Rage Bug on 5/0 Ryugi Limit Offset Worm Hook with 7/16-ounce weight.
This 3/8-ounce Tree Shaker Swim jig with Zoom Speed Craw allowed him to cover water. 
Jacob Foutz (1st; 72-4)
Foutz fished a backwater area where a stretch of shallow gravel bank held bedding bass and roaming fish. Garmin Perspective Mode provided a wide-angle live sonar view ideal for shallow waters. Most fish came on a Texas-rigged creature bait, while roaming fish came on a swimbait. 
His top lure was this Burtek Tackle Cranking Bug on 5/0 hook with 3/8-ounce weight.
A 6-inch Megabass MAGDRAFT swimbait was the choice for roaming bass near the bank. 

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