EQs

Top lures at Toledo Bend EQ 2026

See the lineup of urchins, glidebaits and minnows that dominated the live sonar event at Toledo Bend.

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Photography by
Chase Sansom
West Virginia
Photography by
Dalton Tumblin
Captions by
Craig Lamb
The full effects of a fall turnover that began with a pre-event cold front dictated tactics and success at the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend presented by Bass Pro Shops. 
Even so, the legendary impoundment didn’t disappoint — especially for Ethan Fields, whose three-day winning weight of 73 pounds, 3 ounces included daily limits of 28-2, 27-4 and 17-13. Fields claimed $71,317, the trophy and an invitation to fish the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. 
Timber flats were a primary target for Fields, along with an emerging trend of fishing urchin baits around boat docks. 
As a testament to Toledo Bend’s big bass reputation, glidebaits were favored by many of the top anglers. Check out the lineup that also featured minnow rigs in the only EQ of three events allowing live sonar. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Fisher Anaya (10th; 60-6)
Anaya rotated through an urchin, jighead minnow rig and soft jerkbait to cover his varied strike zones. 
A CrushCity 7.25 Freeloader rigged on a 1/8-ounce jighead was a primary bait for live sonar tactics. 
A CrushCity The CEO in 26mm size was ideal for the urchin bite. 
Anaya also used a CrushCity protype minnow. 
Luke Palmer (9th; 62-13)
Palmer focused on shallow water patterns including boat docks. 
A primary bait was this YUM Urchin rigged on a treble hook. 
For topwater action he used a Heddon Zara Spook. 
Bailey Gay (8th; 64-15)
Gay rotated between a jighead minnow and glidebait. 
That choice was a Clutch Boss Glide Bait. 
For live sonar tactics he used a 6-inch Crush City Freeloader. 
Yui Aoki (7th; 65-7)
Aoki used two primary baits for his live sonar patterns. 
Those were a D Style Virola Minnow 6 that he rigged on a 3.5g jighead. 
And a D Style Virola Minnow 5 rigged on a 3.5g jighead. 
Riley Harris (6th; 66-6)
Harris primarily used jighead minnow rigs for his live sonar tactics. 
A top choice was a 7-inch 6th Sense Shindo 7 rigged on a 3/16-ounce jighead. 
He also used a 6th Sense Whale. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Brody Robison (5th; 67-0)
A jighead minnow for live sonar and glidebaits for targeting big bass were the primary baits used by Robison. 
Leading off the glidebait lineup was a 7-inch KGB Resin Chad Shad.
Robison also used a 9-inch Henry Barber glidebait.
For live sonar he used a 7-inch minnow bait on a 3/16 jighead.
Lucas Lindsay (4th; 67-9)
Lindsay rotated through jerkbaits and urchin baits. 
A Berkley Stunna was a primary bait for reaction strikes. 
An oversized model jerkbait was also a top choice
Lindsay also used this Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Moeba. 
Other urchin choices included a Hideup Coike Fullcast. 
Jace Lindsay (3rd; 69-1)
Lindsay rotated between a fluke-style bait and glidebaits to cover his strike zones. He caught all but one of his 15 bass on the minnow.
A top choice was a 7-inch Deps Sakamata Shad, rigged on 4.4g and 3.5g jigheads. 
Lindsay also used a KGB Prince 9.5-inch model. Also in the glidebait rotation was a KBG “OG” Legend in the 9.5 inch, 3.5-ounce size. 
Buddy Benson (2nd; 70-12)
Benson rotated between a jighead minnow and urchin. 
That choice was a Hideup Coike Fullcast. 
Benson also used a 7-inch Deps Sakamata Minnow on a 1/8-ounce jighead. He used the setup to cull out smaller bass and appeal to fish eating gizzard shad.  
Ethan Fields (1st; 73-10)
Fields narrowed his dock strategy to pinpoint presentations to the fronts of the docks. He also credited a Big Bite Baits Spotlight Minnow on a 1/4-ounce jighead or larger minnow on a 3/8-ounce head (not pictured). 
A Hideup Coike Fullcast rigged on a 1/0 BKK Hyperlatch Quad Urchin hook with a 1/8-ounce weigh was a top choice. 

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