EQs

Top lures at Norfork Lake EQ

Check out the lures anglers used to notch Top 10s at the 2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops

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Photography by
Andy Crawford
Photography by
Dalton Tumblin
Photography by
Chase Sansom
West Virginia
Captions by
Christopher Decker
Norfork Lake provided a challenging first test for the anglers competing in the 2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops. Late summer conditions greeted anglers during practice before early fall weather moved in as Day 1 began. The big bites were hard to come by.
Kaden Buchmann, however, felt comfortable all week long. He utilized a run-and-gun strategy that produced important bites in shallow water. He claimed the Day 1 lead with 16-7 before adding 14-0 and 12-0 the next two days to maintain his lead.
It is Buchmann’s first B.A.S.S. victory after notching his first Top 10 at Lake Norman earlier in the season. He also claimed the early lead in the EQ points race, which will determine the 10 anglers who move on to the 2027 Elite Series.
The fall transition can be a difficult time to get a bite, but Bass Pro Shops has everything you need to make the fall as productive as possible. Look for the baits used by the pros at Norfork Lake at Basspro.com.
Mike McClelland (10th; 31-5): The veteran angler used his Ozark expertise to notch a Top 10 at Norfork.
McClelland’s best producing bait was this SPRO KGB Lil’ Guy 120.
When he was in search mode, the Missouri native threw this SPRO Sashimmy Swimmer.
Finally, he pitched a Big Bite Baits McMoney Jig paired with a BBB Velo Craw. To give it more of a bream look, he dyed the tails of the Velo Craw chartreuse.
Colby Bryant (9th; 32-14): Bryant stayed offshore to start the EQs on a high note.
The Texan used this Bass Mooch Z Boss 25 to land a tournament-best 19-11 limit on Day 2.
When the bite slowed down, he tossed this Jewel Heavy Cover Finesse Football Jig paired with a Strike King Rage Lobster.
Noah Winslow (8th; 34-2): Targeting shallow bass guided Winslow to a Top 10 at Norfork Lake.
To generate topwater strikes, Winslow tossed a SPRO E Pop 80.
He also pitched a 3/8-ounce Beast Coast Little Magnum Jig paired with a Zoom Magnum Speed Craw.
Bryson O’Steen (7th; 35-10): Two baits helped the Floridian excel at Norfork.
This 1/4-ounce Boogerman HD Buzzbait generated bigger strikes near the bank.
O’Steen also threw a 6-inch Roboworm rigged on a 3/8-ounce drop shot around offshore brushpiles.
Cody Abbott (6th; 36-7): Abbott found the cleanest water he could and tossed these two baits at bass he could see cruising the bank.
A 13 or 17mm HideUp Coike was his best producing bait. He rigged it on a treble hook and a 1/16-ounce nail weight.
Abbott also tossed a weightless Bass Mooch Solo Texas-style on a No. 2 hook.
Find the top lures at Basspro.com
Nathan Reynolds (5th; 36-9): Reynolds stayed shallow to notch a top five at Norfork.
The Tennessean tossed a Berkley Choppo 120 around shallow cover.
He also threw a Berkley Frittside 5 around rocks and wood.
For a slower approach, Reynolds tossed a 3/8-ounce Lure Parts Online Bill Lowen Flipping Jig paired with a Zoom Midsize Z Craw.
Brennan Flick (4th; 38-1): Flick rotated through three baits on one offshore school all three days at Norfork.
Flick’s most consistent bait was a 3/4-ounce football jig paired with a Zoom Creepy Crawler trailer.
When he could tell the bass were active, Flick threw this Lake Fork Lure Co. Flutter Spoon.
When the bite turned stingy, he tossed a 3/4-ounce Carolina rig paired with a creature bait like this Strike King Game Hawg.
Jack Dice (3rd; 39-4): The Virginia angler dialed in a brushpile bite with one particular bait.
A Buckeye Lures Mop Jig paired with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog produced all of his quality bites, especially on Days 2 and 3.
Cody Stahl (2nd; 40-9): Stahl fell just short of his second victory of the 2026 season. One bait proved to be the most productive in his runner-up finish.
A Berkley PowerBait Skipping Jig paired with a Berkley Stank Bug produced all of his quality bites.
Kaden Buchmann (1st; 42-7): The North Carolinian stayed in his comfort zone at Norfork Lake.
He covered a large amount of water with a Berkley Choppo 105. He added a feathered treble hook for extra drawing power.
When he slowed down, he used a Queen Tackle Flipping Jig paired with a Zoom Z Craw Jr.
A Queen Tackle Porcupine Ball rigged on a treble hook also produced bites.

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