opens

Top lures at Lake Eufaula Open 2026

See the spawning cycle lures used by winner Pake South and the top finishers.

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Photography by
Chase Sansom
West Virginia
Lake Eufaula in Alabama, a mainstay of B.A.S.S. competition since 1968, once again proved its worth as a big-bass fishery, this time at the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by Battery Tender. In three days of competition, Pake South racked up a winning weight of 84 pounds, 1 ounce. 
That milestone was the third-heaviest winning weight in Opens competition behind his own record of 96-15 in February at Sam Rayburn, and the 90-6 winning weight caught by Scott Martin at Lake Okeechobee. Notably, South became only the fourth angler to win multiple Opens in a single season after winning at Sam Rayburn.
South posted daily weights of 28-0, 24-10 and 31-7 on Championship Saturday. A falling lake level that concentrated the bass and their postspawn movements combined to create the magic. See South’s winning baits and those used by the Top 10 for spawning cycle largemouth. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Derek Rodriguez Jr. (10th; 50-15)
A drop shot and urchin bait completed the primary lure lineup for Rodriguez. 
He made a drop shot with a CrushCity Janitor rigged on 1/0 Owner Cover Shot Hook with 1/4-ounce weight. 
For shallow structure, he used a Hideup Coike Fullcast on No. 3 Ryugi Pierce Swivel Eye Hook with 1/16-ounce nail weight. 
Jace Lindsay (9th; 51-7)
Lindsay used a jerkbait designed for deeper strike zones to incite reaction bites for largemouth targeted throughout the spawning cycle. 
That choice was a Megabass Vision 110 + 2
Connor Jacob (8th; 54-13)
Jacob alternated between an urchin and a jerkbait. 
That choice was a Megabass Jerkbait 110 +1.
He also used a Hideup Coike Fullcast.
Bryson O’Steen (7th; 55-12)
O’Steen chose lures for targeting largemouth in shallow brush and for pressured fish. 
For isolated cover he used a Hideup Coike Fullcast on 1/0 BKK Hyperlatch Hook with 3/32-ounce weight.
He used a Megabass 110 Silent for pressured fish and to give them a different look.
Parker Guy (6th; 57-1)
Guy rotated through a jerkbait, Damiki rig and jig. 
A BassMooch HC 130 jerkbait was a primary lure. 
He also used a 7.5-inch minnow rigged on a jighead.
Also added to the lineup was a 3/8-ounce BassMooch Spanky Tungsten Hand Tied Swim Jig. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Willie McMullen (5th; 57-6)
McMullen rotated through a swim jig and popping frogs to intercept spawning cycle largemouth on the move. 
A primary lure was this 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig with Zoom Z Craw.
For topwater bites he used this Gambler Popping Frog.
Alternatively, McMullen used a BOOYAH Pad Crusher.
Fisher Anaya (4th; 59-5)
Anaya targeted prespawn and postspawn largemouth relating to isolated hard bottom areas in 8 to 10 feet of water. 
He used a Rapala Mavrik 110 for covering water. 
Anaya used a CrushCity 65 Freeloader on 1/8-ounce jighead. 
Kyle Welcher (3rd; 61-4)
Welcher rotated through creature rigs for heavy cover and a jerkbait for covering water. He began the day fishing shad spawn areas in the early rounds, then focused on shallow rockpiles and stumps near spawning areas. He also mixed in a flipping package for isolated cover. 
Leading off was a swim jig with CrushCity Cleanup Craw.
For flipping and pitching, Welcher chose a CrushCity Bronco Bug on 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Power Heavy Cover Worm Flip Punch Hook with 1/4-ounce weight. 
He used a Rapala Mavrik 110 for the shad spawn and to cover broader strike zones with shoreline cover. 
Chase Clarke (2nd; 73-15)
Clarke focused on prespawn largemouth staging on river channel ledges extending from 14 to 17 feet, and then brushpiles from 4 to 8 feet. 
A primary lure was a Greenfish Tackle Swim Jig with Big Bite Baits Fighting Craw.
He also used a Greenfish Tackle Bad Little Shad with Big Bite Baits Rollarama.
Alternatively, he used a Big Bite Baits Creature on 5/0 hook.
Pake South (1st; 84-1)
South targeted flats and drains where postspawn largemouth were staging in 6 to 12 feet of water. Brushpiles, stumps, grass and the occasional rockpile all attracted bass so long as it was located outside of the spawning areas. Most of the bass he caught were hovering just above or right next to the piece of cover.
A 23mm urchin-style bait was a primary lure when the bass were staging on cover higher up in the water column.
A Berkley Lab Series Minnow rigged on 1/8-ounce jighead was another winning lure. South fished the rig like a jerkbait, making quick rod twitches with slack line. 

Related