Top Lures at Santee Cooper Lakes Open 2024

A Championship Saturday shortened by 1 1/2 hours due to forecasted severe weather set up a challenging set of fishing conditions at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by SEVIIN.

Even so, local knowledge and mental perseverance paid off for Kyle Austin, a guide on the Santee Cooper Lakes, who won the tournament on his home fishery with 83 pounds, 7 ounces, including an impressive final day limit weighing 27-8.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve stood in this parking lot and watched the Bassmaster weigh-ins, dreaming of standing up here on this stage and holding the winning trophy,” Austin said. He now has a chance to stand on bass fishing’s biggest stage after the win qualified Austin for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

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Ronnie McCoy (10th; 62-1)

Ronnie McCoy rotated through a bladed jig and a spinnerbait to key on his fish.

For stained water conditions he chose a 1/2-ounce Berkley Slobberknocker with a gold blade, with a Berkley PowerBait Power Grub for a trailer.

For clearer water he used a 1/2-ounce Berkley Slobberknocker with a Hog Farmer Bait Co. Spunk Shad Swimbait for a trailer.

Reaction strikes came on a Berkley Power Blade Spinnerbait with a Zoom Tab Tail Grub for a trailer.

Evan Kung (9th; 62-11)

Evan Kung’s primary bait lineup featured a bladed jig for covering water and a wacky rig for spawning bass.

A top lure was this 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ for a trailer.

Kung made a wacky rig with a Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Fat Worm, rigged on a No. 1 VMC RedLine Series Wacky Neko Hook.

Matt Adams (8th; 63-1)

Matt Adams keyed on his bass with a finesse worm and Texas-rigged creature bait.

That choice was a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on a 4/0 Spearpoint Fury Flip Hook and a 3/16-ounce weight.

Adams also made a wacky rig with a Yamamoto Senko, rigged weightless on a 1/0 Owner Sniper Finesse Hook.

Matt Messer (7th; 66-0)

Matt Messer scored a Championship Saturday appearance with a bladed jig.

The choice was this 3/8-ounce Berkley Slobberknocker, gold blade, with a Berkley PowerBait Jerk Shad for a trailer.

Chad Grigsby (6th; 69-7)

Chad Grigsby scored a top finish with a bladed jig as his primary lure.

That choice was a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a 4-inch Arsenal Fishing Tactical Minnow Swimbait.

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Parker Guy (5th; 69-11)

Parker Guy’s primary bait was a finesse worm used for spawning cycle bass.

The choice was a 6-inch Gambler Fat Ace, rigged on an Owner Offset Worm Hook, with a 1/8-ounce tungsten weight.

Dakota Ebare (4th; 71-4)

Dakota Ebare targeted spawning cycle bass with a Texas-rigged creature bait.

The choice was a Strike King Scounbug, rigged on a 3/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.

Scott Martin (3rd; 80-3)

Scott Martin kept it simple with a Texas-rigged creature bait.

The choice was a 4-inch Googan Baits Bandito Bug, rigged on an Eagle Claw Lazer Trokar TK 130 Flippin Hook, with a 3/16-ounce tungsten weight.

Laker Howell (2nd; 80-9)

A bladed jig and a wacky rig did the trick for Laker Howell.

A Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Zako was a top choice.

So was a Yamamoto Senko wacky rigged on a No. 1 Owner Sniper Finesse Hook.

Kyle Austin (1st; 83-07)

Kyle Austin set up on a shallow current-swept hard bottom area, and another in cypress trees used by staging spawning largemouth. His winning lure lineup covered all the bases, from current to heavy cover.