![Another smallmouth whack fest unfolded at <em>Bassmaster</em> Magazineâs Top Bass Lake at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet.
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<em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/01_-_frazier-2-3.jpg)
All captions: Craig Lamb
![Micah Frazier hoisted the blue trophy for the first time in Waddington, New York, a town embraced by the fans and the pros. The smallmouth fell for drop shots and even crankbaits, and you can check out the lineup here.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/02_-_zimg_8145_micha_frazier.jpg)
![<b>Brian Snowden (74-6; 10th) </b><br>
Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/03_-_brian_snowden_1_of_2.jpg)
Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
![During cloudy weather he used a drop shot rig made from a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop, with 2/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook, and 1/2-ounce weight. He also used a 1/4-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig, with 3.5-inch Zoom Beatdown Worm.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/04_-_brian_snowden_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Chris Zaldain (78-4; 9th) </b><br>
Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. âThe biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.â He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/05_-_chris_zaldain_1_of_1.jpg)
Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. âThe biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.â He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
![<b>Greg DiPalma (81-11; 8th) </b><br>
Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lilâ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lilâ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/06_-_greg_dipalma_1_of_1.jpg)
Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lilâ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lilâ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
![<b>Ray Hanselman Jr. (81-12; 7th) </b><br>
A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. âI burned it as fast as I could against the current,â he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/07_-_ray_hanselman_1_of_2.jpg)
A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. âI burned it as fast as I could against the current,â he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
![He made the drop shot from a 3.5-inch Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell, with No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He fished the rig over current breaks in 28- to 32-feet of water.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/08_-_ray_hanselman_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Steve Kennedy (82-5; 6th) </b><br>
Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. âIn practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didnât stay on.â](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/09_-_steve_kennedy_1_of_3.jpg)
Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. âIn practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didnât stay on.â
![He switched to a 4.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, and using a needle, threaded the line through the body and added an inline 2/0 Gamakatsu Treble Hook. For missed fish he followed up with a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/10_-_steve_kennedy_2_of_3.jpg)
![These good luck charms also came into play for Kennedy. âMy next-door neighbor Cloe left me a note with good luck wishes and this rock, and my daughter made this one that she painted with a four-leafed clover.â Kennedy carried the rocks on the cooler lid integrated into his Bass Cat Boat.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/11_-_steve_kennedy_3_of_3.jpg)
![<b>Jay Yelas (83-1; 5th) </b><br>
âI caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,â said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/12_-_jay_yelas_1_of_1.jpg)
âI caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,â said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
![<b>Keith Combs (84-11; 4th) </b><br>
Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/13_-_keith_combs_1_of_2.jpg)
Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
![Combs also used a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, and Strike King 5XD and 6XD crankbaits.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/14_-_keith_combs_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Scott Canterbury (84-11; 3rd) </b><br>
Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/15_-_scott_canterbury_1_of_2.jpg)
Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
![Other choices were an American Bait Works Co. Set The Hook Stumpy Crush Worm, green pumpkin; and a Set The Hook Drifter, Juvenile Goby. All were rigged with No. 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks and Flat Out Tungsten 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weights, depending on the current.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/16_-_scott_canterbury_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Chris Johnston (86-11; 2nd) </b><br>
Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. âI fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.â](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/17_-_chris_johnston_1_of_2.jpg)
Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. âI fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.â
![For blind casting he chose a Duo Realis Spinbait 80. âI let it sink a couple of feet below the surface and wound it back using a steady retrieve.â](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/18_-_chris_johnston_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Micah Frazier (87-4; 1st)</b><br>
A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/19_-_micah_frazier_1_of_1.jpg)
A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.