Top lures at Douglas Lake

Daisuke Aoki has claimed numerous accolades in Japan, and he achieved a lifetime goal of qualifying for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. He did that by winning the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open at Douglas Lake. See his winning baits, along with those of other top finishers, in a derby fished during the spawning cycle.
All captions: Craig Lamb

<b>Jeff Bauler (10th; 37-6) </b><br>
Jeff Bauler chose a Keitech Swing FAT Impact, rigged on a Owner Flashy Swimmer.

Jeff Bauler (10th; 37-6)
Jeff Bauler chose a Keitech Swing FAT Impact, rigged on a Owner Flashy Swimmer.

A River2Sea S-Waver was another top choice for Bauler.

So was a Megabass Vision 110+1 Jr. Jerkbait.

<b>Billy McCaghren Jr. (9th; 38-3) </b><br>
A swimbait, fluke and spinnerbait were baits in play for Billy McCaghren Jr

Billy McCaghren Jr. (9th; 38-3)
A swimbait, fluke and spinnerbait were baits in play for Billy McCaghren Jr

A Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on a No. 4 Owner EWG Hook, was a top lure for McCaghren.

So was a Zoom Z Swim, rigged on a Motivated Baits Swimbait Head.

McCaghren also used a 3/4-ounce Talon Lures Spinnerbait.

<b>Drew Boggs (8th; 38-6) </b><br>
Drew Boggs rotated through a soft plastic tube and a swimbait.

Drew Boggs (8th; 38-6)
Drew Boggs rotated through a soft plastic tube and a swimbait.

Boggs used a Big Bite Baits Craw Tube, rigged on a 4/0 Mustad Denny Brauer Grip-Pin Max Flippinâ Hook, with a 1/2-ounce Jenko Fishing Creature Weight.

He also used a Bass Pro Shops Swimbait, rigged with a 1/8-ounce belly weight hook.

<b>Keith Poche (7th; 40-0) </b><br>
Keith Poche rotated through a creature bait, jig and vibrating jig. He added a Berkley PowerBait The Deal to the 1/4-ounce jig. Poche also used a 3-inch Berkley Pit Boss, rigged on a 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight.

Keith Poche (7th; 40-0)
Keith Poche rotated through a creature bait, jig and vibrating jig. He added a Berkley PowerBait The Deal to the 1/4-ounce jig. Poche also used a 3-inch Berkley Pit Boss, rigged on a 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight.

Poche also used a bladed jig with The Deal for a trailer.

<b>Jackson Swisher (6th; 40-15) </b><br>
Jackson Swisher used a pair of Megabass Magdraft Swimbaits, removing the internal magnet from one of the baits to make it lighter.

Jackson Swisher (6th; 40-15)
Jackson Swisher used a pair of Megabass Magdraft Swimbaits, removing the internal magnet from one of the baits to make it lighter.

He made a Neko rig with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged on a No. 2 Owner Drop Shot Hook and a nail weight.

<b>Josh Herren (5th; 41-6) </b><br>
Josh Herren used a self-designed swimbait, crankbait and protoype lure.

Josh Herren (5th; 41-6)
Josh Herren used a self-designed swimbait, crankbait and protoype lure.

Herren used a Reaction Innovations 5/16-ounce prototype bait with a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper trailer.

A Taddo Designs Glide was another top bait for Herren.

So was a Strike King 6XD Crankbait.

<b>David Williams (4th; 41-15) </b><br>
David Williams rotated through a topwater, swim jig and jig.

David Williams (4th; 41-15)
David Williams rotated through a topwater, swim jig and jig.

A Duo Realis Pencil 130 topwater was a top choice for Williams.

So was a Queen Tackle Tungsten Swim Jig, with a Queen Tackle Switch Blade, and a Zoom Fluke trailer.

He also used a 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle Jig with a Zoom Z Craw Jr. trailer.

<b>Josh Douglas (3rd; 42-3) </b><br>
Josh Douglas mixed it up with a creature bait, jig and crankbait.

Josh Douglas (3rd; 42-3)
Josh Douglas mixed it up with a creature bait, jig and crankbait.

That choice was a Strike King 6XD.

Douglas made a Carolina rig with a Zoom Baby Brush Hog, on a 4/0 Owner Straight Shank Hook, with a 1-ounce weight.

He also used a 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Chicken Jig.

<b>Drew Benton (2nd; 43-12) </b><br>
Drew Benton used this creature bait, along with a pair of swimbaits.

Drew Benton (2nd; 43-12)
Drew Benton used this creature bait, along with a pair of swimbaits.

Benton used a 6-inch Scottsboro Tackle Line Through Swimbait. He also used a Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad Swimbait, rigged on an 8/0 Owner Weighted Beast Hook.