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Top lures at Harris Chain 2022

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A full moon, warm, sunny weather and water temperatures in the mid-60s. It all combined for the potential for a full-on spawning event at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain. <br><br> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Craig Lamb - A full moon, warm, sunny weather and water temperatures in the mid-60s. It all combined for the potential for a full-on spawning event at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain.

All captions: Craig Lamb
Some top anglers went sight fishing for bedding bass, including Drew Benton, Scott Martin and Clifford Pirch.
Photo: Kyle Jessie - Some top anglers went sight fishing for bedding bass, including Drew Benton, Scott Martin and Clifford Pirch.
Others found more consistent catches in the bays, including a large group of anglers that included Buddy Gross and others.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Others found more consistent catches in the bays, including a large group of anglers that included Buddy Gross and others.
Each day, Gross changed locations but not the pattern, finding multiple schools of bass positioned along shore breaks near deeper water with vacant shellcracker beds.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Each day, Gross changed locations but not the pattern, finding multiple schools of bass positioned along shore breaks near deeper water with vacant shellcracker beds.
For the second time in two years, Gross earned the coveted blue trophy, winning the tournament with a four-day total of 77 pounds, 11 ounces.
Photo: James Overstreet - For the second time in two years, Gross earned the coveted blue trophy, winning the tournament with a four-day total of 77 pounds, 11 ounces.
<p>Finding success during the seasonal spawning cycle requires a wide variety of lures and tackle. From baits for intercepting migrating prespawn bass, to finesse lures for coaxing big bass off the spawning beds, you can fill your tacklebox with everything you need at <a href=
Photo: James Overstreet -

Finding success during the seasonal spawning cycle requires a wide variety of lures and tackle. From baits for intercepting migrating prespawn bass, to finesse lures for coaxing big bass off the spawning beds, you can fill your tacklebox with everything you need at Basspro.com.

<b>Scott Martin (10th; 65-12) </b><br> Scott Martin kept it simple, using only two bait rigs to catch all his fish.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Martin (10th; 65-12)
Scott Martin kept it simple, using only two bait rigs to catch all his fish.
Martin rigged a Googan Baits Bandito Bug on a 5/0 Eagle Claw Trokar TK130 Flippin Hook. When using fluorocarbon line, he used a 5/16-ounce weight, and a 3/8-ounce weight for braid line.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Martin rigged a Googan Baits Bandito Bug on a 5/0 Eagle Claw Trokar TK130 Flippin Hook. When using fluorocarbon line, he used a 5/16-ounce weight, and a 3/8-ounce weight for braid line.
<b>Kenta Kimura (9th; 66-15) </b><br> Kenta Kimura rotated through a jerkbait for reaction bites, a plastic worm for swimming action and crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kenta Kimura (9th; 66-15)
Kenta Kimura rotated through a jerkbait for reaction bites, a plastic worm for swimming action and crankbait.
Kimura called a Ryugi Swimming Sinker Football Head his key lure. He rigged it to an unnamed worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kimura called a Ryugi Swimming Sinker Football Head his key lure. He rigged it to an unnamed worm.
A Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 Jerkbait was the choice for reaction strikes.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 Jerkbait was the choice for reaction strikes.
Kimura also used this unnamed topwater.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kimura also used this unnamed topwater.
<b>Clifford Pirch (8th; 67-7) </b><br> Clifford Pirch went to combat in the heavy cover, opting to coax spawning bass from a mix of reeds and vegetation.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Clifford Pirch (8th; 67-7)
Clifford Pirch went to combat in the heavy cover, opting to coax spawning bass from a mix of reeds and vegetation.
A Big Bite Baits Trick Stick, rigged wacky style on a No. 2 Gamakatsu G-Stinger Hook, did the trick for roaming bass in the spawning areas.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Big Bite Baits Trick Stick, rigged wacky style on a No. 2 Gamakatsu G-Stinger Hook, did the trick for roaming bass in the spawning areas.
Elsewhere, Pirch used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer, with a Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Elsewhere, Pirch used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer, with a Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper for a trailer.
Pirch caught his biggest bass on a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Monster Hook, using weights from 1/4 to 1/2 ounces, depending on depth and density of cover.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Pirch caught his biggest bass on a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Monster Hook, using weights from 1/4 to 1/2 ounces, depending on depth and density of cover.
<b>John Cox (7th; 67-8) </b><br> John Cox kept it simple, catching big bass on a new Berkley PowerBait Shape 108, rigging it on a 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Cox (7th; 67-8)
John Cox kept it simple, catching big bass on a new Berkley PowerBait Shape 108, rigging it on a 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Bryan Schmitt (6th; 67-12) </b><br> A bladed jig, swim jig and lipless crankbait, all combined to allow Bryan Schmitt to work the entire water column.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bryan Schmitt (6th; 67-12)
A bladed jig, swim jig and lipless crankbait, all combined to allow Bryan Schmitt to work the entire water column.
Schmitt used his signature Hyabusa Lil’ Schmitty Finesse Swim Jig, pairing the 1/2-ounce bait with a Missile Baits Shockwave, for heavy cover fishing.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Schmitt used his signature Hyabusa Lil’ Schmitty Finesse Swim Jig, pairing the 1/2-ounce bait with a Missile Baits Shockwave, for heavy cover fishing.
For varied strike zone depths, Schmitt used a Spro Aruku Shad 75.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For varied strike zone depths, Schmitt used a Spro Aruku Shad 75.
Schmitt also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, with a Missile Baits Shockwave.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Schmitt also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, with a Missile Baits Shockwave.
<b>Brandon Lester (5th; 69-9) </b><br> Brando Lester stayed on a roll, just two weeks after winning a St. Croix Opens Series event at the nearby Kissimmee Chain.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester (5th; 69-9)
Brando Lester stayed on a roll, just two weeks after winning a St. Croix Opens Series event at the nearby Kissimmee Chain.
His key bait was a 6-inch Bitters Mega Sling, rigged on a 4/0 Mustad Grip-Pin Hook, with a 3/16-ounce Mustad Tungsten TitanX Worm Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - His key bait was a 6-inch Bitters Mega Sling, rigged on a 4/0 Mustad Grip-Pin Hook, with a 3/16-ounce Mustad Tungsten TitanX Worm Weight.
<b>David Mullins (4th; 70-1) </b><br> David Mullins flipped and pitched plastic worms for spawning bass in mixed vegetation.
Photo: Andy Crawford - David Mullins (4th; 70-1)
David Mullins flipped and pitched plastic worms for spawning bass in mixed vegetation.
A key bait was a Doomsday Tackle Roku Worm, rigged on a 4/0 flipping-style hook, with a 3/16-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A key bait was a Doomsday Tackle Roku Worm, rigged on a 4/0 flipping-style hook, with a 3/16-ounce weight.
With the same size hook and weight, Mullins used a worm with a swimming action.
Photo: Andy Crawford - With the same size hook and weight, Mullins used a worm with a swimming action.
<b>Ray Hanselman Jr. (3rd; 71-8) </b><br> Ray Hanselman Jr. used a unique crankbait, allowing him to rip it across the tops of submerged grass, or alternatively, swim it slowly across the same strike zone.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Ray Hanselman Jr. (3rd; 71-8)
Ray Hanselman Jr. used a unique crankbait, allowing him to rip it across the tops of submerged grass, or alternatively, swim it slowly across the same strike zone.
The baits were the Strike King Hybrid Hunter, designed to run in the 4- to 5-foot range, featuring a unique L-shaped, 90-degree lip.
Photo: Andy Crawford - The baits were the Strike King Hybrid Hunter, designed to run in the 4- to 5-foot range, featuring a unique L-shaped, 90-degree lip.
Hansleman also used the Strike King Hybrid Hunter Jr., designed to run in 1- to 5-feet of water.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hansleman also used the Strike King Hybrid Hunter Jr., designed to run in 1- to 5-feet of water.
<b>Drew Benton (2nd; 75-1) </b><br> A propbait, swim worm and creature bait proved most productive for Drew Benton.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Drew Benton (2nd; 75-1)
A propbait, swim worm and creature bait proved most productive for Drew Benton.
While moving through canals and searching for spawning bass, he used a Bagley Baits Pro Sunny B Twin Spin Balsa Propbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - While moving through canals and searching for spawning bass, he used a Bagley Baits Pro Sunny B Twin Spin Balsa Propbait.
Alternatively, Benton used a Big Bite Baits Swim Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap Worm Hook, with 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Alternatively, Benton used a Big Bite Baits Swim Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap Worm Hook, with 1/4-ounce weight.
When encountering bedding bass, Benton used a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap Worm Hook, with 3/8- and 1/4-ounce weights.
Photo: Andy Crawford - When encountering bedding bass, Benton used a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap Worm Hook, with 3/8- and 1/4-ounce weights.
<b>Buddy Gross (1st; 77-11)</b><br> A lipless crankbait, swimbait and Texas- and Carolina-rigged worm combined to form the winning lure arsenal for Buddy Gross.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Buddy Gross (1st; 77-11)
A lipless crankbait, swimbait and Texas- and Carolina-rigged worm combined to form the winning lure arsenal for Buddy Gross.
For the swimbait, he used a 5-inch Scottsboro Tackle Co. Swimbait, rigged on a 3/4-ounce swimbait head.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For the swimbait, he used a 5-inch Scottsboro Tackle Co. Swimbait, rigged on a 3/4-ounce swimbait head.
For the Carolina and Texas rigs, he used a Zoom Z-Craw, rigged on 1/4-ounce weights.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For the Carolina and Texas rigs, he used a Zoom Z-Craw, rigged on 1/4-ounce weights.
Gross also used this lipless crankbait over the tops of submerged grass, on windblown points.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Gross also used this lipless crankbait over the tops of submerged grass, on windblown points.
<p>Find the baits used by the top finishers on the Harris Chain at <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford -

Find the baits used by the top finishers on the Harris Chain at Basspro.com.

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