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Top lures at Sabine River 2021

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The fans showed out, as always, in Orange, Texas, for the Dovetail Games Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River sponsored by 'Bassmaster 2022' the video game. <br><br> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
The fans showed out, as always, in Orange, Texas, for the Dovetail Games Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River sponsored by ‘Bassmaster 2022’ the video game.
All captions: Craig Lamb
The contest came down to two anglers, spread more than 200 miles apart, between Houston and far up the Sabine River, near Toledo Bend Dam.
The contest came down to two anglers, spread more than 200 miles apart, between Houston and far up the Sabine River, near Toledo Bend Dam.
Those anglers were Brock Mosley, the runner-up, and Jason Christie, hoisting his sixth Bassmaster trophy. See the baits of the top finishers, and try them out this spring.
Those anglers were Brock Mosley, the runner-up, and Jason Christie, hoisting his sixth Bassmaster trophy. See the baits of the top finishers, and try them out this spring.
<b>K.J. Queen (10th; 35-15)</b><br> K.J. Queen did whatever he had to do to access gnarly cover in a backwater bayou.
K.J. Queen (10th; 35-15)
K.J. Queen did whatever he had to do to access gnarly cover in a backwater bayou.
A Queen Tackle Switch Blade, rigged on a 3/8-ounce swim jig, with a BizzBaits Cutter Craw trailer, was a top bait for Queen.
A Queen Tackle Switch Blade, rigged on a 3/8-ounce swim jig, with a BizzBaits Cutter Craw trailer, was a top bait for Queen.
So was a Zoom Trick Worm, rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Offset Shank EWG Worm Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight.
So was a Zoom Trick Worm, rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Offset Shank EWG Worm Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight.
Queen also used a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90.
Queen also used a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90.
<b>Lee Livesay (9th; 36-13) </b><br> Lee Livesay used a topwater frog and a Texas-rigged craw in the backwaters to catch his fish.
Lee Livesay (9th; 36-13)
Lee Livesay used a topwater frog and a Texas-rigged craw in the backwaters to catch his fish.
Livesay used a Scum Frog Launch Frog, the same bait he used to win at Lake Guntersville last year.
Livesay used a Scum Frog Launch Frog, the same bait he used to win at Lake Guntersville last year.
Livesay also used a NetBait Paca Craw, rigged on a 3/0 hook with a 1/4-ounce weight.
Livesay also used a NetBait Paca Craw, rigged on a 3/0 hook with a 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Kyle Welcher (8th; 37-6) </b><br> Kyle Welcher alternated between a frog and Texas-rigged worm.
Kyle Welcher (8th; 37-6)
Kyle Welcher alternated between a frog and Texas-rigged worm.
A Spro Poppin Frog 60 for topwater action was a top bait for Welcher.
A Spro Poppin Frog 60 for topwater action was a top bait for Welcher.
Welcher also used a Missile Baits 4.5 Worm, rigged on a 4/0 hook with 3/16-ounce weight.
Welcher also used a Missile Baits 4.5 Worm, rigged on a 4/0 hook with 3/16-ounce weight.
<b>Caleb Sumrall (7th; 38-1) </b><br> Caleb Sumrall used a creature bait and duo of spinnerbaits to do his damage.
Caleb Sumrall (7th; 38-1)
Caleb Sumrall used a creature bait and duo of spinnerbaits to do his damage.
Sumrall used a Missile Baits D Bomb, rigged on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.
Sumrall used a Missile Baits D Bomb, rigged on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.
A 1/4-ounce Kajun Boss Spinnerbait and 1/4-ounce Mr. Blitz Spinnerbait were other choices.
A 1/4-ounce Kajun Boss Spinnerbait and 1/4-ounce Mr. Blitz Spinnerbait were other choices.
A Spro Bronzeye Frog Jr. was another top lure for Sumrall.
A Spro Bronzeye Frog Jr. was another top lure for Sumrall.
<b>Seth Feider (6th; 39-7) </b><br> A compact spinnerbait did the trick for Seth Feider.
Seth Feider (6th; 39-7)
A compact spinnerbait did the trick for Seth Feider.
A 3/8-ounce Bassman Spinnerbaits Carl’s Compact Series was the top lure for Feider.
A 3/8-ounce Bassman Spinnerbaits Carl’s Compact Series was the top lure for Feider.
<b>Drew Cook (5th; 39-14) </b><br> Drew Cook rotated through a crankbait, spinnerbait and worm.
Drew Cook (5th; 39-14)
Drew Cook rotated through a crankbait, spinnerbait and worm.
The latter choice was a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Finesse Worm, rigged on a 1/8-ounce slider-style jig head.
The latter choice was a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Finesse Worm, rigged on a 1/8-ounce slider-style jig head.
Another choice for Cook was a 3/8-ounce Nichols Pulsator Spinnerbait in which he replaced the stock front willowleaf blade with a Colorado blade, making the lure ride higher in the water column. A Big Bite Baits Fat Grub was added for strike appeal.
Another choice for Cook was a 3/8-ounce Nichols Pulsator Spinnerbait in which he replaced the stock front willowleaf blade with a Colorado blade, making the lure ride higher in the water column. A Big Bite Baits Fat Grub was added for strike appeal.
Cook also used a Spro Fat John 50 crankbait.
Cook also used a Spro Fat John 50 crankbait.
<b>Chris Johnston (4th; 39-15) </b><br> A topwater frog and a duo of Texas-rigged soft plastics were key baits for Chris Johnston.
Chris Johnston (4th; 39-15)
A topwater frog and a duo of Texas-rigged soft plastics were key baits for Chris Johnston.
A Strike King Rage Bug, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weight, was a top choice for Johnston.
A Strike King Rage Bug, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weight, was a top choice for Johnston.
So was a Zoom Trick Worm, rigged weightless on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook.
So was a Zoom Trick Worm, rigged weightless on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook.
Johnston also used a Spro Poppin Frog 60.
Johnston also used a Spro Poppin Frog 60.
<b>Taku Ito (3rd; 40-12) </b><br> A most unique rig was a headliner bait for Taku Ito.
Taku Ito (3rd; 40-12)
A most unique rig was a headliner bait for Taku Ito.
Ito created a heavy-duty Neko rig, using a Nories Sankaku T-San, rigged on a 2/0 Ryugi Infini Hook, with a 3/16-ounce weight.
Ito created a heavy-duty Neko rig, using a Nories Sankaku T-San, rigged on a 2/0 Ryugi Infini Hook, with a 3/16-ounce weight.
Another top bait was a 3/8-ounce Nories Crystal S Spinnerbait, with a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.8 trailer.
Another top bait was a 3/8-ounce Nories Crystal S Spinnerbait, with a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.8 trailer.
He also used a Deps Sakamata Shad Heavy Weight Soft Jerkbait, rigged weightless on a 3/0 Ryugi Infini Hook.
He also used a Deps Sakamata Shad Heavy Weight Soft Jerkbait, rigged weightless on a 3/0 Ryugi Infini Hook.
<b>Brock Mosley (2nd; 42-9) </b><br> The two-hour, one-way run to Houston was worth the trip for Brock Mosley, who used a bladed jig to catch his fish.
Brock Mosley (2nd; 42-9)
The two-hour, one-way run to Houston was worth the trip for Brock Mosley, who used a bladed jig to catch his fish.
A 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Yamamoto Zako trailer was the top lure for Mosley.
A 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Yamamoto Zako trailer was the top lure for Mosley.
<b>Jason Christie (1st; 43-15) </b><br> A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Spinnerbait with tandem Colorado blades, with a YUM Swim’n Dinger was a top lure for Jason Christie.
Jason Christie (1st; 43-15)
A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Spinnerbait with tandem Colorado blades, with a YUM Swim’n Dinger was a top lure for Jason Christie.
So was a YUM Spine Craw, with a 4/O Lazer Trokkar TK130 Flippin’ Hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
So was a YUM Spine Craw, with a 4/O Lazer Trokkar TK130 Flippin’ Hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.

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