opens

Top lures at Kissimmee Chain Open 2026

Check out the top lures used by the pros at the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kissimmee Chain presented by Battery Tender.

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Captions by
Christopher Decker
Post-front conditions are never ideal in Florida, but that’s exactly what anglers dealt with at the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kissimmee Chain presented by Battery Tender. Cold air shut down the bite for most of practice, pushing back the bass that were trying to make a charge up to the shallows.
Despite the challenging conditions, giant bass were caught throughout the tournament. Georgia’s Cody Stahl, however, dissected the conditions the best of anyone. He utilized an offshore area of Lake Toho and milked it for all it was worth, catching a largemouth weighing 9-6 on Day 1 and an 8-14 on Day 2.
Stahl caught more than 28 pounds of bass the first two days of the tournament before finishing the event with 17-13, becoming a two-time Opens champion and punching a ticket to his second Bassmaster Classic. His winning margin over second-place Stephen Browning was 22-1.
Looking to escape winters fury in the Sunshine State? Bass Pro Shops has all of the baits and tackle you need to be successful during your next trip to Florida, including all of the equipment used by the pros during the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kissimmee Chain presented by Battery Tender. Visit Basspro.com and stock up.
Noah Winslow (10th, 37-6)
Winslow utilized two different presentations to notch his first career Top 10 in the Opens.
To trigger reaction strikes, the Connecticut native used this Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait. He used a color he felt matched the golden shiners in the system.
For heavy cover, he flipped a Beast Coast Flipping Delight. He rigged it Texas-style with a VMC straight shank hook and a 1.25-ounce flipping weight.
Cliff Prince (9th, 41-2)
Florida native Cliff Prince found success using two different vibrating jig setups.
The trusty Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer was his first choice. He paired it with a Bass Assassin Little Ball Swimbait.
For a different look, he tossed this Z-Man Tungsten ChatterBait Evo Elite with the same trailer.
Niko Romero (8th, 43-6)
Romero used three main setups to notch his first career Top 10 as a boater.
His best presentation was this 6-inch Roboworm in Margarita Mutilator rigged on a drop shot. He used a 1/0 Owner Cover Shot hook and a 1/4-ounce weight.
Romero tossed this Yamamoto Senko on a Texas rig with a 3/8-ounce sinker and Hyabusa 3/0 hook.
This Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer paired with a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper trigger reaction strikes.
Terry Scroggins (7th, 46-0)
One bait was key to notching a Top 10 for Terry “Big Show” Scroggins.
This old school XCalibur XR75 One Knocker in the ghost color was his best bait this week.
Freddy Palmer (6th, 47-11)
Palmer slowed way down to notch a sixth-place finish, the only Top 10 from Lake Kissimmee.
A junebug colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver produced important bites. He rigged it on a 3/4-ounce weight and separated the bait from the weight with a bead to improve his hookup ratio with his Snell knot.
This Zoom Speed Craw also delivered key strikes. He rigged it on a 3/8-ounce weight and a 3/0 hook.
Find the top lures from the Kissimmee Chain Open at Basspro.com.
Jonathan Kelley (5th, 48-1)
Jonathan Kelley overcame mechanical issues on Day 1 to notch his first top five of the season. The Pennsylvania pro landed the Big Bass of the Tournament as well, a 10-7 largemouth.
His best presentation was a Martins Custom Baits Northern Forage Series Bladed Jig with a gold blade. He paired that with a Zoom Shimmer Shad.
He also mixed in a Spro Wameku Shad 70.
Jonathan VanDam (4th, 48-14)
VanDam started the season strong thanks to these three moving baits.
This 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer in the bruised pumpkin color paired with a Yamamoto Zako produced important strikes.
For a different look, he switched up colors on his JackHammer to the green pumpkin shad color and added the Zoom Shimmer Shad.
This 3/8-ounce Strike King Heavy Cover Swim Jig paired with a Keitech swimbait was also key, especially on Day 2.
Bo Thomas (3rd, 49-6)
Bo Thomas made a charge the final two days to notch his first Top 10 of the season. He rotated between three different presentations.
This homemade swim jig paired with a 3.8 Keitech swimbait produced big strikes.
He also used a Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer paired with a Yamamoto Zako.
For a slower approach, he mixed in a Zoom Speed Worm in junebug. He rigged it on a 3/8-ounce weight and a Gamakatsu 3/0 hook.
Stephen Browning (2nd, 52-5)
Two reaction baits carried Browning to a runner-up finish on the Kissimmee Chain.
A Rapala DT6 in the river shad color was Browning’s top choice.
He also mixed in a Z-Man Tungsten ChatterBait Elite Evo paired with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ trailer.
Cody Stahl (1st, 74-6)
Cody Stahl fished in his comfort zone all week long. Lipless crankbaits were key to his success.
Lipless crankbaits similar to this Berkley Jack in a translucent shad color caught the bulk of his weight.
He also caught several bass on a gold-colored lipless crankbait.

Related