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Top lures at Sam Rayburn Open 2026

Jerkbaits and minnow rigs dominated the prespawn lineup of top baits.

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Photography by
Chase Sansom
West Virginia
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Captions by
Craig Lamb
In the state where records are made to be broken that was exactly what happened at the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Battery Tender. And fittingly, a native Texan claimed the record under conditions ideal to achieve the feat. 
Pake South followed a textbook East Texas prespawn largemouth scenario by targeting big females using a ditch to migrate toward a spawning flat. The area produced a three-day total of 96 pounds, 15 ounces, with daily weights of 28-1, 34-4 and 34-10 to break the all-time winning weight for the Opens series. 
The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie anchored his final limit with a 10-15 giant to seal the deal in front of friends and family. See the lineup of prespawn baits and get stocked up for the season ahead. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Jack York (10th; 66-6)
York relied on a glidebait, jerkbait and minnow rig to intercept prespawn largemouth on the move. 
A primary lure was this 6-inch prototype glidebait under development by 6th Sense Fishing.
A 6th Sense prototype jerkbait also produced quality bites. 
York also used this 6th Sense Shindo Shad Saltwater Series minnow on round jighead.  
Colby Bryant (9th; 55-15)
Bryant chose a sinking jerkbait to cover his most productive strike zone ranging from 10 to 15 feet. A minnow rig produced quality largemouth feeding on passing gizzard shad near the bottom. 
Bryant used this Megabass Vision 110 +1 jerkbait for suspended prespawn largemouth in isolated timber relating to prespawn staging areas. 
In the presence of the shad, he switched to this 6th Sense Shindo Shad Saltwater Series on a round jighead. 
Riley Harris (8th; 67-10)
Harris relied on a deep-diving crankbait and finesse-style worm. 
That choice was this 6th Sense Fishing Bounce Worm. 
For deeper strike zones he used this 6th Sense Crush 500DD deep diver. 
Rylan Hamlin (7th; 68-0)
Hamlin opted for jigs, minnows and fuzzy dice baits. 
A primary rig was this 3/8-ounce Big Daddy Baits Spotlight Shad. 
For locating migrating fish he used this CrushCity Freeloader on a custom homemade jighead. 
This Hideup Coike 17mm with 3/16-ounce weight produced for targeting individual fish. 
Fisher Anaya (6th; 70-13)
Anaya followed up his Elite win the previous week with more success on a spike ball bait, while also using a minnow rig for targeting fish with forward-facing sonar. 
A primary bait was this CrushCity Freeloader rigged on 1/8-ounce jighead. 
For individual roaming fish he used this spike ball-type bait. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Kollin Crawford (5th; 70-14)
Crawford’s primary bait was a minnow rig complementing his forward-facing sonar tactics. 
That choice was this CrushCity Freeloader rigged on 1/8-ounce VMC jighead.  
Brody Robison (4th; 74-12)
Robison used a glidebait, Neko rig and minnow setup. 
A top lure was this 7.25-inch Cast Fishing Co. Echo, rigged on 1/8-ounce Queen Tackle LS Tungsten Rollin Strollin Jig Head. 
Robison also caught quality fish on this Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm. 
Also producing big bites was this Clutch Swimbait Co. Baby Boss.
Andrew Behnke (3rd; 80-4)
Behnke used a deep-diving crankbait and minnow rig. 
He completed the minnow rig with a Missile Baits Eye Roll Jig Head.
The deep-diving crankbait landed a share of the Texas lunker bites as well.
Jace Lindsay (2nd; 81-1)
Lindsay favored the standard local one-two punch of a jighead minnow and jerkbait. 
That choice was this Megabass Vision 100 +2.
For the minnow setup he used this 8-inch Deps Sakamata Shad. 
Pake South (1st; 96-15)
South targeted prespawn female largemouth migrating through and around shallow ditches leading to spawning flats. His primary lure to intercept those fish on the move was a jerkbait that he used with forward-facing sonar tactics. A primary bait for targeting roaming females was a jerkbait, along with a secondary choice of a fuzzy-dice type bait. 
His top lure was this Berkley 112 Stunna. 

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