Baits that will play at St. Johns

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After three days of official practice on the St. Johns River, the Bassmaster Elite Series pros had an off day that served as a boat check-in as well as a media day.
After three days of official practice on the St. Johns River, the Bassmaster Elite Series pros had an off day that served as a boat check-in as well as a media day.
During the boat check-in, we caught up with some Elite Series pros to ask what two lures they thought were going to play this week at the 2021 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Series at St. Johns River. Here is what they had to say:
During the boat check-in, we caught up with some Elite Series pros to ask what two lures they thought were going to play this week at the 2021 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Series at St. Johns River. Here is what they had to say:
“My first bait is a Strike King Cut R Worm, I can fish it Texas rigged and swim it though the pads,
“My first bait is a Strike King Cut R Worm, I can fish it Texas rigged and swim it though the pads,” said Keith Combs.

“This is the Strike King Shim-E-Stick, it’s a durable stick worm that I’ll Texas rig with a little weight.”
“This is the Strike King Shim-E-Stick, it’s a durable stick worm that I’ll Texas rig with a little weight.”

“The first bait is a Z-Man Bang Stickz, it’s something I’ll pick up and pitch around if I feel like I need to slow down a little bit,
“The first bait is a Z-Man Bang Stickz, it’s something I’ll pick up and pitch around if I feel like I need to slow down a little bit,” said Seth Feider.

“This is a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Jackhammer with a Razor Shad trailer, its for covering water and catching prespawn fish,” said Feider. “I think a lot of fish are coming in right now, there’s something about a ChatterBait and prespawn fish.”
“This is a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Jackhammer with a Razor Shad trailer, its for covering water and catching prespawn fish,” said Feider. “I think a lot of fish are coming in right now, there’s something about a ChatterBait and prespawn fish.”

“When I'm going down the bank looking for fish, I’ll throw this Bagley Twin Spin,” Drew Benton said. “It’s a great imitator of a needle fish which are in the St. Johns.”
“When I’m going down the bank looking for fish, I’ll throw this Bagley Twin Spin,” Drew Benton said. “It’s a great imitator of a needle fish which are in the St. Johns.”

“The plastic is a Big Bite Bait Fighting Frog, I’ll sight fish with it if I see one on bed.”
“The plastic is a Big Bite Bait Fighting Frog, I’ll sight fish with it if I see one on bed.”

“These two lures always work in Florida,” said Greg Hackney. “One is a Strike King Ocho. I can fish it wacky rigged or on a Texas rig.”
“These two lures always work in Florida,” said Greg Hackney. “One is a Strike King Ocho. I can fish it wacky rigged or on a Texas rig.”

“The other one is a Strike King Magnum Cut-R-Worm. The fish like this bait swimming so I can cast and wind it and cover a lot of water.”
“The other one is a Strike King Magnum Cut-R-Worm. The fish like this bait swimming so I can cast and wind it and cover a lot of water.”

“The first bait is just a flipping jig with a Zoom Z-Craw on it.” said Rob Digh. “I’m just going to flip everything in sight.”
“The first bait is just a flipping jig with a Zoom Z-Craw on it.” said Rob Digh. “I’m just going to flip everything in sight.”

“The second bait is a Zoom Zlinky, its great for bedding bass,” said Digh. “I can fish it Texas rigged or wacky style.”
“The second bait is a Zoom Zlinky, its great for bedding bass,” said Digh. “I can fish it Texas rigged or wacky style.”

“The first bait is a Berkley Bunker Hog on a big weight,” said Justin Atkins. “There will be some big prespawn fish up under thick vegetation so that will be a big player this week.”
“The first bait is a Berkley Bunker Hog on a big weight,” said Justin Atkins. “There will be some big prespawn fish up under thick vegetation so that will be a big player this week.”

“This bait is a Berkley Spin Rocket. The few big ones I’ve caught this week have all been on this.”
“This bait is a Berkley Spin Rocket. The few big ones I’ve caught this week have all been on this.”

“This bait is a Bagley Flat B2 crankbait, and I’ll use this to crank current areas and shell bars,
“This bait is a Bagley Flat B2 crankbait, and I’ll use this to crank current areas and shell bars,” said Jeff Gustafson.

“I’ve got a Z-Man Jackhammer with a Razor Shad trailer. That will be my covering ground bait.”
“I’ve got a Z-Man Jackhammer with a Razor Shad trailer. That will be my covering ground bait.”

“I’ll be throwing a 3/8-ounce Elite Lures Spinnerbait around shallow trees and outside pad fields trying to pick off fish setting up to move in,
“I’ll be throwing a 3/8-ounce Elite Lures Spinnerbait around shallow trees and outside pad fields trying to pick off fish setting up to move in,” said Austin Felix.

“This is a custom Devil’s Horse topwater,” said Felix. “Once you find an area they have pushed up into, you can fish this bait to get a big bite.”
“This is a custom Devil’s Horse topwater,” said Felix. “Once you find an area they have pushed up into, you can fish this bait to get a big bite.”

“A black and blue Senko is a most popular bait in Florida,” says Chris Johnston. “You’re fishing for bedding fish with this bait. You might not be able to see them, but you throw it around pads and fish it super slow.”
“A black and blue Senko is a most popular bait in Florida,” says Chris Johnston. “You’re fishing for bedding fish with this bait. You might not be able to see them, but you throw it around pads and fish it super slow.”

“The other one is a white Zoom Speed Craw. Some of the fish you can see and you can use this for those fish.”
“The other one is a white Zoom Speed Craw. Some of the fish you can see and you can use this for those fish.”

“Its going to be a one-two punch for me,” says Mark Menendez. “I’ll be covering ground with a Hack Attack Strike King Spinnerbait.”
“Its going to be a one-two punch for me,” says Mark Menendez. “I’ll be covering ground with a Hack Attack Strike King Spinnerbait.”

“When I get in an area where I know there is a few fish, I’ll slow down with a Strike King Game Hawg.”
“When I get in an area where I know there is a few fish, I’ll slow down with a Strike King Game Hawg.”

“The first one is a 6-inch MB Fat Finesse Worm by X-Zone Lures,” said Carl Jocumsen. “This is a staple here in Florida.”
“The first one is a 6-inch MB Fat Finesse Worm by X-Zone Lures,” said Carl Jocumsen. “This is a staple here in Florida.”

“The second bait is a Molix Supernato Frog. I actually use it like a prop bait,” Jocumsen said. “I can skip it under docks and overhangs and they’re going to come up and crush it.”
“The second bait is a Molix Supernato Frog. I actually use it like a prop bait,” Jocumsen said. “I can skip it under docks and overhangs and they’re going to come up and crush it.”

“I always keep it simple in Florida,” said Clent Davis. “Usually some kind of a stick bait.”
“I always keep it simple in Florida,” said Clent Davis. “Usually some kind of a stick bait.”

This Mister Twister Comida is Davis’s first and second bait. He just plans on rigging them differently. “I’ll flip it Texas rigged as well as wacky rigged,” said Davis. “The more cast you make in the day, the more fish you’ll catch.”
This Mister Twister Comida is Davis’s first and second bait. He just plans on rigging them differently. “I’ll flip it Texas rigged as well as wacky rigged,” said Davis. “The more cast you make in the day, the more fish you’ll catch.”

“My first bait is a V&M Chopstick and I’ll be chunking it around while I’m looking for bedding fish,
“My first bait is a V&M Chopstick and I’ll be chunking it around while I’m looking for bedding fish,” said Darold Gleason.

“The other lure is the V&M J-Bug,” said Gleason. “This is what I will be using for bed fishing.”
“The other lure is the V&M J-Bug,” said Gleason. “This is what I will be using for bed fishing.”

“Anytime you come to Florida, you have to have some kind of stickbait,” said Quentin Cappo.
“Anytime you come to Florida, you have to have some kind of stickbait,” said Quentin Cappo.

A Big Bopper Worm by NetBait is Cappo’s second choice. “You can swim it or Texas rig it,” said Cappo.
A Big Bopper Worm by NetBait is Cappo’s second choice. “You can swim it or Texas rig it,” said Cappo.

“The first bait is a Devil’s Horse,” said Wes Logan. “It’s one of the first ones they ever came out with.”
“The first bait is a Devil’s Horse,” said Wes Logan. “It’s one of the first ones they ever came out with.”

“The other bait is a Zoom Baby Brush Hog,” Logan said. “It’s a good site fishing bait and I think that’s how the tournament will get won.”
“The other bait is a Zoom Baby Brush Hog,” Logan said. “It’s a good site fishing bait and I think that’s how the tournament will get won.”