St. Croix Bassmaster Opens

Best of 2020 Opens top lures

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The Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series schedule underwent a shakeup after the first event in January at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Just like what happened with the Bassmaster Elite Series, the springtime events scheduled during the spawning season were postponed until summer and early fall. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
The Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series schedule underwent a shakeup after the first event in January at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Just like what happened with the Bassmaster Elite Series, the springtime events scheduled during the spawning season were postponed until summer and early fall.

All captions: Craig Lamb

Running and gunning and junk fishing. Both were in play throughout the fall transition, beginning when the schedule resumed — after a June event on the Arkansas River — in September at Lake Hartwell, and continuing through early November at Lewisville Lake. The final event of the year at Lay Lake was fished under true fall fishing conditions in early December.
Running and gunning and junk fishing. Both were in play throughout the fall transition, beginning when the schedule resumed — after a June event on the Arkansas River — in September at Lake Hartwell, and continuing through early November at Lewisville Lake. The final event of the year at Lay Lake was fished under true fall fishing conditions in early December.
<b>Kissimmee Chain of Lakes</b><br> The right moon, the right month and the right lake. You would think a full moon in January on the Kissimmee chain of lakes would mean heavyweight catches of spawning largemouth. They weren’t quite ready to make that move at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
The right moon, the right month and the right lake. You would think a full moon in January on the Kissimmee chain of lakes would mean heavyweight catches of spawning largemouth. They weren’t quite ready to make that move at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open.
Instead, it was part junk fishing, part prespawn and some spawning patterns. The lures reflected as much. Bryan New scored the win with 49 pounds, 8 ounces.
Instead, it was part junk fishing, part prespawn and some spawning patterns. The lures reflected as much. Bryan New scored the win with 49 pounds, 8 ounces.
New chose a Greenfish Tackle G2 Squarebill and Greenfish Tackle TAT prop bait for his hard bait lineup.
New chose a Greenfish Tackle G2 Squarebill and Greenfish Tackle TAT prop bait for his hard bait lineup.
He also used a Zoom Old Monster Worm, with 5/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook.
He also used a Zoom Old Monster Worm, with 5/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook.
<b>Arkansas River</b><br> Stay local or make the long run. Those were the best bets for fishing on Championship Saturday in June at the Arkansas River. High water expanded the strike zone in the backwaters. Or you could sacrifice time and lock through to the Kerr Pool in the more reservoir-like environment.
Arkansas River
Stay local or make the long run. Those were the best bets for fishing on Championship Saturday in June at the Arkansas River. High water expanded the strike zone in the backwaters. Or you could sacrifice time and lock through to the Kerr Pool in the more reservoir-like environment.
Oklahoman Chris Jones stuck with what he knows best. That was swimming a jig, and doing it in the Kerr pool of the river. Soft plastics for power fishing along the shorelines, and swim jigs for deeper fish, were universal choices of the Top 12.
Oklahoman Chris Jones stuck with what he knows best. That was swimming a jig, and doing it in the Kerr pool of the river. Soft plastics for power fishing along the shorelines, and swim jigs for deeper fish, were universal choices of the Top 12.
Jones rotated through spinnerbaits, plastic frogs and this key bait. He chose a 3/8-ounce Booyah Bait Co. prototype jig with 3.25-inch unnamed plastic craw chunk. His winning weight was 42 pounds, 13 ounces.
Jones rotated through spinnerbaits, plastic frogs and this key bait. He chose a 3/8-ounce Booyah Bait Co. prototype jig with 3.25-inch unnamed plastic craw chunk. His winning weight was 42 pounds, 13 ounces.
<b>Sam Rayburn Reservoir</b><br> Sam Rayburn in September. Fishing conditions were tough when compared to the prime springtime bite, but this is still Sam Rayburn. The heavyweights still crossed the scales, and the largemouth were active offshore and in the shallow, gnarly jungles of the creeks.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Sam Rayburn in September. Fishing conditions were tough when compared to the prime springtime bite, but this is still Sam Rayburn. The heavyweights still crossed the scales, and the largemouth were active offshore and in the shallow, gnarly jungles of the creeks.
Masayuki Matsushita won with a winning weight of 60 pounds, 14 ounces, targeting a mix of brushpiles and trees in between 20 and 30 feet of water.
Masayuki Matsushita won with a winning weight of 60 pounds, 14 ounces, targeting a mix of brushpiles and trees in between 20 and 30 feet of water.
Matusushita’s lures of choice were a Deps Sakamata Shad rigged on a 7/0 Owner Wide Gap Hook. A Zoom 10.5-inch Ol’ Monster worm was another choice.
Matusushita’s lures of choice were a Deps Sakamata Shad rigged on a 7/0 Owner Wide Gap Hook. A Zoom 10.5-inch Ol’ Monster worm was another choice.
<b>Lake Hartwell </b><br> Running and gunning. That was the pattern of the week at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell. Blueback herring were on the move, and the bass were behind them. Find the bait, find the bass.
Lake Hartwell
Running and gunning. That was the pattern of the week at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell. Blueback herring were on the move, and the bass were behind them. Find the bait, find the bass.
Throwing it back to his collegiate fishing days at the University of South Carolina, Patrick Walters used his experience and blueback herring pattern skills to win a second Open. Walters won with a winning weight of 44 pounds, 5 ounces.
Throwing it back to his collegiate fishing days at the University of South Carolina, Patrick Walters used his experience and blueback herring pattern skills to win a second Open. Walters won with a winning weight of 44 pounds, 5 ounces.
A key lure adjustment was key to the win for Walters. “I had been throwing the Super Fluke in white pearl on 14-pound line on a baitcaster, but when I switched over to the Fluke Stick in natural shad on a spinning rod, it was lights-out after that. A little bit of bait profile change showed out this week. It was like they had never seen it.”
A key lure adjustment was key to the win for Walters. “I had been throwing the Super Fluke in white pearl on 14-pound line on a baitcaster, but when I switched over to the Fluke Stick in natural shad on a spinning rod, it was lights-out after that. A little bit of bait profile change showed out this week. It was like they had never seen it.”
Walters also used a Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Wide Gap Hook, or a Zoom Super Fluke Jr., rigged on No. 2 VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook.
Walters also used a Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Wide Gap Hook, or a Zoom Super Fluke Jr., rigged on No. 2 VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook.
<b>Neely Henry Lake </b><br> A grinder. When every keeper going into the livewell was worth celebrating. That was the vibe at in September at Neely Henry Lake.
Neely Henry Lake
A grinder. When every keeper going into the livewell was worth celebrating. That was the vibe at in September at Neely Henry Lake.
“I made 100 stops today.” That summed up the game plan for Texan Cody Bird, who put together a milk-run, run-and-gun pattern that put him in the lead on Friday, when he made that comment. He managed to hold the lead on Championship Saturday for the win.
“I made 100 stops today.” That summed up the game plan for Texan Cody Bird, who put together a milk-run, run-and-gun pattern that put him in the lead on Friday, when he made that comment. He managed to hold the lead on Championship Saturday for the win.
Cody Bird needed something different to fool the already wary and lethargic Coosa River bass. He brought out a discontinued crankbait that he said made the difference. Bird scored the win with a winning weight of 34 pounds, 1 ounce.
Cody Bird needed something different to fool the already wary and lethargic Coosa River bass. He brought out a discontinued crankbait that he said made the difference. Bird scored the win with a winning weight of 34 pounds, 1 ounce.
First was a limited run of custom-color Lucky Craft crankbait. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait with a Lake Fork Tackle Magic Shad for a trailer.
First was a limited run of custom-color Lucky Craft crankbait. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait with a Lake Fork Tackle Magic Shad for a trailer.
Bird also used a 1/2-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait.
Bird also used a 1/2-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait.
<b>Cherokee Lake</b><br> Tropical Storm Zeta, with its wind and rain, was followed by bluebird skies and post-frontal conditions. The sum of the whole was tough fishing at at Cherokee Lake. Photos like this one taken of champion Matt Robertson on Championship Saturday were rare.
Cherokee Lake
Tropical Storm Zeta, with its wind and rain, was followed by bluebird skies and post-frontal conditions. The sum of the whole was tough fishing at at Cherokee Lake. Photos like this one taken of champion Matt Robertson on Championship Saturday were rare.
These are no ordinary walking topwater baits, held by Robertson and his final day co-angler Jon Jezierski. Robertson made a gutsy midday move, switched baits and tactics, and went with his gut.
These are no ordinary walking topwater baits, held by Robertson and his final day co-angler Jon Jezierski. Robertson made a gutsy midday move, switched baits and tactics, and went with his gut.
Keeping one eye on the screen and the other on his line was the program for Robertson, who fished a Ned rig until making a midday audible on Championship Saturday by switching to a new pattern — and bait — that earned him the win with a weight of 40 pounds, 12 ounces.
Keeping one eye on the screen and the other on his line was the program for Robertson, who fished a Ned rig until making a midday audible on Championship Saturday by switching to a new pattern — and bait — that earned him the win with a weight of 40 pounds, 12 ounces.
A Strike King Ned Ocho fished on a 1/4-ounce Outkast Tackle Perfect Ned Head was the key bait of choice throughout the tournament. Robertson fished it on a Lew’s Tournament Performance TP Series Rod with a Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spin Series Reel, spooled with 10-pound Strike King Tour Grade Braid and 6-pound fluorocarbon line.
A Strike King Ned Ocho fished on a 1/4-ounce Outkast Tackle Perfect Ned Head was the key bait of choice throughout the tournament. Robertson fished it on a Lew’s Tournament Performance TP Series Rod with a Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spin Series Reel, spooled with 10-pound Strike King Tour Grade Braid and 6-pound fluorocarbon line.
“I wouldn’t have won had he not given me this bait.” And with that, you have the payoff bait for Robertson. His co-angler Jon Jezierski gave him the Strike King Sexy Dawg given to him by Japanese pro Kenta Kimura. Kimura modified the bait by adding SuspenDots (adhesive lead dots) and replacing the stock hooks with ultra-sharp Japanese hooks. The dots, added to the belly, made the bait sit lower in the water.
“I wouldn’t have won had he not given me this bait.” And with that, you have the payoff bait for Robertson. His co-angler Jon Jezierski gave him the Strike King Sexy Dawg given to him by Japanese pro Kenta Kimura. Kimura modified the bait by adding SuspenDots (adhesive lead dots) and replacing the stock hooks with ultra-sharp Japanese hooks. The dots, added to the belly, made the bait sit lower in the water.
<b>Lewisville Lake</b><br> The Central Open season came down to the final event on Lewisville Lake. Largemouth were scattered throughout the water column due to the fall transition, making for challenging fishing conditions on the north Texas lake.
Lewisville Lake
The Central Open season came down to the final event on Lewisville Lake. Largemouth were scattered throughout the water column due to the fall transition, making for challenging fishing conditions on the north Texas lake.
Tommy Williams persevered through it all, catching only three keepers on Championship Saturday, but it was worth it. The Kentucky angler claimed a berth in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, with a winning weight of 41 pounds, 15 ounces.
Tommy Williams persevered through it all, catching only three keepers on Championship Saturday, but it was worth it. The Kentucky angler claimed a berth in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, with a winning weight of 41 pounds, 15 ounces.
Williams used homemade 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits that he called the Tommy Bug, fishing the baits on a 6-foot rod and Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Reel. For windy conditions and murky water, he used a bait with silver and gold Colorado blades. For clearer water he switched to a bait with a silver willowleaf blade. Williams used a chartreuse trailer for the baits.
Williams used homemade 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits that he called the Tommy Bug, fishing the baits on a 6-foot rod and Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Reel. For windy conditions and murky water, he used a bait with silver and gold Colorado blades. For clearer water he switched to a bait with a silver willowleaf blade. Williams used a chartreuse trailer for the baits.
<b>Lay Lake</b><br> Working with the current created by Alabama Power Company’s release schedule from the Logan Martin Dam, Keith Carson was able to keep himself in front of active fish during the final Eastern Open event on Lay Lake. He concentrated on grasslines near step banks where the bass set up to ambush baitfish.
Lay Lake
Working with the current created by Alabama Power Company’s release schedule from the Logan Martin Dam, Keith Carson was able to keep himself in front of active fish during the final Eastern Open event on Lay Lake. He concentrated on grasslines near step banks where the bass set up to ambush baitfish.
Carson used a Berkley Frittside 5 Crankbait, and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg, rigged on a 3/0 hook with a 1-ounce weight.
Carson used a Berkley Frittside 5 Crankbait, and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg, rigged on a 3/0 hook with a 1-ounce weight.

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