Cowboys, Indians and A-Rigs on Grand Lake

<p>Billy Lemon of Sand Springs, Okla., holds the 12.3-pound largemouth bass caught a week after the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake. The 2 Â¾-pounder in his other hand looks like a minnow compared to the new Grand Lake record.</p>

Billy Lemon of Sand Springs, Okla., holds the 12.3-pound largemouth bass caught a week after the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake. The 2 Â¾-pounder in his other hand looks like a minnow compared to the new Grand Lake record.

Lemon used a Yumbrella rig and Gene Larew Sweet Swimmers to catch the 12-pounder, and in April the same rig was working well.

Boat docks and the colder, clearer water at the lower end of Grand Lake in April were holding lots of pre-spawn bass that hit the umbrella rig.

Lemon was practicing for a Sunday tournament on this Saturday, when he hooked a big one.

This underwater photo of the bass shows how it attempted to spit the single lure hooked in its mouth before Lemon could land it.

Lemon lipped the big largemouth, which came in the boat surrounded by the other baits on the Yumbrella.

<p>Lemon has long used Shimano rods and reels and Gene Larew lures, and has become a big fan of Yum's Yumbrella. All helped pay off with this 7-pounder. And they've helped produce enough tournament winnings this year for Lemon to buy a new Ranger boat. </p>

Lemon has long used Shimano rods and reels and Gene Larew lures, and has become a big fan of Yum’s Yumbrella. All helped pay off with this 7-pounder. And they’ve helped produce enough tournament winnings this year for Lemon to buy a new Ranger boat.

Before releasing the fish, Lemon’s friend, John Soukup, held the scales that read 7.19 pounds.

The umbrella rig pattern proved successful in another area of Grand Lake that day. Drew Barnes releases a 3-pounder from an A-rig.

Tejmohan Sawhney swings another bass into the boat that hit an A-rig.

Drew Barnes, with Sawhney at his side, displays another Grand Lake bass caught on the rig.

Sawhney hooked his best bass of the day early in the afternoon, and it gave him a rod-bending battle.

Sawhney wins the battle with the bass, and he cannot contain his joy.

<p>Before releasing it, Sawhney admired his catch that we estimated at 6 pounds. As the day went on, Sawhney's estimation of its weight kept increasing. </p>

Before releasing it, Sawhney admired his catch that we estimated at 6 pounds. As the day went on, Sawhney’s estimation of its weight kept increasing.

<p>Sawhney, born, raised and educated in India, is a newcomer to bass fishing, but the sport has grabbed him in a big way. He has gone from spincast rods and natural bait to baitcasters, A-rigs and Legend boat-owner in less than seven years. </p>

Sawhney, born, raised and educated in India, is a newcomer to bass fishing, but the sport has grabbed him in a big way. He has gone from spincast rods and natural bait to baitcasters, A-rigs and Legend boat-owner in less than seven years.

<p>Sawhney's fishing education was slightly interrupted when Walmart transferred him to an office in New York City. But that didn't keep him from pursuing his new hobby, as evidenced by this is a photo of a 4-pound smallmouth he caught in New Jersey. </p>

Sawhney’s fishing education was slightly interrupted when Walmart transferred him to an office in New York City. But that didn’t keep him from pursuing his new hobby, as evidenced by this is a photo of a 4-pound smallmouth he caught in New Jersey.

Sawhney’s biggest largemouth so far was a 6-14 caught in a pond near Farmington, Ark. That personal record is likely to be broken soon.