St. Croix Bassmaster Opens

Opens: Best of top lures 2018

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Harvey Horne staged a brilliant win on the Arkansas River by letting prespawn bass come to him. See what lures he and the other top finishers used this season on the Opens series. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Harvey Horne staged a brilliant win on the Arkansas River by letting prespawn bass come to him. See what lures he and the other top finishers used this season on the Opens series.

All captions: Craig Lamb

<b>Kissimmee Chain of Lakes</b><br> “When you can see the moon setting in the west and the sun rising in the east it’s going to be a big bass day.” Bobby Lane Jr. spoke those prophetic words on Day 1. That afternoon he brought 31 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales and never looked back during the January tournament.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
“When you can see the moon setting in the west and the sun rising in the east it’s going to be a big bass day.” Bobby Lane Jr. spoke those prophetic words on Day 1. That afternoon he brought 31 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales and never looked back during the January tournament.
Lane’s key fish came on a swimming frog he designed. The choice was a black or watermelon red 4.25-inch Berkley PowerBait Rib Toad. “What’s so important is you get greater distance with it than any other swimming frog.” The skinny water fished by Lane required long casts to reach the fish.
Lane’s key fish came on a swimming frog he designed. The choice was a black or watermelon red 4.25-inch Berkley PowerBait Rib Toad. “What’s so important is you get greater distance with it than any other swimming frog.” The skinny water fished by Lane required long casts to reach the fish.
The winner also used a 1/4-ounce 4x4 Jigs with a black/blue/purple hand-tied custom skirt.
The winner also used a 1/4-ounce 4×4 Jigs with a black/blue/purple hand-tied custom skirt.
Alternatively, Lane used a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged with a 5/0 TroKar hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
Alternatively, Lane used a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged with a 5/0 TroKar hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Ross Barnett Reservoir</b><br> Unseasonably warm weather, rain, cold fronts and a full moon. That all happened during the March tournament. For the win Stephen Browning used a Z-Man Chatterbait Jack Hammer.
Ross Barnett Reservoir
Unseasonably warm weather, rain, cold fronts and a full moon. That all happened during the March tournament. For the win Stephen Browning used a Z-Man Chatterbait Jack Hammer.
The choice was a 3/8-ounce model with 4-inch Z Man DieZel MinnowZ trailer. He chose black/blue for the morning bite, and switched to white during the afternoon.
The choice was a 3/8-ounce model with 4-inch Z Man DieZel MinnowZ trailer. He chose black/blue for the morning bite, and switched to white during the afternoon.
<b>Arkansas River </b><br> Harvey Horne proved that betting on the come pays off in springtime bass fishing. Prespawn bass moved into his area each day, and the wise angler picked them off as they arrived during the April tournament.
Arkansas River
Harvey Horne proved that betting on the come pays off in springtime bass fishing. Prespawn bass moved into his area each day, and the wise angler picked them off as they arrived during the April tournament.
Horne crafted a winning rig using three lure components. A 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Swing Head Rock Jig, with a 6/0 Gamakatsu G Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook composed the jig. A 5-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog completed the rig.
Horne crafted a winning rig using three lure components. A 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Swing Head Rock Jig, with a 6/0 Gamakatsu G Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook composed the jig. A 5-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog completed the rig.
<b>Red River</b><br> Bass fishing was beyond tough in June on the Red River. The 146 pros managed to catch 44 limits on Day 1 and just 22 limits on the next day. Winner Patrick Walters made the wisest move of them all by choosing to stay near the launch, keep lures in the water, not run around wasting time.
Red River
Bass fishing was beyond tough in June on the Red River. The 146 pros managed to catch 44 limits on Day 1 and just 22 limits on the next day. Winner Patrick Walters made the wisest move of them all by choosing to stay near the launch, keep lures in the water, not run around wasting time.
For Walters a Rapala DT 6 Series and unnamed square bill crankbait were the winning choices. He also used a 5-inch Yamamoto Thin Senko with 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG Hook. He rigged it weightless or with a 1/8-ounce weight.
For Walters a Rapala DT 6 Series and unnamed square bill crankbait were the winning choices. He also used a 5-inch Yamamoto Thin Senko with 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG Hook. He rigged it weightless or with a 1/8-ounce weight.
<b>Lake Champlain</b><br> During the August tournament winner Bryan Labelle focused on the largemouth-rich waters on the south end of the lake.
Lake Champlain
During the August tournament winner Bryan Labelle focused on the largemouth-rich waters on the south end of the lake.
Labelle went power fishing with a jig. The choice was a 1/2-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig, with a Zoom Super Chunk, Flippin’ Blue color.
Labelle went power fishing with a jig. The choice was a 1/2-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig, with a Zoom Super Chunk, Flippin’ Blue color.
<b>Logan Martin Lake</b><br> Justin Atkins used a one-two punch of catching an early limit on a shaky-head jig, then a swim bait later to cull up. The winner, like his peers, chose the shaky-head as a go-to bait of the September tournament.
Logan Martin Lake
Justin Atkins used a one-two punch of catching an early limit on a shaky-head jig, then a swim bait later to cull up. The winner, like his peers, chose the shaky-head as a go-to bait of the September tournament.
Atkins used a 3.8-inch Berkley Powerbait Power Swimmer on 1/4-ounce ball-head jig. He also used a 1/4-ounce Buckeye Lures Spot Remover with 4.75-inch Berkley Powerbait Bottom Hopper Worm.
Atkins used a 3.8-inch Berkley Powerbait Power Swimmer on 1/4-ounce ball-head jig. He also used a 1/4-ounce Buckeye Lures Spot Remover with 4.75-inch Berkley Powerbait Bottom Hopper Worm.
<b>Douglas Lake</b><br> Choose the lake or venture far up into the headwaters. Those were the options for anglers fishing the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Eastern Open on Douglas Lake. Patrick Walters took the long route and nearly won his second Open of the season.
Douglas Lake
Choose the lake or venture far up into the headwaters. Those were the options for anglers fishing the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Eastern Open on Douglas Lake. Patrick Walters took the long route and nearly won his second Open of the season.
Ott DeFoe alternated between two lures for the win.
Ott DeFoe alternated between two lures for the win.
DeFoe’s primary weapon of choice was a 6-inch Bass Pro Shops Magnum Fin-Eke Worm, rigged on a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Worm Hook with 3/16-ounce weight. He also used a 2.5-inch Terminator Walking Frog.
DeFoe’s primary weapon of choice was a 6-inch Bass Pro Shops Magnum Fin-Eke Worm, rigged on a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Worm Hook with 3/16-ounce weight. He also used a 2.5-inch Terminator Walking Frog.
<b>Table Rock Lake</b><br> Transition was the word to describe the fishing at Table Rock Lake. The fall transition was in full swing during the October tournament.
Table Rock Lake
Transition was the word to describe the fishing at Table Rock Lake. The fall transition was in full swing during the October tournament.
<b>Opens Championship</b><br> Winner Jared Lintner Lintner used a Spro Mike McClelland RkCrawler 55 Crankbait, and a Jackall MC/60. He also used a 3/4-ounce jig with a Strike King Rage Bug.
Opens Championship
Winner Jared Lintner Lintner used a Spro Mike McClelland RkCrawler 55 Crankbait, and a Jackall MC/60. He also used a 3/4-ounce jig with a Strike King Rage Bug.

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