Top lures at Smith Lake

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Jesse Wiggins held a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open champion’s trophy for a second time this season. This time he won on Lewis Smith Lake, his home water. Check out his winning lures and the choices of other top finishers.
Jesse Wiggins held a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open champion’s trophy for a second time this season. This time he won on Lewis Smith Lake, his home water. Check out his winning lures and the choices of other top finishers.
<p><b>Greg Pugh</b></p> Greg Pugh used a skirted jig, vibrating jig and crankbait to finish 12th.
Greg Pugh
Greg Pugh used a skirted jig, vibrating jig and crankbait to finish 12th.
Pugh used a 3/8-ounce homemade jig with a 3.5-inch Zoom Super Chunk. He also used a 1/2-ounce Luck-E-Strike Scrounger Jig Head with a 5-inch Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper for a trailer. He also used a Rapala DT 10 Series Crankbait.
Pugh used a 3/8-ounce homemade jig with a 3.5-inch Zoom Super Chunk. He also used a 1/2-ounce Luck-E-Strike Scrounger Jig Head with a 5-inch Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper for a trailer. He also used a Rapala DT 10 Series Crankbait.
<p><b>John Hunter Jr.</b></p> John Hunter Jr. relied on a jig and buzzbait to finish 11th.
John Hunter Jr.
John Hunter Jr. relied on a jig and buzzbait to finish 11th.
A top choice was a 3/8-ounce Stanley Ball Buster Buzzbait. He replaced the skirt with a 3.5-inch Stanley Ribbit for added strike appeal. He also chose a 1/2-ounce Stanley Jig with a 4-inch Biwaa Fishing Performance Warax crawfish trailer.
A top choice was a 3/8-ounce Stanley Ball Buster Buzzbait. He replaced the skirt with a 3.5-inch Stanley Ribbit for added strike appeal. He also chose a 1/2-ounce Stanley Jig with a 4-inch Biwaa Fishing Performance Warax crawfish trailer.
Kyle Monti used three lures to finish fifth and earn a 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series bid. He fished a fluke on points, a buzzbait on transition banks along channel swings, and a structure spoon.
Kyle Monti used three lures to finish fifth and earn a 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series bid. He fished a fluke on points, a buzzbait on transition banks along channel swings, and a structure spoon.
Monti used a 1/4-ounce homemade buzzbait rigged with a Zoom Horny Toad for a trailer. He also chose a white Zoom Super Fluke, rigged to a 5/0 and 1/16th-ounce Gamakatsu EWG Weighted Hook. Monti also used a 2-inch structure spoon.
Monti used a 1/4-ounce homemade buzzbait rigged with a Zoom Horny Toad for a trailer. He also chose a white Zoom Super Fluke, rigged to a 5/0 and 1/16th-ounce Gamakatsu EWG Weighted Hook. Monti also used a 2-inch structure spoon.
<p><b>David Kilgore</b></p> David Kilgore used a skirted jig and bladed jig to finish tenth.
David Kilgore
David Kilgore used a skirted jig and bladed jig to finish tenth.
A 1/2-ounce Strike King Denny Brauer Structure Jig, with a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail Craw was a key choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Pure Poison Swim Jig with a Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub.
A 1/2-ounce Strike King Denny Brauer Structure Jig, with a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail Craw was a key choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Pure Poison Swim Jig with a Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub.
<p><b>Will Davis Jr.</b></p> Will Davis burned a spinnerbait across points and then later in the morning switched to a drop shot rig to finish ninth.
Will Davis Jr.
Will Davis burned a spinnerbait across points and then later in the morning switched to a drop shot rig to finish ninth.
Davis made the drop shot with a No. 1 VMC hook, 1/2-ounce weight and 6-inch Davis Bait Co. Shaky Worm. He also used a 1/2-ounce Davis Spinnerbait with tandem Colorado and willowleaf blades. He added a 3.5-inch Zoom Split Tail Trailer.
Davis made the drop shot with a No. 1 VMC hook, 1/2-ounce weight and 6-inch Davis Bait Co. Shaky Worm. He also used a 1/2-ounce Davis Spinnerbait with tandem Colorado and willowleaf blades. He added a 3.5-inch Zoom Split Tail Trailer.
<p><b>Jordan Lee</b></p> Jordan Lee alternated between a finesse jig and underspin lure to finish eighth.
Jordan Lee
Jordan Lee alternated between a finesse jig and underspin lure to finish eighth.
A 1/2-ounce finesse jig with a 4-inch Strike King Rage Twin Menace Grub was a key choice. So was a 1/2-ounce underspin with a 3.75-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer for a trailer.
A 1/2-ounce finesse jig with a 4-inch Strike King Rage Twin Menace Grub was a key choice. So was a 1/2-ounce underspin with a 3.75-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer for a trailer.
<p><b>Shin Fukae</b></p> Shin Fukae used a jig of his design and shaky head rig to finish seventh.
Shin Fukae
Shin Fukae used a jig of his design and shaky head rig to finish seventh.
A 7/16-ounce Green Fish Tackle Chibi Jig with 3-inch Yamamoto Swim Senko was a key choice. So was a 1/8-ounce Gamakatsu Skip Gap Shakey Head with 6.75-inch Yamamoto Long Pro Senko.
A 7/16-ounce Green Fish Tackle Chibi Jig with 3-inch Yamamoto Swim Senko was a key choice. So was a 1/8-ounce Gamakatsu Skip Gap Shakey Head with 6.75-inch Yamamoto Long Pro Senko.
<p><B>Todd Auten</b></p> Todd Auten used a skirted jig and vibrating jig to finish sixth.
Todd Auten
Todd Auten used a skirted jig and vibrating jig to finish sixth.
A 1/2-ounce Zorro Jig with a 3.5-inch Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw was a top choice. He also used the soft plastic trailer on a 1/2-ounce vibrating jig.
A 1/2-ounce Zorro Jig with a 3.5-inch Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw was a top choice. He also used the soft plastic trailer on a 1/2-ounce vibrating jig.
<p><b>Justin Lucas</b></p> Justin Lucas used a shaky head rig to finish fourth.
Justin Lucas
Justin Lucas used a shaky head rig to finish fourth.
The choice was this 1/4-ounce shaky head with a 5-inch PowerBait MaxScent The General Worm.
The choice was this 1/4-ounce shaky head with a 5-inch PowerBait MaxScent The General Worm.
<p><b>Brandon Lester</b></p> Brandon Lester worked both ends of the water column with a buzzbait and shaky head rig to finish third.
Brandon Lester
Brandon Lester worked both ends of the water column with a buzzbait and shaky head rig to finish third.
Lester fished a 3/8-ounce buzzbait, removing the skirt and replacing it with a soft plastic frog. Lester also used a 3/16-ounce shaky head jig with a 6-inch X Zone Pro Series MB Fat Finesse Worm.
Lester fished a 3/8-ounce buzzbait, removing the skirt and replacing it with a soft plastic frog. Lester also used a 3/16-ounce shaky head jig with a 6-inch X Zone Pro Series MB Fat Finesse Worm.
<p><b>Rick Morris</b></p> “Most of my fish came on a jerkbait,” said Rick Morris. He rotated through a selection of four lure rigs to take second place.
Rick Morris
“Most of my fish came on a jerkbait,” said Rick Morris. He rotated through a selection of four lure rigs to take second place.
A 3.5-inch Lucky Craft Staysees 90 ver.2 jerkbait was a top choice. Morris also chose a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw for Carolina and Texas rigs. He also relied on his mainstay 3/4-ounce War Eagle Football Jig with a Strike King Rage Craw. For suspended fish he used a 4.75-inch Flutter Spoon.
A 3.5-inch Lucky Craft Staysees 90 ver.2 jerkbait was a top choice. Morris also chose a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw for Carolina and Texas rigs. He also relied on his mainstay 3/4-ounce War Eagle Football Jig with a Strike King Rage Craw. For suspended fish he used a 4.75-inch Flutter Spoon.
<p><b>Jesse Wiggins</b></p> Jesse Wiggins used a square bill crankbait, buzzbait and shaky head for the win. “I burned the buzzbait and crankbait down shorelines, and stopped on docks and fished the shaky head.”
Jesse Wiggins
Jesse Wiggins used a square bill crankbait, buzzbait and shaky head for the win. “I burned the buzzbait and crankbait down shorelines, and stopped on docks and fished the shaky head.”
The choices included a Jenko CD Squarebill Crankbait, and a 3/16-ounce homemade shaky head with a 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm. Wiggins also used 1/8- and 1/4-ounce buzzbaits, replacing the skirt with a 4.25-inch Zoom Horny Toad.
The choices included a Jenko CD Squarebill Crankbait, and a 3/16-ounce homemade shaky head with a 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm. Wiggins also used 1/8- and 1/4-ounce buzzbaits, replacing the skirt with a 4.25-inch Zoom Horny Toad.