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.
All captions: Craig Lamb
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Instead, it was part junk fishing, part prespawn and some spawning patterns. The lures reflected as much. Check out the choices of winner Bryan New and other top finishers at the season opener.
Photo: James Overstreet
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Wyatt Burkhalter - 12th place
Wyatt Burkhalter alternated between a Duo Realis Jerkbait 120SP and Megabass Ito Version 110 jerkbait.
Wyatt Burkhalter alternated between a Duo Realis Jerkbait 120SP and Megabass Ito Version 110 jerkbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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He made a Tokyo Rig using a Zoom Fluke Stick, 4/0 Gamakatsu Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Patrick Walters - 11th place
Patrick Walters alternated between 3/0 and 4/0 VMC Tokyo Rigs with 1/8-, 1/4- and 3/8-ounce weights, depending on wind velocity. For trailers he used a Zoom Zlinky or Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm. Another choice was a Rapala Shadow Rap.
Patrick Walters alternated between 3/0 and 4/0 VMC Tokyo Rigs with 1/8-, 1/4- and 3/8-ounce weights, depending on wind velocity. For trailers he used a Zoom Zlinky or Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm. Another choice was a Rapala Shadow Rap.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Justin Hamner - 10th place
Megabass Ito Vision 110 jerkbaits produced reaction strikes for Justin Hamner.
Megabass Ito Vision 110 jerkbaits produced reaction strikes for Justin Hamner.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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When the bite slowed, he made a Tokyo Rig with a Zoom Fluke Stick and 4/0 wide gap hook. Hamner used 1/8-, 1/4- or 3/8-ounce weights, depending on the wind, to keep the lure in the strike zone.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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John Hunter Jr. - 9th place
A 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig with 6th Sense Stoker Craw 3.3 trailer was a top choice for John Hunter Jr. He also relied on a 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm 7.0, with 4/0 offset worm hook and 6th Sense Pitch Black Tungsten weight.
A 3/8-ounce 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig with 6th Sense Stoker Craw 3.3 trailer was a top choice for John Hunter Jr. He also relied on a 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm 7.0, with 4/0 offset worm hook and 6th Sense Pitch Black Tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Hunter also used a 6th Sense Provoke 106X jerkbait. A Scottsboro Tackle Co. Sniper Shad, with undisclosed 1/2-ounce head, was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Cody Detweiler - 8th place
Cody Detweiler relied on a trio of lures. A Texas-rigged 4.2 Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, with 1.5-ounce weight and 4/0 Mustad Denny Brauer Grip-Pin Max Flippin’ Hook a top choice. So was a soft plastic stick bait with the same hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Cody Detweiler relied on a trio of lures. A Texas-rigged 4.2 Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, with 1.5-ounce weight and 4/0 Mustad Denny Brauer Grip-Pin Max Flippin’ Hook a top choice. So was a soft plastic stick bait with the same hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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The lineup also featured a 3/8-ounce Nichols Lures Saber Swim Jig, with 3.5-inch Reaction Innovations Little Dipper trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Gerald Swindle - 7th place
Gerald Swindle rotated through a crankbait, bladed jig and swim jig. That choice was a 3/8-ounce homemade version rigged with Zoom Z Craw trailer. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer.
Gerald Swindle rotated through a crankbait, bladed jig and swim jig. That choice was a 3/8-ounce homemade version rigged with Zoom Z Craw trailer. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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For the crankbait he chose a Rapala DT6.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Jason Casteel - 6th place
Jason Casteel went old school with original XCalibur One Knocker lipless crankbaits, alternating between 1/2- and 3/4-ounce models depending on the wind.
Jason Casteel went old school with original XCalibur One Knocker lipless crankbaits, alternating between 1/2- and 3/4-ounce models depending on the wind.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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He also used an unnamed 1-ounce spinnerbait designed for fishing the legendary river channel ledges of Kentucky Lake. The spinnerbait featured No. 6 blades up front and No. 4.5 blades at the rear.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Scott Martin - 5th place
A LIVETARGET Golden Shiner Vibration Trap produced morning offshore bites for Scott Martin. He modified the lure to impart a louder knocking sound.
A LIVETARGET Golden Shiner Vibration Trap produced morning offshore bites for Scott Martin. He modified the lure to impart a louder knocking sound.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Other top lures were the Googan Baits Bandito Bug Craw and Googan Baits Lunker Log Stick Bait. He fished them on 4/0 and 5/0 Eagle Claw TK130 Trokar Flipping Hooks, with 5/16- or 1/4-ounce weights.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Keith Carson - 4th place
A 6-inch Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General Worm, wacky rigged on 2/0 hook, was a top choice for Keith Carson. He fished the rig offshore for bedding bass.
A 6-inch Berkley Powerbait Maxscent The General Worm, wacky rigged on 2/0 hook, was a top choice for Keith Carson. He fished the rig offshore for bedding bass.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Alternatively, around hydrilla edges he opted for a 1/2-ounce Berkley Warpig lipless crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Greg Alexander - 3rd place
A 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged weightless with Owner Wide Gap Worm Hook, produced during the morning for Greg Alexander. Later on, he used a Zoom Speed Worm with 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
A 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged weightless with Owner Wide Gap Worm Hook, produced during the morning for Greg Alexander. Later on, he used a Zoom Speed Worm with 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Josh Stracner - 2nd place
Josh Stracner chose a Booyah One Knocker Lipless Crankbait for reaction strikes.
Josh Stracner chose a Booyah One Knocker Lipless Crankbait for reaction strikes.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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When the action slowed, he switched to a Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket, with 4/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce weight. Another choice was a Reaction Innovations Machete Worm, with 5/0 Owner Hook and 3/16-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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Bryan New - 1st place
Bryan New chose a Greenfish Tackle G2 Squarebill, and Greenfish Tackle TAT prop bait for his hard bait lineup.
Bryan New chose a Greenfish Tackle G2 Squarebill, and Greenfish Tackle TAT prop bait for his hard bait lineup.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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He also used a Zoom Old Monster Worm, with 5/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford
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