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Hunting big largemouth on the shoreline or going offshore chasing spotted bass gorging on blueback herring. At Lake Chatgue those strategies were in play at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship.
All captions: Craig Lamb
Photo: Andy Crawford
No matter the choice topwater lures of all types were the lures used by the 50 anglers. That included Oklahoman James Elam, who won his first blue trophy while sealing his fate for the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Photo: James Overstreet
Chris Zaldain
To finish 14th, Chris Zaldain used an 8-inch Megabass Magdraft Swimbait and weighted wacky rig.
To finish 14th, Chris Zaldain used an 8-inch Megabass Magdraft Swimbait and weighted wacky rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Zaldain made the wacky rig by inserting a nail weight through the head of a Yamamoto Senko. He then threaded the worm through an O-ring and attached that to the new Eagle Claw Trokar Finesse Hook. “The Pro-V Bend shape holds the O-ring in place so the worm doesn’t slide up and down the shank,” he explained. “The nylon antennae act as weed guards so you can fish it through laydowns and even dock cables without getting hung.”
Photo: Andy Crawford
Keith Combs
To finish 13th, Keith Combs alternated between a Strike King Wake Shad and Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg.
To finish 13th, Keith Combs alternated between a Strike King Wake Shad and Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Gerald Spohrer
To finish 11th, Gerald Spohrer used this 4-inch 6th Sense Crush Dogma featuring a cupped mouth to spit water as it walks. It comes with 3D eyes, gill plates, scales and realistic paint, which was key for enticing fish in the ultra-clear water.
To finish 11th, Gerald Spohrer used this 4-inch 6th Sense Crush Dogma featuring a cupped mouth to spit water as it walks. It comes with 3D eyes, gill plates, scales and realistic paint, which was key for enticing fish in the ultra-clear water.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Bradley Roy
A 3.5-inch Heddon Super Spook Junior was the bait of choice for 10th place finisher Bradley Roy.
A 3.5-inch Heddon Super Spook Junior was the bait of choice for 10th place finisher Bradley Roy.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Brandon Palaniuk
To finish ninth, Brandon Palaniuk used a Storm Arashi Top Walker 13, Pro Blue pattern, which at 5 1/8 inches matched the size of the blueback herring being fed upon by the bass.
To finish ninth, Brandon Palaniuk used a Storm Arashi Top Walker 13, Pro Blue pattern, which at 5 1/8 inches matched the size of the blueback herring being fed upon by the bass.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Justin Lucas
To finish seventh, Justin Lucas used this newly released Berkley Cane Walker that was ideal for the clear water fishing. The aerodynamic shape is heavily tail weighted for long casts. When it settles the lure imparts a unique action through an internal rattle chamber and spitting cupped mouth, which draws bass to the surface from long distances. Berkley Fusion19 treble hooks complete the rig.
To finish seventh, Justin Lucas used this newly released Berkley Cane Walker that was ideal for the clear water fishing. The aerodynamic shape is heavily tail weighted for long casts. When it settles the lure imparts a unique action through an internal rattle chamber and spitting cupped mouth, which draws bass to the surface from long distances. Berkley Fusion19 treble hooks complete the rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Micah Frazier
A Heddon Chug’n Spook was the bait of choice for sixth-place finisher Micah Frazier.
A Heddon Chug’n Spook was the bait of choice for sixth-place finisher Micah Frazier.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Jason Christie
To finish fifth, Jason Christie used a 4.5-inch Heddon One Knocker Spook with a single tungsten rattle contained inside a sound-intensifying chamber that produces a loud thump. The noise and walking action attracts schooling bass from long distances.
To finish fifth, Jason Christie used a 4.5-inch Heddon One Knocker Spook with a single tungsten rattle contained inside a sound-intensifying chamber that produces a loud thump. The noise and walking action attracts schooling bass from long distances.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Brent Ehrler
To finish fourth, Brent Ehrler rotated through a topwater and drop shot. For that he used a 4-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm on No. 1 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook and 1/4-ounce Eagle Claw Tungsten Weight. For topwater action he chose a 4-inch Lucky Craft Sammy 100.
To finish fourth, Brent Ehrler rotated through a topwater and drop shot. For that he used a 4-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm on No. 1 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook and 1/4-ounce Eagle Claw Tungsten Weight. For topwater action he chose a 4-inch Lucky Craft Sammy 100.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Jacob Wheeler
To finish third, Jacob Wheeler alternated between a jerkbait and topwater walking bait. A Storm Rattlin’ Saltwater Chug Bug was that choice. He also used a Rapala Shadow Rap Deep Jerkbait with a running depth of 4-6 feet.
To finish third, Jacob Wheeler alternated between a jerkbait and topwater walking bait. A Storm Rattlin’ Saltwater Chug Bug was that choice. He also used a Rapala Shadow Rap Deep Jerkbait with a running depth of 4-6 feet.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Chris Lane
To finish second, Chris Lane used a River2Sea Whopper Plopper. The soft, pliable tail rotates on the harness and creates bass (and originally muskie) alluring rumbles at variety retrieve speeds and depths. Lane also used his River2Sea Chris Lane Top Notch, a noisy topwater with a curled lip that emits a giant bubble trail and spitting action. A plastic prop adds sputtering action, and the lure can be worked at variable speeds.
To finish second, Chris Lane used a River2Sea Whopper Plopper. The soft, pliable tail rotates on the harness and creates bass (and originally muskie) alluring rumbles at variety retrieve speeds and depths. Lane also used his River2Sea Chris Lane Top Notch, a noisy topwater with a curled lip that emits a giant bubble trail and spitting action. A plastic prop adds sputtering action, and the lure can be worked at variable speeds.
Photo: Andy Crawford
James Elam
James Elam rotated through a soft plastic fluke, topwater walker, classic minnow bait, spoon and jerkbait. The choices were a Molix Jugalo Jerk, Molix Michael Iaconelli Lover Spoon, vintage Cotton Cordell Red Fin, and IMA Little Stik 135 Walking Bait.
James Elam rotated through a soft plastic fluke, topwater walker, classic minnow bait, spoon and jerkbait. The choices were a Molix Jugalo Jerk, Molix Michael Iaconelli Lover Spoon, vintage Cotton Cordell Red Fin, and IMA Little Stik 135 Walking Bait.
Photo: Andy Crawford
