One hundred bass days. Largemouth caught from inches of water to 40 feet deep. Lake Travis showcased its vibrant bass fishery at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
All captions: Craig Lamb
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Lures covering the water column from top to bottom made the cut on Championship Sunday, and a topwater worked $100,000 worth of magic for winner Drew Benton. Check out his winning bait and those used by the top finishers.
Photo: James Overstreet
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Cliff Pirch
To finish 12th, Cliff Pirch used a finesse approach in shallow water, and sight fishing much of the time.
To finish 12th, Cliff Pirch used a finesse approach in shallow water, and sight fishing much of the time.
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He fashioned a wacky rig with a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko rigged to 1/0 Hayabusa Spin Muscle Wacky Hook.
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A Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm rigged to a 1/0 Robo Rebarb Light Wire Hook was another choice.
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Marty Robinson
To finish 11th, Marty Robinson used a 3.5-inch Heddon Super Spook Jr., with a unique twist. The choice was a remodeled version available from Buckeye Lures with a custom paint job. The modified baits are re-rigged with extra-strong split rings and stout Owner Stinger Treble 3X Treble Hooks.
To finish 11th, Marty Robinson used a 3.5-inch Heddon Super Spook Jr., with a unique twist. The choice was a remodeled version available from Buckeye Lures with a custom paint job. The modified baits are re-rigged with extra-strong split rings and stout Owner Stinger Treble 3X Treble Hooks.
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Jason Christie
To finish 10th, Jason Christie used two versions of the classic Heddon Zara Spook.
To finish 10th, Jason Christie used two versions of the classic Heddon Zara Spook.
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He started the day using a 4.5-inch One-Knocker Spook with a single tungsten rattle inside a specifically designed sound chamber. Later he switched to the 4.5-inch original Zara Spook.
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Ray Hanselman Jr.
To finish ninth, Ray Hanselman Jr. used a topwater bait he is helping design for Strike King Lures. “It’s a big walking bait that moves a lot of water.” Current name for the bait is the Magnum Sexy Dog. Hanselman said the lure should make its debut at the ICAST tackle trade show in July.
To finish ninth, Ray Hanselman Jr. used a topwater bait he is helping design for Strike King Lures. “It’s a big walking bait that moves a lot of water.” Current name for the bait is the Magnum Sexy Dog. Hanselman said the lure should make its debut at the ICAST tackle trade show in July.
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Jamie Hartman
To finish eighth, Jamie Hartman relied on a jig and and topwater. That choice was a River2Sea Whopper Plopper.
To finish eighth, Jamie Hartman relied on a jig and and topwater. That choice was a River2Sea Whopper Plopper.
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He also used a 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Minima designed as a finesse sized flipping jig. He added a 2.4-inch Riot Baits The Tantrum small profile trailer specifically made for the jig.
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Bobby Lane
To finish seventh, Bobby Lane Jr. relied on topwaters and soft plastics. The Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil and Yo Zuri Hardcore Minnow Flat 110SP jerkbait were hard bait choices.
To finish seventh, Bobby Lane Jr. relied on topwaters and soft plastics. The Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil and Yo Zuri Hardcore Minnow Flat 110SP jerkbait were hard bait choices.
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For finesse fishing he used a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent D-Worm, rigged to 1/0 Lazer Trokar EWG Worm Hook. He also used a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged with the same hook and 1/32-ounce nail weight.
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Gerald Spohrer
To finish sixth, Gerald Spohrer used a structure spoon, jerkbait and topwater walker. For deeper fish and to match baitfish he chose a 6th Sense Crush Magnum Flutter Spoon 150X.
To finish sixth, Gerald Spohrer used a structure spoon, jerkbait and topwater walker. For deeper fish and to match baitfish he chose a 6th Sense Crush Magnum Flutter Spoon 150X.
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He also used a Sixth Sense Provoke 106X Jerkbait and a 6th Sense Crush Dogma.
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Brent Chapman
To finish fifth, Brent Chapman used a buzzbait and Texas-rigged worm.
To finish fifth, Brent Chapman used a buzzbait and Texas-rigged worm.
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That choice was a 10.5-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster with 5/0 Lazer Trokar Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce Eagle Claw Lazer Tungsten Worm Weight. Chapman also used a 3/8-ounce buzzbait with swim bait trailer.
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Keith Combs
To finish fourth, Keith Combs targeted big bass in deeper water. To catch them he used a Strike King 10XD Crankbait and a Strike King Sexy Spoon.
To finish fourth, Keith Combs targeted big bass in deeper water. To catch them he used a Strike King 10XD Crankbait and a Strike King Sexy Spoon.
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Cliff Pace
To finish third, Cliff Pace rotated through a Carolina Rig and jerkbaits. Those choices included a Jackall Squad Minnow 115 and Jackall Dowzvido 90SP.
To finish third, Cliff Pace rotated through a Carolina Rig and jerkbaits. Those choices included a Jackall Squad Minnow 115 and Jackall Dowzvido 90SP.
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He made the Carolina rig with a V&M Baits Drop Shad. A 3/0 Mustad UltraPoint Hook and 3/4-ounce weight completed the rig.
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Jacob Wheeler
Jacob Wheeler caught fish from 4-40 feet and at times had 18 casting outfits on his front deck.
Jacob Wheeler caught fish from 4-40 feet and at times had 18 casting outfits on his front deck.
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To finish second, he narrowed down to these top choices. A River2Sea Whopper Plopper was the bait for topwater action.
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For deeper schooling fish he used jigging spoons with two treble hooks, oftentimes catching doubles on the same cast.
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Drew Benton
Drew Benton relied on a Bagley Knocker B that produces a seductive walk and rhythmic tonal footprint that is designed for making long casts.
Drew Benton relied on a Bagley Knocker B that produces a seductive walk and rhythmic tonal footprint that is designed for making long casts.
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The bait was a versatile producer, luring close-range bass from beneath floating docks to largemouth hiding behind shoreline boulders.
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