Top lures at Lay Lake 2020

Floridian Keith Carson had never visited Lay Lake, so he brought familiar tactics from home to stay on active fish at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open.

All captions: Craig Lamb

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Carson grew up fishing on the St. Johns River, and his knowledge of how bass relate to current breaks with grass paid off in a big way. He stayed consistent all week, weighing limits of 16-10, 18-10 and 11-13 to qualify for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Keith Poche (12th; 26-5)
Keith Poche applied the flipping technique on main lake vegetation, using a 3-inch Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss. He rigged the bait on a Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss | Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Scott Pellegrin (11th; 33-3)
Scott Pellegrin went flipping in heavy vegetation, using a Missile Baits D Bomb that he rigged on a 5/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook with a 2-ounce tungsten weight. Alternatively, he used a Missile Baits Baby D Bomb on a 3/0 Owner Jungle Flipping hook with a 5/16-ounce sinker. Buy it now on Amazon: Missile Baits D Bomb | Missile Baits Baby D Bomb | Owner Jungle Flipping Hook

Photo: Andy Crawford

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KJ Queen (10th; 35-15)
KJ Queen chose a jerkbait, jig and bladed jig as his weapons of choice.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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The lineup included a Queen Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jig with a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw. A Queen Tackle Switch Blade with a Zoom Fluke was another choice. Queen also used a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw | Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Joey Nania (9th; 36-7)
Finesse tactics on light spinning gear worked best for Joey Nania.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Nania relied on this finesse lineup of baits on Lay Lake. He used a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Crosseyes Power Finesse Jig, with a Z-Man Lures TRD BugZ trailer. A 1/6-ounce Z-Man Ned LockZ HD Jig Head, with a Z-Man TRD BugZ trailer was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Crosseyes Power Finesse Jig | Z-Man Lures TRD BugZ | Z-Man Ned LockZ HD Jig Head

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Adam Neu (8th; 37-2)
Flipping a jig along gnarly shoreline cover was the best tactic for Adam Neu.

Photo: Dalton Tumblin

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Neu’s primary bait was a Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig with a Strike King Rage Tail Twin Tail Menace Grub. He also used a Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Bug. Buy it now on Amazon: Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig | Strike King Rage Tail Twin Tail Menace Grub

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Samuel Fish (7th; 37-13)
Samuel Fish chose a Texas-rigged Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, and a Dirty Jigs Swim Jig. Buy it now on Amazon: Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver

Photo: Andy Crawford

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He also used a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Chris Payne (6th; 38-1)
Chris Payne used the flipping tactic with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver, rigged on a 5/0 Mustad Hook with 1.5-ounce weight. He also used a JM Custom Swim Jig, with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Alternatively, he used a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Alex Sherrill (5th; 38-14)
Alex Sherrill used a 7/16-ounce finesse jig head, with a 4-inch Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver. A 1/4-ounce RCC Lures shaky head with a Yamamoto Senko was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Yamamoto Senko

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Alternatively, he used a Rapala Shadow Rap Jerkbait.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Teb Jones (4th; 38-15)
Teb Jones used a V&M Mega Shakey Head with a finesse worm for slow presentations.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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For feeding fish he rotated between a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and a Duo Realis 110SP Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap | Duo Realis 110SP

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Clint Miller (3rd; 41-7)
Clint Miller used a shaky head rig to catch his fish on Lay Lake.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Miller’s key bait was a 6-inch Big Bite Baits finesse worm that he rigged on a 1/4-ounce shaky head jig.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Jacob Walker (2nd; 42-11)
Flipping a custom jig was the tactic of choice for Jacob Walker.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Walker used a 5/8-ounce Scooter Custom Jig by Joey Aderhold. A Texas-rigged Zoom Z-Hog Jr. was another choice.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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He also used a Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Bug. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Rage Bug

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Keith Carson (1st; 47-1)
Running a series of power-generation current and fishing grasslines near breaklines proved key for Keith Carson.

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Carson used a Berkley Frittside 5 Crankbait, and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg, rigged on a 3/0 hook with a 1-ounce weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Berkley Frittside and Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Top lures at Lay Lake 2020

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