
All captions: Craig Lamb



Topwaters proved key for 12th-place angler Bernie Schultz. Smallmouth fell for the walk-the-dog action of this chrome Rapala Skitter V, or the erratic darting action of a Rapala Shadow Rap, Gone pattern.


Alton Jones used this setup to finish 11th. âI like this Yum Warning Shot for its unique tail design that is specifically designed for a drop shot rig.â To make the rig he used a 2/0 ZoneLoc Offset Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce weight. Color choice was Green Pumpkin Purple.

Gerald Swindle used a 1/2-ounce Buckeye Lures G-Man Ballinâ Out Jig with a Zoom Z Craw trailer. A 4.25-inch Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 112 was another choice. Swindle also used a Zoom Z Drop Worm on a No. 2 Rebarb hook. He alternated between 5/16 and 3/8 ounce weights.


Brandon Coulter finished ninth using a finesse approach. âI liked this X Zone Slammer for its close resemblance to a round goby.â He rigged the bait to a 1/0 Mustad Double Wide KVD Drop Shot Hook, alternating between 1/2 and 3/8 ounce weights.


Casey Ashley finished eighth using these baits. A drop shot rigged 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, No. 1 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook and1/8- to 1/4-ounce weights.


Jamie Hartman finished seventh using this 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lilâ Creeper compact football jig, PB&J color. He added a Yamamoto Double Tail Grub for a trailer.

James Elam finished sixth using three lures. He used a Jackall I Prop with a spybaiting technique. Elam also chose a green pumpkin Jackall Crosstail Shad, rigged to 1/2-ounce weight and No. 1 Owner Down Shot Offset hook. Another choice was a 2.8-inch Jackall Rhythm Wave Swimbait, rigged to a 3/8-ounce jighead.

Jonathon VanDamâs key bait to finish fifth was a Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell. The bait has a series of ridges and tapered points to deliver an irresistible glide. He used a No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/4 or 3/16 ounce weights.

Brent Ehrler relied on this key bait to finish fourth. That was a Lucky Craft Pointer 78, Chartreuse Shad. âItâs an old-school model rarely used anymore.â A fast jerking action over sandy spots visible from the surface produced strikes.

Brandon Palaniuk relied on one key lure to finish third. âI targeted specific cover like boulders and grass patches, shaking it to keep it longer inside the strike zone.â


Brock Mosley finessed his way to second place. He made a drop shot rig with a Netbait Contour Worm, 1/0 Gamakatsu Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.



Kevin VanDam won with a mix of finesse and reaction lures. To trigger strikes he used Strike King KVD 200 and 300 Series Jerkbaits, Ayu and Sexy Ghost Minnow. Other strikes came on a perch colored spybait-type bait.

