Top lures at Sam Rayburn

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Sam Rayburn in September. Fishing conditions were tough when compared to the prime springtime bite, but this is still Sam Rayburn in Texas. The heavyweights still crossed the scales, and the largemouth were active offshore and in the shallow, gnarly jungl
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Sam Rayburn in September. Fishing conditions were tough when compared to the prime springtime bite, but this is still Sam Rayburn in Texas. The heavyweights still crossed the scales, and the largemouth were active offshore and in the shallow, gnarly jungles of the creeks. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

All captions: Craig Lamb

Photo: Andy Crawford

Masayuki Matsushita won the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open, targeting a mix of brushpiles and trees between 20 and 30 feet of water. Check out his winning lures and those of the top finishers. If your bass game is stuck in the summer doldrums, give t
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Masayuki Matsushita won the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open, targeting a mix of brushpiles and trees between 20 and 30 feet of water. Check out his winning lures and those of the top finishers. If your bass game is stuck in the summer doldrums, give the baits of your choice a try. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: James Overstreet

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Brian Post (12th; 43-15)
Brian Post alternated between a worm and crankbait. That choice was a Rapala DT 14 Crankbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Rapala DT Series Crankbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

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A Zoom Lures 5-inch Mag Finesse Worm, rigged on 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG Hook, with Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Lures Mag Finesse Worm, Gamakatsu EWG Hook, Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Jason Christie (11th; 47-15)
Jason Christie caught all his keepers on this Booyah Pad Crasher Frog. He modified the bait by switching to a Lazer Trokar Frog Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Booyah Pad Crasher Frog

Photo: Andy Crawford

Albert Collins (10th; 49-8)Albert Collins rotated through a bladed jig and worms, including a self-designed model that gives the fish a completely different look.
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Albert Collins (10th; 49-8)
Albert Collins rotated through a bladed jig and worms, including a self-designed model that gives the fish a completely different look. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: James Overstreet

That choice was a 6th Sense 10-inch Ridge Worm, rigged on a 5/0 6th Sense Jugular Hybrid Hook, with a 1/2-ounce Elite Tungsten Weight. Using the same weight and hook, he used a Mister Twister 10-inch Hang 10 Curly Tail Worm.
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That choice was a 6th Sense 10-inch Ridge Worm, rigged on a 5/0 6th Sense Jugular Hybrid Hook, with a 1/2-ounce Elite Tungsten Weight. Using the same weight and hook, he used a Mister Twister 10-inch Hang 10 Curly Tail Worm. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

A Delta Lures 1/2-ounce Thunder Jig was another choice. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
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A Delta Lures 1/2-ounce Thunder Jig was another choice. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

Logan Latuso (9th; 49-15)Logan Latuso rotated through a creature bait, bladed jig and frog. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
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Logan Latuso (9th; 49-15)
Logan Latuso rotated through a creature bait, bladed jig and frog. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

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That choice was a Spro Dean Rojas Poppin’ Frog. He also used a Delta Lures 3/8-ounce Thunder Jig with a swimbait-style trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Spro Dean Rojas Poppin’ Frog

Photo: Andy Crawford

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A Missile Baits D Bomb, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Flipping Hook, with 5/16-ounce Fitzgerald Lures Tungsten Weight, with was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Missile Baits D Bomb

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Brian Schott (8th; 50-1)
Brian Shott alternated between a Norman DD22 Crankbait and a Dirty Jigs 3/4-ounce jig with Googan Baits Bandito Bug trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Norman DD22 Crankbait, Googan Baits Bandito Bug

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Gerald Swindle (7th; 50-12)
Gerald Swindle made a key lure adjustment by switching to a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait, which he retrieved very slow along the outside edges of grassbeds. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Chatterbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Shaine Campbell (6th; 51-12)
Shaine Campbell caught deep fish on a Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

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He also used a Strike King Perfect Plastics 8-inch Bullworm, rigged on 5/0 Owner Offset Shank Worm Hook. Another choice was a V&M Cliff Pace The Flatline Pacemaker Football Jig, with V&M J Bug trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Owner Offset Shank Worm Hook, V&M J Bug

Photo: Andy Crawford

Darold Gleason (5th; 52-15)A Carolina rig, creature bait and jig were the baits of choice for Darold Gleason. A network of 50 hotspots featuring drains and brushpiles were the casting targets.
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Darold Gleason (5th; 52-15)
A Carolina rig, creature bait and jig were the baits of choice for Darold Gleason. A network of 50 hotspots featuring drains and brushpiles were the casting targets. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Darold Gleason made a Carolina Rig with a V&M Pork Shad 2.0, Gleason’s Candy, rigged on 4/0 Owner Jungle Wide Gap Hook, with 1-ounce sinker. With that same hook and weight, he used a V&M Baby Swamp Hog, Gleason’s Candy. Buy it now on Amazon: Owner Jungle Wide Gap Hook, V&M Baby Swamp Hog

Photo: Andy Crawford

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His key big bass bait was a V&M 3/4-ounce Pacemaker Football Jig, Gleason’s Candy, with V&M J Bug, Gleason’s Candy. Buy it now on Amazon: V&M Pacemaker Football Jig, V&M J Bug

Photo: Andy Crawford

Keith Combs (4th; 55-12)Keith Combs used Strike King Pro Model 6XD and 5XD Crankbaits for midrange cranking. Shop for lures on Amazon
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Keith Combs (4th; 55-12)
Keith Combs used Strike King Pro Model 6XD and 5XD Crankbaits for midrange cranking. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Steve Bowman

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For a slower presentation he used a Strike King 3/4-ounce Denny Brauer Structure Jig with Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait, Strike King Denny Brauer Structure Jig, Strike King Rage Tail Craw

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Kris Wilson (3rd; 57-11)
Kris Wilson rotated through this hard bait lineup. A 6th Sense Cloud 9 Series C10 Crankbait and the C15 were ideal for deep fish. Buy it now on Amazon: 6th Sense Cloud 9 Series C10 Crankbait

Photo: Andy Crawford

He switched to a 6th Sense Speed Wake for fishing over vegetation. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
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He switched to a 6th Sense Speed Wake for fishing over vegetation. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

Josh Douglas (2nd; 59-5)Josh Douglas used this lure lineup for running a network of offshore spots with brushpiles, rock and hard bottom.
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Josh Douglas (2nd; 59-5)
Josh Douglas used this lure lineup for running a network of offshore spots with brushpiles, rock and hard bottom. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
Josh Douglas (2nd; 59-5)Josh Douglas used this lure lineup for running a network of offshore spots with brushpiles, rock and hard bottom.
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He made a dropshot rig with a Roboworm 6-inch Straight Tail Worm, rigged on a 1/0 Owner Cover Shot Worm Hook, with 3/8-ounce Woo! Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. An Outkast Tackle prototype football jig with Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer was another choice. The jig will be released next month. Buy it now on Amazon: Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, Owner Cover Shot Worm Hook, Strike King Rage Tail Craw

Photo: Andy Crawford

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Douglas also used a Megabass 3/4-ounce UOZE Swim Jig, replacing the stock skirt with a Keitech 5.8 Swing Impact FAT Swimbait. He also used a Biospawn 10-inch ExoRibbon Worm, rigged on Owner 5/0 Round Bend Hook, with 1/2-ounce Woo! Tungsten Weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Megabass 3/4-ounce UOZE Swim Jig, Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, Biospawn ExoRibbon Worm

Photo: Andy Crawford

Masayuki Matsushita (1st; 60-14)Masayuki Matsushita used this lineup of baits to cover the water column in his area with the scattered wood cover.
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Masayuki Matsushita (1st; 60-14)
Masayuki Matsushita used this lineup of baits to cover the water column in his area with the scattered wood cover. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

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His lures of choice were a Deps Sakamata Shad rigged on a 7/0 Owner Wide Gap Hook. A Zoom 10.5-inch Ol’ Monster worm was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm

Photo: Andy Crawford

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