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You had to go through the numbers to catch weigh-in worthy spotted bass like these, caught by Kenta Kimura, at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Lewis Smith Lake. That made finding the elusive kicker largemouth the goal.
All captions: Craig Lamb
Photo: Andy Crawford
Only one angler figured it out and he was the most unlikely match. Spotted bass don’t live in Wisconsin, but native son Caleb Kuphall didn’t care at all. He found both, including the kicker largemouth needed to win the tournament. Take a look inside his tacklebox (slide 16) and other top finishers.
Photo: James Overstreet
James Davis Jr. (27-12; 12th)
James Davis fished a 3/4-ounce Reaction Innovations Vixen around steep rocky banks and boat docks for spotted bass. For a follow-up bait to missed strikes he picked up a 5.5-inch Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket, rigged on a 3/16-ounce weighted wacky rig hook.
James Davis fished a 3/4-ounce Reaction Innovations Vixen around steep rocky banks and boat docks for spotted bass. For a follow-up bait to missed strikes he picked up a 5.5-inch Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket, rigged on a 3/16-ounce weighted wacky rig hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Wayne Hall (33-11; 11th)
A 5-inch Pro Swim Baits Prowake fished around seawalls and flats produced spotted bass for Wayne Hall.
A 5-inch Pro Swim Baits Prowake fished around seawalls and flats produced spotted bass for Wayne Hall.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Wes Logan (33-15; 10th)
Wes Logan flipped a creature bait on 4/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flipping Hook with 3/4-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight. Another choice was a 5/16-ounce Dirty Jigs Swim Jig with Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 trailer.
Wes Logan flipped a creature bait on 4/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flipping Hook with 3/4-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight. Another choice was a 5/16-ounce Dirty Jigs Swim Jig with Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Brent Crow (34-1; 9th)
A Strike King Pro Model 5XD and Strike King Sexy Dawg produced for Brent Crow.
A Strike King Pro Model 5XD and Strike King Sexy Dawg produced for Brent Crow.
Photo: Andy Crawford
So did a Strike King Perfect Plastics Shim E Stick rigged on 1/4-ounce shakey head jig.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Taku Ito (35-6; 8th)
Taku Ito used these lures for his second consecutive Championship Saturday of the season. The choices were a Jackall Lures Kawashi Mikey, and a Jackall Lures Crosstail Shad on 3/16-ounce dropshot rig.
Taku Ito used these lures for his second consecutive Championship Saturday of the season. The choices were a Jackall Lures Kawashi Mikey, and a Jackall Lures Crosstail Shad on 3/16-ounce dropshot rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Kenta Kimura (37-6; 7th)
Kenta Kimura used Deps Lures of his design that included a 3/8-ounce Kontour Jig. A Busterk frog also produced strikes for largemouth.
Kenta Kimura used Deps Lures of his design that included a 3/8-ounce Kontour Jig. A Busterk frog also produced strikes for largemouth.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Tim Arnold (40-11; 6th)
Tim Arnold used a 1/2-ounce Z Man Chatterbait Jackhammer with a Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 trailer. He also used a Spanker Jig with 3.25-inch Netbait Little Spanky for a trailer.
Tim Arnold used a 1/2-ounce Z Man Chatterbait Jackhammer with a Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 trailer. He also used a Spanker Jig with 3.25-inch Netbait Little Spanky for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Another top lure was a Carolina rig with a Zoom Critter Craw on 2/0 Owner Hook and 3/4-ounce sinker.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Griffin Phillips (40-11; 5th)
Griffin Phillips used a 5/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Tour Level Pitchin’ Jig with Strike King Rage Craw trailer. A 3/8-ounce Coosa Cotton Swim Jig with Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 trailer was another choice.
Griffin Phillips used a 5/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Tour Level Pitchin’ Jig with Strike King Rage Craw trailer. A 3/8-ounce Coosa Cotton Swim Jig with Keitech Swing Impact 3.5 trailer was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford
David Williams (41-2; 4th)
David Williams used a 7/16-ounce TrueSouth Custom Lures Fathead Jig with Zoom Z Craw trailer. A 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jig with Zoom Z Craw Jr. was another choice. So was a Duo Realis Pencil 110 for topwater action.
David Williams used a 7/16-ounce TrueSouth Custom Lures Fathead Jig with Zoom Z Craw trailer. A 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jig with Zoom Z Craw Jr. was another choice. So was a Duo Realis Pencil 110 for topwater action.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Jordan Wiggins (41-3; 3rd)
Jordan Wiggins used a Zoom Magnum Shakey Head Worm rigged on 3/16-ounce shakey head jig. A Zoom Super Fluke on Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook was another choice.
Jordan Wiggins used a Zoom Magnum Shakey Head Worm rigged on 3/16-ounce shakey head jig. A Zoom Super Fluke on Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford
John Cox (42-1; 2nd)
The new Berkley Choppo 90 was a top choice for John Cox. So was a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General rigged on 1/0 Berkley Fusion19 Finesse Wide Gap Hook.
The new Berkley Choppo 90 was a top choice for John Cox. So was a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General rigged on 1/0 Berkley Fusion19 Finesse Wide Gap Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Caleb Kuphall (43-2; 1st)
Homemade 3/8-ounce finesse and flipping jigs rigged with craw trailers produced for Caleb Kuphall. He fished the finesse jig around points and used the flipping jig in bushes for largemouth.
Homemade 3/8-ounce finesse and flipping jigs rigged with craw trailers produced for Caleb Kuphall. He fished the finesse jig around points and used the flipping jig in bushes for largemouth.
Photo: Andy Crawford
