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Another smallmouth whack fest unfolded at Bassmaster Magazine’s Top Bass Lake at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet.
All captions: Craig Lamb
Photo: Andy Crawford
Micah Frazier hoisted the blue trophy for the first time in Waddington, New York, a town embraced by the fans and the pros. The smallmouth fell for drop shots and even crankbaits, and you can check out the lineup here.
Photo: James Overstreet
Brian Snowden (74-6; 10th)
Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
Photo: Andy Crawford
During cloudy weather he used a drop shot rig made from a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop, with 2/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook, and 1/2-ounce weight. He also used a 1/4-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig, with 3.5-inch Zoom Beatdown Worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Chris Zaldain (78-4; 9th)
Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. “The biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.” He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. “The biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.” He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Greg DiPalma (81-11; 8th)
Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lil’ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lil’ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Ray Hanselman Jr. (81-12; 7th)
A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. “I burned it as fast as I could against the current,” he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. “I burned it as fast as I could against the current,” he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford
He made the drop shot from a 3.5-inch Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell, with No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He fished the rig over current breaks in 28- to 32-feet of water.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Steve Kennedy (82-5; 6th)
Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. “In practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didn’t stay on.”
Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. “In practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didn’t stay on.”
Photo: Andy Crawford
He switched to a 4.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, and using a needle, threaded the line through the body and added an inline 2/0 Gamakatsu Treble Hook. For missed fish he followed up with a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig.
Photo: Andy Crawford
These good luck charms also came into play for Kennedy. “My next-door neighbor Cloe left me a note with good luck wishes and this rock, and my daughter made this one that she painted with a four-leafed clover.” Kennedy carried the rocks on the cooler lid integrated into his Bass Cat Boat.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Jay Yelas (83-1; 5th)
“I caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,” said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
“I caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,” said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Keith Combs (84-11; 4th)
Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Combs also used a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, and Strike King 5XD and 6XD crankbaits.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Scott Canterbury (84-11; 3rd)
Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Other choices were an American Bait Works Co. Set The Hook Stumpy Crush Worm, green pumpkin; and a Set The Hook Drifter, Juvenile Goby. All were rigged with No. 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks and Flat Out Tungsten 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weights, depending on the current.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Chris Johnston (86-11; 2nd)
Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. “I fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.”
Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. “I fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.”
Photo: Andy Crawford
For blind casting he chose a Duo Realis Spinbait 80. “I let it sink a couple of feet below the surface and wound it back using a steady retrieve.”
Photo: Andy Crawford
Micah Frazier (87-4; 1st)
A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.
A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.
Photo: Andy Crawford
