How-To

Top lures at Smith Lake 2021

With his victory in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake, Jacob Powroznik will fish the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell.
Photo: Shane Durrance - With his victory in the Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake, Jacob Powroznik will fish the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell.
Smith Lake fished extremely tough, as weights were relatively low, but Powroznik weighed in the second biggest bag of the tournament on the final day to seal the victory. See the lures the top finishers used on a stingy Smith Lake.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Smith Lake fished extremely tough, as weights were relatively low, but Powroznik weighed in the second biggest bag of the tournament on the final day to seal the victory. See the lures the top finishers used on a stingy Smith Lake.
<b>Robin Erb (10th; 20-14)</b><br> Robin Erb utilized a two-pronged approach of a River2Sea Whopper Plopper and a Zoom Salty Super Fluke. Erb added a nail wait to his Fluke, which allowed him to fish it down deeper.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Robin Erb (10th; 20-14) Robin Erb utilized a two-pronged approach of a River2Sea Whopper Plopper and a Zoom Salty Super Fluke. Erb added a nail wait to his Fluke, which allowed him to fish it down deeper.
<b>Allen Stewart (9th; 23-0)</b><br> Stewart relied on cranking a Spro RkCrawler 55 Crankbait and backed that up with a 1/2-ounce FunkBuster Baits Angry Virg Buzzbait.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Allen Stewart (9th; 23-0) Stewart relied on cranking a Spro RkCrawler 55 Crankbait and backed that up with a 1/2-ounce FunkBuster Baits Angry Virg Buzzbait.
<b>Cody Bird (8th; 23-6)</b><br>  Bird fished shallow water near run-ins with a 3/8-ounce Stanley Original Vibrashaft Double Willow Spinnerbait and flipped a Big Bite Baits Craw Tube on a 1/2-ounce weight.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Cody Bird (8th; 23-6) Bird fished shallow water near run-ins with a 3/8-ounce Stanley Original Vibrashaft Double Willow Spinnerbait and flipped a Big Bite Baits Craw Tube on a 1/2-ounce weight.
<b>Jay Przekurat (7th; 24-15)</b><br> Przekurat targeted shallow flats as well as boat docks to secure a seventh-place finish.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Jay Przekurat (7th; 24-15) Przekurat targeted shallow flats as well as boat docks to secure a seventh-place finish.
The Wisconsin native fished boat docks with a 3/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig paired with a Strike King Menece Grub as a trailer as well as a Strike King Perfect Plastic Ocho wacky rigged. Przekurat switched over to a Strike King Sexy Dawg when he wanted to cover more water.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The Wisconsin native fished boat docks with a 3/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig paired with a Strike King Menece Grub as a trailer as well as a Strike King Perfect Plastic Ocho wacky rigged. Przekurat switched over to a Strike King Sexy Dawg when he wanted to cover more water.
<b>Tom Frink (6th; 27-8)</b><br>  Frink covered as much shallow water as possible with a buzzbait to make the final day cut.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Tom Frink (6th; 27-8) Frink covered as much shallow water as possible with a buzzbait to make the final day cut.
Frink used an unnamed buzzbait paired with a Zoom Horny Toad trailer.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Frink used an unnamed buzzbait paired with a Zoom Horny Toad trailer.
<b>Cody Huff (5th; 28-15)</b><br> Huff concentrated on fishing for suspended fish over deep water using a Rapala Jigging Rap Ice Jig as well as a 2.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait paired with a 1/2-ounce VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Cody Huff (5th; 28-15) Huff concentrated on fishing for suspended fish over deep water using a Rapala Jigging Rap Ice Jig as well as a 2.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait paired with a 1/2-ounce VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig.
<b>Kyle Austin (4th; 31-8)</b><br> Austin had a one-two punch of fishing brush piles around docks and targeting suspended fish.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Kyle Austin (4th; 31-8) Austin had a one-two punch of fishing brush piles around docks and targeting suspended fish.
Each morning the South Carolina native would chase schools of fish around using a Ima Glide Fluke Glide Bait and would transition to fishing docks with a 1/2-ounce Treeshaker Ballhead Jig paired with a Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver 3.50.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Each morning the South Carolina native would chase schools of fish around using a Ima Glide Fluke Glide Bait and would transition to fishing docks with a 1/2-ounce Treeshaker Ballhead Jig paired with a Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver 3.50.
<b>Jesse Wiggins (3rd; 33-3)</b><br> Wiggins fished both deep and shallow on his home fishery to finish the event in third.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Jesse Wiggins (3rd; 33-3) Wiggins fished both deep and shallow on his home fishery to finish the event in third.
The Alabama native fished shallow with a Jackall Bling 55 Crankbait and backed that up with a 5.8-inch Jackal Flick Shake Worm on a homemade 3/16-ounce shaky head.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The Alabama native fished shallow with a Jackall Bling 55 Crankbait and backed that up with a 5.8-inch Jackal Flick Shake Worm on a homemade 3/16-ounce shaky head.
<b>Nick LeBrun (2nd; 33-6)</b><br>  LeBrun primarily fished for largemouth but utilized his forward facing sonar to scan off the bank and find schools of spotted bass.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Nick LeBrun (2nd; 33-6) LeBrun primarily fished for largemouth but utilized his forward facing sonar to scan off the bank and find schools of spotted bass.
The Louisiana native fished shallow with an unnamed buzzbait paired with a V&M J-Bug trailer and then moved out deep with a V&M Drop Shad paired with a Hayabusa FPJ960 Ball Jig Head.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The Louisiana native fished shallow with an unnamed buzzbait paired with a V&M J-Bug trailer and then moved out deep with a V&M Drop Shad paired with a Hayabusa FPJ960 Ball Jig Head.
<b>Jacob Powroznik (1st; 37-9)</b><br> Powroznik fished extremely deep water, utilizing his forward facing sonar at Smith Lake to earn his spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Photo: Seigo Saito - Jacob Powroznik (1st; 37-9) Powroznik fished extremely deep water, utilizing his forward facing sonar at Smith Lake to earn his spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Powroznik vertically fished for deep spotted bass using a V&M Vertical Shad with a 3/8-ounce jighead and picked up a Livingston Walking Boss when the fish would surface.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Powroznik vertically fished for deep spotted bass using a V&M Vertical Shad with a 3/8-ounce jighead and picked up a Livingston Walking Boss when the fish would surface.