Photo: Craig Lamb - The bass were in the grass and pads at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville. One angler staged a runaway victory, going to battle in heavy cover with heavy tackle. All captions: Craig Lamb Photo: Kyle Jessie - That angler was Caleb Kuphall, whose winning weight of 85 pounds, 14 ounces included an impressive scorecard. The Wisconsin Elite Series pro racked up limits weighing 27-10, 15-10, 23-9 and 19-1, for an impressive 17-4 winning margin over second place.
Photo: James Overstreet - Gear up with the top lures used by Kuphall and the other top finishers. If the bass are in the grass, these choices will put more and bigger bass on your line. Photo: Craig Lamb - Brandon Cobb (63-10; 10th) Brandon Cobb focused on a spawning pocket off the main river channel, featuring mixed vegetation. Photo: Dalton Tumblin - You might not think of using finesse tactics in eelgrass, pads and milfoil, but the clear water made it work for Cobb.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A wacky rig was a key bait for Brandon Cobb. Photo: Andy Crawford - He made it with a Zoom Fluke Stick, rigged with a 2/0 Berkley Fusion19 Weedless Wide Gap Hook. Photo: Steve Bowman - Chris Johnston (63-12; 9th) Using a topwater frog and a finesse setup produced for Chris Johnston.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Johnston used the frog in heavy cover and the finesse worm for clearer water. Photo: Andy Crawford - A Spro Bronzeye Poppin Frog 60 was a key bait for Johnston. Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a 4.5-inch Roboworm, rigged on a No. 2 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Drop Shot Hook, with a 1/8-oounce WOO! Tungsten Drop Shot Weight.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Luke Palmer (64-8; 8th) Luke Palmer went old school and added more conventional baits to his lure lineup. Photo: Andy Crawford - The choices allowed him to cover the water column from top to bottom. Photo: Andy Crawford - Palmer used a prized Smithwick Suspending Rogue that heâs used for years.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Palmer also used a Heddon One Knocker Spook. Photo: Andy Crawford - Another top rig was a 10.5-inch YUM Mighty Worm, rigged with a 2/0 hook and 3/8-ounce weight. Photo: Shane Durrance - Shane Lineberger (64-10; 7th) Shane Lineberger focused on docks and an offshore bite.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lineberger used a jig and topwater to cover all the bases. Photo: Andy Crawford - Lineberger opted for a 9/16-ounce TrueSouth Custom Lures Fathead Flippinâ Jig, adding a Reaction Innovations Spicey Beaver for a trailer. He used All In Tackle Jar Jelly for added strike appeal. Photo: Andy Crawford - For topwater action, Lineberger used a Reaction Innovations Vixen walking bait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lineberger also use a 9/16-ounce TrueSouth Custom Lures Fathead Flippinâ Jig, adding a Strike King Rage Tail Craw for a trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - Tyler Rivet (64-13; 6th) A topwater, soft plastic creature bait and a frog were key baits for Tyler Rivet. Photo: Andy Crawford - Rivetâs key bait was a prototype soft plastic punching rig that he designed for Xcite Baits. The new product will be available this summer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Rivet also used an Xcite Baits Heckler topwater that will soon be available. Photo: Andy Crawford - For thick vegetation he used a Spro Bronzeye Poppin Frog 60. Photo: Shane Durrance - Chris Zaldain (65-3; 5th) Chris Zaldain used a lure familiar to him on Guntersville, which also paid off for him last year.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Zaldain used a two-bait package for ledge fishing. He used a 3/4-ounce Santone Lures Pro Series Football Jig, Ray Rob, with matching trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - For reaction bites he used an 8-inch, 2.5-ounce Daiwa flutter-type spoon, rigged on 30-pound Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader for strength. Photo: Craig Lamb - Jason Christie (66-9; 4th) Oklahoma pro Jason Christie carried over his momentum and had another great 2021 tournament.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Christie fished familiar water, which equates to heavy cover, using a lineup of baits for the heavy lifting. Christie also used a drop-shot rig with a YUM Morning Shot, a 1/0 Trokar Drop Shot Hook, and a 1/4-ounce weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - A BOOYAH Pad Crasher was a top lure for Christie. Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 5-inch YUM Dinger, wacky rigged on a 1/0 Trokar Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Greg Hackney (67-3; 3rd) A Strike King KVD Sexy Frog was a key bait for Greg Hackney. Photo: Craig Lamb - Wes Logan (68-0; 2nd) Wes Logan fished mixed vegetation along the main river channel and in the Goose Pond area of the lake. Photo: Andy Crawford - Logan stayed on a roll with a bladed jig and punch rig at Guntersville.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Zoom Super Fluke, was a key bait for Logan. Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Zoom Z Craw, rigged on a 1-ounce weight with a 4/0 Gamakatsu Hook. Photo: Kyle Jessie - Caleb Kuphall (85-14; 1st) Heavy cover. Heavy-duty tackle. Caleb Kuphall went to battle in the thick stuff.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kuphall chose lures designed to hold up to the job. Photo: Andy Crawford - A top choice was a 1-ounce Dirty Jigs Tour Level No-Jack Punchinâ Jig, with a matching trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - For matted vegetation, he used a Zoom Z Hog, rigged on a 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Flippinâ Hook, and a 1-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For punching milfoil, he used a Zoom Z Hog, rigged on a 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Wide Gap Hook, with a 3/4-ounce tungsten weight.
