How-To

Top lures at Neely Henry

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A postponed day, near-flood conditions and falling water. The pros faced all those conditions to set up a challenging tournament at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. <br><br> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - A postponed day, near-flood conditions and falling water. The pros faced all those conditions to set up a challenging tournament at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. All captions: Craig Lamb
Wes Logan began fishing tournaments with his dad here at the age of 5, making the win memorable for the 26-year-old pro. Check out the lures selected by Logan and others to catch fish during a shad spawn, and from water willow along current breaks in the river-run lake.
Photo: James Overstreet - Wes Logan began fishing tournaments with his dad here at the age of 5, making the win memorable for the 26-year-old pro. Check out the lures selected by Logan and others to catch fish during a shad spawn, and from water willow along current breaks in the river-run lake.
<b>Todd Auten (42-11; 10th)</b><br> A bladed jig, crankbait and a swim jig were the rotation of lures used by Todd Auten at Neely Henry.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Todd Auten (42-11; 10th) A bladed jig, crankbait and a swim jig were the rotation of lures used by Todd Auten at Neely Henry.
A Brazilian-made Water Wood Custom Baits Beauty Pig Deep was a top lure for Auten. The Amazonian wood used for the body is denser than balsa wood, enhancing its deflection off cover.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Brazilian-made Water Wood Custom Baits Beauty Pig Deep was a top lure for Auten. The Amazonian wood used for the body is denser than balsa wood, enhancing its deflection off cover.
Auten also used a 1/2-ounce Dirty Jigs Swim Jig, with a Zoom Z Craw trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Auten also used a 1/2-ounce Dirty Jigs Swim Jig, with a Zoom Z Craw trailer.
A 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, with a Zoom Z Craw trailer, was another top choice for Auten.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, with a Zoom Z Craw trailer, was another top choice for Auten.
<b>Austin Felix (46-4; 9th)</b><br> A spinnerbait and shaky head did the trick for Austin Felix.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Austin Felix (46-4; 9th) A spinnerbait and shaky head did the trick for Austin Felix.
A Zorro Bait Co. Bango Blade, with a Zoom Split Tail trailer, was a top bait for Felix.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Zorro Bait Co. Bango Blade, with a Zoom Split Tail trailer, was a top bait for Felix.
So was a 1/8-ounce Picasso Lures Shakedown Jig Shaky Head, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a 1/8-ounce Picasso Lures Shakedown Jig Shaky Head, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko.
<b>Brock Mosley (47-7; 8th)</b><br> A duo of square bill crankbaits and a bladed jig were the weapons of choice for Brock Mosley.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brock Mosley (47-7; 8th) A duo of square bill crankbaits and a bladed jig were the weapons of choice for Brock Mosley.
He led off with a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Yamamoto Zacko.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He led off with a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Yamamoto Zacko.
Mosley also used a pair of Bill Lewis Lures SB-57 Squarebill Crankbaits.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Mosley also used a pair of Bill Lewis Lures SB-57 Squarebill Crankbaits.
<b>Bob Downey (49-10; 7th)</b><br> Bob Downey chose a swim jig and creature rig for his game plan at Neely Henry.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bob Downey (49-10; 7th) Bob Downey chose a swim jig and creature rig for his game plan at Neely Henry.
A Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver, rigged on a 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with a 1-ounce weight, was a top lure rig for Downey. He also used a 3/8-ounce version of the same rig in sparse grass.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver, rigged on a 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with a 1-ounce weight, was a top lure rig for Downey. He also used a 3/8-ounce version of the same rig in sparse grass.
Downey also used a 5/16-ounce All Terrain Tackle Swim Jig, with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Downey also used a 5/16-ounce All Terrain Tackle Swim Jig, with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver.
<b>Bryan New (50-2; 6th)</b><br> A bladed jig was a top lure choice for Bryan New.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bryan New (50-2; 6th) A bladed jig was a top lure choice for Bryan New.
He used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Zoom Super Fluke.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Zoom Super Fluke.
New also used a 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle Brandon Cobb’s All Purpose Jig, with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk.
Photo: Andy Crawford - New also used a 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle Brandon Cobb’s All Purpose Jig, with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk.
For a slower presentation, he used a Neko-rigged a Zoom Trick Worm with a 1/16-ounce nail weight, and a 2/0 Berkley Fusion19 Weedless Wide Gap hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For a slower presentation, he used a Neko-rigged a Zoom Trick Worm with a 1/16-ounce nail weight, and a 2/0 Berkley Fusion19 Weedless Wide Gap hook.
<b>Matt Arey (52-1; 5th)</b><br> Matt Arey’s junk finish lineup was vast to cover the varying conditions he encountered during the tournament.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Matt Arey (52-1; 5th) Matt Arey’s junk finish lineup was vast to cover the varying conditions he encountered during the tournament.
A walking-style topwater was a top bait for Arey.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A walking-style topwater was a top bait for Arey.
So was a 1/2-ounce bladed jig, with a twin-tailed trailer, and a Gamakatsu trailer hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a 1/2-ounce bladed jig, with a twin-tailed trailer, and a Gamakatsu trailer hook.
Arey also used a 1/8-ounce shaky head jig with a straight-tail worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Arey also used a 1/8-ounce shaky head jig with a straight-tail worm.
<b>Jason Christie (52-13; 4th)</b><br> Jason Christie, like many anglers, used a junk fishing rotation to cover the shifting current, and the rising and falling water conditions.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jason Christie (52-13; 4th) Jason Christie, like many anglers, used a junk fishing rotation to cover the shifting current, and the rising and falling water conditions.
A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Series Spinnerbait with Colorado blades was a key bait for Christie.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Series Spinnerbait with Colorado blades was a key bait for Christie.
A BOOYAH XCS Series Squarebill Crankbait was another top lure.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A BOOYAH XCS Series Squarebill Crankbait was another top lure.
Christie also used a 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Bankroll Jig, with a YUM Craw Chunk trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Christie also used a 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Bankroll Jig, with a YUM Craw Chunk trailer.
<b>Gerald Swindle (54-2; 3rd)</b><br> A square bill crankbait, buzzbait and spinnerbait were top baits for Gerald Swindle.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Gerald Swindle (54-2; 3rd) A square bill crankbait, buzzbait and spinnerbait were top baits for Gerald Swindle.
A Rapala BX Brat square bill crankbait produced the most keepers for Swindle.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Rapala BX Brat square bill crankbait produced the most keepers for Swindle.
So was a homemade 1/4-ounce buzzbait with a Zoom Z Craw trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a homemade 1/4-ounce buzzbait with a Zoom Z Craw trailer.
Swindle also used a 1/2-ounce Bassman TW Series Spinnerbait with a retrofitted Georgia Blade spinnerbait blade. The heavier blade generated more thump and stabilized the lure in swift current.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Swindle also used a 1/2-ounce Bassman TW Series Spinnerbait with a retrofitted Georgia Blade spinnerbait blade. The heavier blade generated more thump and stabilized the lure in swift current.
<b>Paul Mueller (56-3; 2nd)</b><br> A crankbait for the shad spawn and a shaky head throughout the day were the baits chosen by Paul Mueller.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Paul Mueller (56-3; 2nd) A crankbait for the shad spawn and a shaky head throughout the day were the baits chosen by Paul Mueller.
Early in the day, Mueller used a Deps Evoke 2.0 square bill crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Early in the day, Mueller used a Deps Evoke 2.0 square bill crankbait.
A 1/8-ounce Do-it Molds custom made shaky head jig, with a Zoom Swam Crawler, was another top lure rig for Mueller.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/8-ounce Do-it Molds custom made shaky head jig, with a Zoom Swam Crawler, was another top lure rig for Mueller.
<b>Wes Logan (57-9; 1st)</b><br> Wes Logan alternated between a square bill crankbait and jigs for the win.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Wes Logan (57-9; 1st) Wes Logan alternated between a square bill crankbait and jigs for the win.
On Neely Henry, Logan always uses a Team ARK CT35 Squarebill Crankbait, with No. 6 Gamakatsu Round Bend Treble Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford - On Neely Henry, Logan always uses a Team ARK CT35 Squarebill Crankbait, with No. 6 Gamakatsu Round Bend Treble Hooks.
A 5/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Matt Herren Flippin’ Jig, with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk, was another top choice for Logan. He also used a Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig, with a Zoom Super Speed Craw trailer (not pictured).
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 5/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Matt Herren Flippin’ Jig, with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk, was another top choice for Logan. He also used a Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig, with a Zoom Super Speed Craw trailer (not pictured).