How-To

Top lures at Pickwick Lake Open

Joey Nania won the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Pickwick Lake in Tennessee, and with it, a berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.  <br><br> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - Joey Nania won the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Pickwick Lake in Tennessee, and with it, a berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. All captions: Craig Lamb
A keen observation led Nania to a game-winning bait change on Championship Saturday. See all the baits used by the top anglers in a tournament with all phases of the spawn underway.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A keen observation led Nania to a game-winning bait change on Championship Saturday. See all the baits used by the top anglers in a tournament with all phases of the spawn underway.
<b>Brandon Lester (10th; 47-11)</b><br> A 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Castaic Baits Jerky J, was a key bait for Brandon Lester.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester (10th; 47-11) A 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Castaic Baits Jerky J, was a key bait for Brandon Lester.
So was a Strike King KVD Squarebill 4.0. He switched out the stock hooks with No. 1 Mustad Round Bend Treble Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Strike King KVD Squarebill 4.0. He switched out the stock hooks with No. 1 Mustad Round Bend Treble Hooks.
<b>Denny Feidler (9th; 47-14) </b><br> A Zoom Speed Craw, rigged on a VMC Flipping Hook, with a 3/8 tungsten weight, was a key bait for Danny Feidler.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Denny Feidler (9th; 47-14) A Zoom Speed Craw, rigged on a VMC Flipping Hook, with a 3/8 tungsten weight, was a key bait for Danny Feidler.
<b>Brent Crow (8th; 48-5) </b><br> A Berkley Cane Walker was a key bait for Brent Crow.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brent Crow (8th; 48-5) A Berkley Cane Walker was a key bait for Brent Crow.
So was a 3/16-ounce Berkley Fusion19 Shakey Head, with a Berkley PowerBait Maxscent The General.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a 3/16-ounce Berkley Fusion19 Shakey Head, with a Berkley PowerBait Maxscent The General.
Crow also used a Berkley PowerBait Maxscent The General, rigged on a 1/16-ounce Berkley Fusion19 Weighted Wacky Head.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Crow also used a Berkley PowerBait Maxscent The General, rigged on a 1/16-ounce Berkley Fusion19 Weighted Wacky Head.
<b>Jayme Rampey (7th; 48-10) </b><br> A Zoom Horny Toad, rigged on a 6/0 Owner Hook, was a key bait for Jayme Rampey.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jayme Rampey (7th; 48-10) A Zoom Horny Toad, rigged on a 6/0 Owner Hook, was a key bait for Jayme Rampey.
So was a 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle Jig with a Zoom Z Craw Jr.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle Jig with a Zoom Z Craw Jr.
<b>Daisuke Aoki (6th; 50-1) </b><br> A Dstyle SVSB 1.8, rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa Hook, was a key bait for Daisuke Aoki.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Daisuke Aoki (6th; 50-1) A Dstyle SVSB 1.8, rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa Hook, was a key bait for Daisuke Aoki.
Aoki also used a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 1/16-ounce jighead.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Aoki also used a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 1/16-ounce jighead.
Aoki also used a Dstyle D1 3.8-inch that he rigged on a 1/16-ounce jighead.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Aoki also used a Dstyle D1 3.8-inch that he rigged on a 1/16-ounce jighead.
<b>Joseph Webster (5th; 52-4) </b><br> A Berkley Dredger 20 was a key bait for Joseph Webster.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Joseph Webster (5th; 52-4) A Berkley Dredger 20 was a key bait for Joseph Webster.
So was a Berkley PowerBait Power Hawg, Carolina rigged with a 3/0 hook and 3/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Berkley PowerBait Power Hawg, Carolina rigged with a 3/0 hook and 3/4-ounce weight.
<b>Andy Hribar (4th; 54-9) </b><br> A Zoom Trick Worm, rigged on a 1/4-ounce VMC Shaky Head was a key bait for Andy Hribar. He dipped the tail in chartreuse dye for added strike appeal.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Andy Hribar (4th; 54-9) A Zoom Trick Worm, rigged on a 1/4-ounce VMC Shaky Head was a key bait for Andy Hribar. He dipped the tail in chartreuse dye for added strike appeal.
<b>John Garrett (3rd; 56-11) </b><br> While a morning shad spawn played a role the first two days, Garrett caught most of his better bass on a 16-foot ledge in front of spawning areas. Devoting his final day to this area, he caught all of his fish on a deep diving crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Garrett (3rd; 56-11) While a morning shad spawn played a role the first two days, Garrett caught most of his better bass on a 16-foot ledge in front of spawning areas. Devoting his final day to this area, he caught all of his fish on a deep diving crankbait.
A Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait was the key bait for Garrett.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait was the key bait for Garrett.
<b>Lonnie Cochran (2nd; 57-2) </b><br> Fishing a jig along a main river channel ledge was the tactic used by Lonnie Cochran.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lonnie Cochran (2nd; 57-2) Fishing a jig along a main river channel ledge was the tactic used by Lonnie Cochran.
A 3/4-ounce Scottsboro Tackle Hellcat Jig was a key bait for Cochran.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 3/4-ounce Scottsboro Tackle Hellcat Jig was a key bait for Cochran.
<b>Joey Nania (1st; 58-2) </b><br> Making a key adjustment on Championship Saturday paid of with the win for Joey Nania.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Joey Nania (1st; 58-2) Making a key adjustment on Championship Saturday paid of with the win for Joey Nania.
A 3/4-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ, was a key bait for Nania.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 3/4-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ, was a key bait for Nania.
So was a Carolina rig made with a Z-Man Finesse TRD, rigged on a 6th Sense STOUT Wide Gap Worm Hook, with a 1/2-ounce weight. On Saturday, he made a key changeup using a Z-Man Mag FattyZWorm on a 3/16-ounce shaky head, after observing lamprey stuck on some of his fish.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Carolina rig made with a Z-Man Finesse TRD, rigged on a 6th Sense STOUT Wide Gap Worm Hook, with a 1/2-ounce weight. On Saturday, he made a key changeup using a Z-Man Mag FattyZWorm on a 3/16-ounce shaky head, after observing lamprey stuck on some of his fish.