Photo: Andy Crawford - Floridian Keith Carson had never visited Lay Lake, so he brought familiar tactics from home to stay on active fish at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open. All captions: Craig Lamb Photo: Andy Crawford - Carson grew up fishing on the St. Johns River, and his knowledge of how bass relate to current breaks with grass paid off in a big way. He stayed consistent all week, weighing limits of 16-10, 18-10 and 11-13 to qualify for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Poche (12th; 26-5) Keith Poche applied the flipping technique on main lake vegetation, using a 3-inch Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss. He rigged the bait on a Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss | Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Pellegrin (11th; 33-3) Scott Pellegrin went flipping in heavy vegetation, using a Missile Baits D Bomb that he rigged on a 5/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook with a 2-ounce tungsten weight. Alternatively, he used a Missile Baits Baby D Bomb on a 3/0 Owner Jungle Flipping hook with a 5/16-ounce sinker. Buy it now on Amazon: Missile Baits D Bomb | Missile Baits Baby D Bomb | Owner Jungle Flipping Hook Photo: Andy Crawford - KJ Queen (10th; 35-15) KJ Queen chose a jerkbait, jig and bladed jig as his weapons of choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - The lineup included a Queen Tackle Tungsten Flipping Jig with a Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw. A Queen Tackle Switch Blade with a Zoom Fluke was another choice. Queen also used a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw | Megabass Ito Vision 110 JerkbaitPhoto: Andy Crawford - Joey Nania (9th; 36-7) Finesse tactics on light spinning gear worked best for Joey Nania. Photo: Andy Crawford - Nania relied on this finesse lineup of baits on Lay Lake. He used a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Crosseyes Power Finesse Jig, with a Z-Man Lures TRD BugZ trailer. A 1/6-ounce Z-Man Ned LockZ HD Jig Head, with a Z-Man TRD BugZ trailer was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Crosseyes Power Finesse Jig | Z-Man Lures TRD BugZ | Z-Man Ned LockZ HD Jig Head
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Adam Neu (8th; 37-2) Flipping a jig along gnarly shoreline cover was the best tactic for Adam Neu. Photo: Andy Crawford - Neuâs primary bait was a Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippinâ Jig with a Strike King Rage Tail Twin Tail Menace Grub. He also used a Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Bug. Buy it now on Amazon: Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippinâ Jig | Strike King Rage Tail Twin Tail Menace GrubPhoto: Andy Crawford - Samuel Fish (7th; 37-13) Samuel Fish chose a Texas-rigged Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, and a Dirty Jigs Swim Jig. Buy it now on Amazon: Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Megabass Ito Vision 110 JerkbaitPhoto: Andy Crawford - Chris Payne (6th; 38-1) Chris Payne used the flipping tactic with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver, rigged on a 5/0 Mustad Hook with 1.5-ounce weight. He also used a JM Custom Swim Jig, with a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver. Photo: Andy Crawford - Alternatively, he used a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait
Photo: Andy Crawford - Alex Sherrill (5th; 38-14) Alex Sherrill used a 7/16-ounce finesse jig head, with a 4-inch Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver. A 1/4-ounce RCC Lures shaky head with a Yamamoto Senko was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Yamamoto Senko Photo: Andy Crawford - Alternatively, he used a Rapala Shadow Rap Jerkbait.Photo: Andy Crawford - Teb Jones (4th; 38-15) Teb Jones used a V&M Mega Shakey Head with a finesse worm for slow presentations.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For feeding fish he rotated between a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and a Duo Realis 110SP Jerkbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap | Duo Realis 110SPPhoto: Steve Bowman - Clint Miller (3rd; 41-7) Clint Miller used a shaky head rig to catch his fish on Lay Lake. Photo: Andy Crawford - Millerâs key bait was a 6-inch Big Bite Baits finesse worm that he rigged on a 1/4-ounce shaky head jig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jacob Walker (2nd; 42-11) Flipping a custom jig was the tactic of choice for Jacob Walker. Photo: Andy Crawford - Walker used a 5/8-ounce Scooter Custom Jig by Joey Aderhold. A Texas-rigged Zoom Z-Hog Jr. was another choice.Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Bug. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Rage Bug
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Carson (1st; 47-1) Running a series of power-generation current and fishing grasslines near breaklines proved key for Keith Carson. Photo: Andy Crawford - Carson used a Berkley Frittside 5 Crankbait, and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg, rigged on a 3/0 hook with a 1-ounce weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Berkley Frittside and Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg
