Gear

Top lures at Lake Eufaula

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Take a Championship Saturday flight over Lake Eufaula, and see the patterns in play at the DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula. You can also take a peek inside the tackleboxes of the Top 10 anglers. <p> <em>All captions: Thomas Allen and Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Thomas Allen - Take a Championship Saturday flight over Lake Eufaula, and see the patterns in play at the DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula. You can also take a peek inside the tackleboxes of the Top 10 anglers. All captions: Thomas Allen and Craig Lamb
<b>Chris Zaldain (10th; 70-1)</b><br> Chris Zaldain spent most of his time fishing offshore along the river ledges.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Chris Zaldain (10th; 70-1) Chris Zaldain spent most of his time fishing offshore along the river ledges.
While these images don’t indicate the contours beneath the water’s surface, he focused on channel swings back and forth with mid- and shallow-range contours with brushpiles mixed with timber.
Photo: Thomas Allen - While these images don’t indicate the contours beneath the water’s surface, he focused on channel swings back and forth with mid- and shallow-range contours with brushpiles mixed with timber.
Zaldain went for the big bites and his lure lineup proved the point. For deep water presentations he used an 8-inch flutter-style spoon, and a Megabass Big M 7.5.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Zaldain went for the big bites and his lure lineup proved the point. For deep water presentations he used an 8-inch flutter-style spoon, and a Megabass Big M 7.5.
For shallow water fish he used a Megabass Big Gabot Frog.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For shallow water fish he used a Megabass Big Gabot Frog.
<b>Jamie Hartman (9th; 74-7)</b><br> Jamie Hartman spent a majority of his time at Eufaula focusing on ledge staging bass.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Jamie Hartman (9th; 74-7) Jamie Hartman spent a majority of his time at Eufaula focusing on ledge staging bass.
Hartman used a Strike King 6XD Crankbait for deeper fish. A 5.5-inch True Bass Fishing Perfect Head, 99 Problems pattern, rigged on a 3/4-ounce screw lock head was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hartman used a Strike King 6XD Crankbait for deeper fish. A 5.5-inch True Bass Fishing Perfect Head, 99 Problems pattern, rigged on a 3/4-ounce screw lock head was another choice.
So was a 10.5-inch Zoom Bait Company Ol’ Monster, rigged on 5/0 Owner Extra Wide Gap Hook. Hartman also used a 4.5-inch Riot Baits The Synth worm, rigged on 2/0 Owner Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a 10.5-inch Zoom Bait Company Ol’ Monster, rigged on 5/0 Owner Extra Wide Gap Hook. Hartman also used a 4.5-inch Riot Baits The Synth worm, rigged on 2/0 Owner Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
<b>Clark Wendlandt (8th; 75-5)</b><br> Clark Wendlandt spent most of his time running a chain of brushpiles on the southern third of Lake Eufaula.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Clark Wendlandt (8th; 75-5) Clark Wendlandt spent most of his time running a chain of brushpiles on the southern third of Lake Eufaula.
Wendlandt said he had a few that were productive every day, but as the tournament went on, he also hit a few offshore spots to supplement his daily limits.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Wendlandt said he had a few that were productive every day, but as the tournament went on, he also hit a few offshore spots to supplement his daily limits.
A key lure for Wendlandt was a 10-inch worm, rigged on 5/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook, with 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A key lure for Wendlandt was a 10-inch worm, rigged on 5/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook, with 3/8-ounce weight.
<b>Matt Arey (7th; 76-9)</b><br> Matt Arey spent a great deal of time fishing docks, especially docks with brushpiles in front of them.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Matt Arey (7th; 76-9) Matt Arey spent a great deal of time fishing docks, especially docks with brushpiles in front of them.
This picture is a fine example of how Arey positioned his boat at each dock. A fair distance, downwind, from the main structure allowed him to make repeated casts and effectively pick apart each corner.
Photo: Thomas Allen - This picture is a fine example of how Arey positioned his boat at each dock. A fair distance, downwind, from the main structure allowed him to make repeated casts and effectively pick apart each corner.
A 1/2-ounce custom made tungsten jig with handtied skirt was a top choice for Arey. So was a magnum-style trick worm, rigged on 5/0 offset worm hook with 3/8- or 5/16-ounce weights, depending on wind conditions.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/2-ounce custom made tungsten jig with handtied skirt was a top choice for Arey. So was a magnum-style trick worm, rigged on 5/0 offset worm hook with 3/8- or 5/16-ounce weights, depending on wind conditions.
Arey also used a Lunkerhunt Compact Frog, and a Spro Poppin’ Frog.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Arey also used a Lunkerhunt Compact Frog, and a Spro Poppin’ Frog.
<b>Caleb Kuphall (6th; 77-4)</b><br> Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Caleb Kuphall is the only Top 10 pro who focused on shallow bass exclusively.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Caleb Kuphall (6th; 77-4) Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Caleb Kuphall is the only Top 10 pro who focused on shallow bass exclusively.
He focused on assorted types of shallow-water vegetation, but he also had a few brushpiles as backup.
Photo: Thomas Allen - He focused on assorted types of shallow-water vegetation, but he also had a few brushpiles as backup.
A 3/8-ounce Booyah Buzz Bait with Zoom Horny Toad for a trailer was a top producer for Kuphall. He also used a 1/2-ounce homemade jig with a salty craw chunk trailer available from Lure Parts Online.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 3/8-ounce Booyah Buzz Bait with Zoom Horny Toad for a trailer was a top producer for Kuphall. He also used a 1/2-ounce homemade jig with a salty craw chunk trailer available from Lure Parts Online.
<b>Drew Cook (5th; 78-5)</b><br> Drew Cook focused on fishing assorted brushpiles on relatively shallow-water flats.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Drew Cook (5th; 78-5) Drew Cook focused on fishing assorted brushpiles on relatively shallow-water flats.
A 3/4-ounce Nichols Lures Saber Swim Jig with 5-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad trailer was a key lure in the brushpiles for Cook. So was a 1-ounce Nichols Spinnerbait with Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer Swim Bait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 3/4-ounce Nichols Lures Saber Swim Jig with 5-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad trailer was a key lure in the brushpiles for Cook. So was a 1-ounce Nichols Spinnerbait with Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer Swim Bait.
Cook also used a 1-ounce Big Bite Baits Swimbait Head, with 7-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Swimmer. Another choice was a 10-inch Big Bite Baits B2 Worm, rigged on 6/0 Gamakatsu G Finesse Hybrid Hook, and 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cook also used a 1-ounce Big Bite Baits Swimbait Head, with 7-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Swimmer. Another choice was a 10-inch Big Bite Baits B2 Worm, rigged on 6/0 Gamakatsu G Finesse Hybrid Hook, and 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
<b>Brandon Cobb (4th; 79-8)</b><br> In 2019, Brandon Cobb won two Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments. He’s a proven contender on big-fish waters, and he showed up again at Lake Eufaula.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Brandon Cobb (4th; 79-8) In 2019, Brandon Cobb won two Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments. He’s a proven contender on big-fish waters, and he showed up again at Lake Eufaula.
Cobb fished a mix of brushpiles and river channel ledges.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Cobb fished a mix of brushpiles and river channel ledges.
Cobb fished shallow brushpiles with a Greenfish Tackle Swim Jig. For deep water he chose a 1/2-ounce shaky head jig with the new 6.75-inch Zoom U-Tale Worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cobb fished shallow brushpiles with a Greenfish Tackle Swim Jig. For deep water he chose a 1/2-ounce shaky head jig with the new 6.75-inch Zoom U-Tale Worm.
<b>Drew Benton (3rd; 82-4)</b><br> Drew Benton cut his teeth fishing bass tournaments on Lake Seminole and other northwest Florida bass fisheries. With Eufaula being one lake above Seminole on the Chattahoochee River, this place fell right into his wheelhouse.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Drew Benton (3rd; 82-4) Drew Benton cut his teeth fishing bass tournaments on Lake Seminole and other northwest Florida bass fisheries. With Eufaula being one lake above Seminole on the Chattahoochee River, this place fell right into his wheelhouse.
Benton focused on brushpiles on shallow flats and any bluegill beds he could locate on his electronics.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Benton focused on brushpiles on shallow flats and any bluegill beds he could locate on his electronics.
Benton chose a 1.5-ounce Nichols Lures Single Blade Spinnerbait, with 5-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad for a trailer. He also used a 7-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad, rigged on 3/4-ounce head.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Benton chose a 1.5-ounce Nichols Lures Single Blade Spinnerbait, with 5-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad for a trailer. He also used a 7-inch Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad, rigged on 3/4-ounce head.
A 1/4-ounce Nichols Lures Magnum Shakey Head with 8-inch Big Bite Baits Big Finesse Worm was another top lure. He also used the Big Finesse Worm on a 5/0 Owner Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/4-ounce Nichols Lures Magnum Shakey Head with 8-inch Big Bite Baits Big Finesse Worm was another top lure. He also used the Big Finesse Worm on a 5/0 Owner Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
<b>Scott Canterbury (2nd; 83-9)</b><br> Scott Canterbury spent a great deal of his time on the lower half of Lake Eufaula working a milk run of brush piles along large expansive flats off the channel ledge.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Scott Canterbury (2nd; 83-9) Scott Canterbury spent a great deal of his time on the lower half of Lake Eufaula working a milk run of brush piles along large expansive flats off the channel ledge.
Many of the brush piles were associated with docks, but most were 100 yards or more from most structures, requiring hours of time behind the boat steering wheel looking at his graphs.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Many of the brush piles were associated with docks, but most were 100 yards or more from most structures, requiring hours of time behind the boat steering wheel looking at his graphs.
Canterbury rotated through these lures for his deep- and shallow-water patterns. An 11-inch NetBait C-Mac Worm, rigged on 5/0 hook and 5-16- or 3/8-ounce weights was a top choice. So were 1/2- or 5/8-ounce jig made by Dirty Jigs. He added a NetBait Paca Craw for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Canterbury rotated through these lures for his deep- and shallow-water patterns. An 11-inch NetBait C-Mac Worm, rigged on 5/0 hook and 5-16- or 3/8-ounce weights was a top choice. So were 1/2- or 5/8-ounce jig made by Dirty Jigs. He added a NetBait Paca Craw for a trailer.
<b>Buddy Gross (1st; 84-8)</b><br> Coming into the Eufaula Elite event, Buddy Gross was considered a strong contender thanks to his renowned prowess on the Tennessee River — its fisheries laid out similar to Lake Eufaula.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Buddy Gross (1st; 84-8) Coming into the Eufaula Elite event, Buddy Gross was considered a strong contender thanks to his renowned prowess on the Tennessee River — its fisheries laid out similar to Lake Eufaula.
Gross largely focused on offshore structure and staging schools of bass along the famous ledges. He had some brushpiles on backup, but being a master at locating bass on electronics and catching them in deep water, this event set up perfectly for his skillset.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Gross largely focused on offshore structure and staging schools of bass along the famous ledges. He had some brushpiles on backup, but being a master at locating bass on electronics and catching them in deep water, this event set up perfectly for his skillset.
Gross relied on confidence baits for a strong finish on Lake Eufaula. He chose a 3/4-ounce Nichols Lures prototype jig that features a bullet-shaped head, and lighter weight weed guard and hook. He added a 3.5-inch Zoom Super Chunk for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Gross relied on confidence baits for a strong finish on Lake Eufaula. He chose a 3/4-ounce Nichols Lures prototype jig that features a bullet-shaped head, and lighter weight weed guard and hook. He added a 3.5-inch Zoom Super Chunk for a trailer.
A 5-inch Scottsboro Tackle Swimbait, rigged on a 3/8-ounce Owner Flashy Swimmer with 8/0 hook was another choice. So was a 3/4-ounce weedless swimbait underspin head and 5-inch Zoom Swimmer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 5-inch Scottsboro Tackle Swimbait, rigged on a 3/8-ounce Owner Flashy Swimmer with 8/0 hook was another choice. So was a 3/4-ounce weedless swimbait underspin head and 5-inch Zoom Swimmer.