Top lures at Lake Guntersville 2019

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Lake Guntersville in late June. Put those words together and it spells out a classic ledge fest. But the pros threw out the textbook of summertime bass fishing at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament at Lake Guntersville. <BR>All captions: Craig Lamb
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lake Guntersville in late June. Put those words together and it spells out a classic ledge fest. But the pros threw out the textbook of summertime bass fishing at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite Series Tournament at Lake Guntersville. All captions: Craig Lamb
The pros schooled the bass and a new chapter was written when the prevailing patterns went shallow and deep. Jamie Hartman and his peers provided it could be done on Championship Monday. Check out the lures that ran shallow and deep to get them there.
Photo: James Overstreet - The pros schooled the bass and a new chapter was written when the prevailing patterns went shallow and deep. Jamie Hartman and his peers provided it could be done on Championship Monday. Check out the lures that ran shallow and deep to get them there.
Kelley Jaye (71-5; 10th)<BR>“I use this bait all over the country,” said Kelley Jaye of his top lure choice. That was a 1/2-ounce Smithwick Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue. Although the lure is currently available, Jaye prefers an out-of-circulation version he finds on eBay. He prefers its larger profile for bigger quality bites, and its sound-producing qualities.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kelley Jaye (71-5; 10th)“I use this bait all over the country,” said Kelley Jaye of his top lure choice. That was a 1/2-ounce Smithwick Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue. Although the lure is currently available, Jaye prefers an out-of-circulation version he finds on eBay. He prefers its larger profile for bigger quality bites, and its sound-producing qualities.
Brandon Lester (72-0; 9th)<BR>Brandon Lester used a drop shot rig, a Texas rigged worm and a crankbait. That choice was as Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait, retrofitted with No. 1 Mustad KVD Elite Series Triple Grip Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester (72-0; 9th)Brandon Lester used a drop shot rig, a Texas rigged worm and a crankbait. That choice was as Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait, retrofitted with No. 1 Mustad KVD Elite Series Triple Grip Hooks.
He fashioned a drop shot/wacky rig with a 6-inch X Zone Lures Deception Worm on a No. 1 Mustad TitanX Wacky/Neko Rig Hook, with 3/8-ounce weight. Another choice was a 3/4-ounce standup jighead with magnum straight-tail worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He fashioned a drop shot/wacky rig with a 6-inch X Zone Lures Deception Worm on a No. 1 Mustad TitanX Wacky/Neko Rig Hook, with 3/8-ounce weight. Another choice was a 3/4-ounce standup jighead with magnum straight-tail worm.
Hank Cherry Jr. (72-3; 8th)<BR>Hank Cherry relied primarily on two lures. A 7/16-ounce homemade jig with a Berkley Powerbait Power Chunk was a top choice. With the same trailer he used a 7/16-ounce Picasso Lures Dock Rocket.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hank Cherry Jr. (72-3; 8th)Hank Cherry relied primarily on two lures. A 7/16-ounce homemade jig with a Berkley Powerbait Power Chunk was a top choice. With the same trailer he used a 7/16-ounce Picasso Lures Dock Rocket.
Lee Livesay (72-11; 7th)<BR>Lee Livesay primarily relied on three baits. A 3/8-ounce Finch Nasty Bait Co. Glade Blade was a top choice in the grass. He also reached a deep strike zone with diving crankbaits.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lee Livesay (72-11; 7th)Lee Livesay primarily relied on three baits. A 3/8-ounce Finch Nasty Bait Co. Glade Blade was a top choice in the grass. He also reached a deep strike zone with diving crankbaits.
Around lily pads he chose a 3/8-ounce Finch Nasty Universal Swim Jig. For deeper eelgrass he used a 3/4-ounce swim jig with a craw trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Around lily pads he chose a 3/8-ounce Finch Nasty Universal Swim Jig. For deeper eelgrass he used a 3/4-ounce swim jig with a craw trailer.
Chad Pipkens (76-10; 6th)<BR>Chad Pipkens rotated through these two lures. A Texas-rigged 11-inch Damiki Lures Mega Miki Worm (plum) with a 5/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight was a top choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait, white with a coordinating fluke-style trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chad Pipkens (76-10; 6th)Chad Pipkens rotated through these two lures. A Texas-rigged 11-inch Damiki Lures Mega Miki Worm (plum) with a 5/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight was a top choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait, white with a coordinating fluke-style trailer.
Matt Herren (77-7; 5th)<BR>Matt Herren played his strengths by fishing over submerged grasses and around boat docks with flipping and heavy jig tackle. A 3/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Matt Herren Flippin Jig with green pumpkin trailer was a top choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Matt Herren (77-7; 5th)Matt Herren played his strengths by fishing over submerged grasses and around boat docks with flipping and heavy jig tackle. A 3/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Matt Herren Flippin Jig with green pumpkin trailer was a top choice.
He also used a 3.75-inch Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver on 4/0 Haybusa FPP Straight Shank Heavy Cover Hook, with 3/4-ounce Elite Tungsten Worm Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 3.75-inch Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver on 4/0 Haybusa FPP Straight Shank Heavy Cover Hook, with 3/4-ounce Elite Tungsten Worm Weight.
Caleb Sumrall (77-10; 4th)<BR>Caleb Sumrall did what he does best, which was flipping heavy cover with soft plastics. The lure choice was a 4-inch Missile Baits D Bomb on 5/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 1.25-ounce Kajun Boss Outdoors Tungsten Weight. A 2.5-inch Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65 (Killer Gil) was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Caleb Sumrall (77-10; 4th)Caleb Sumrall did what he does best, which was flipping heavy cover with soft plastics. The lure choice was a 4-inch Missile Baits D Bomb on 5/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 1.25-ounce Kajun Boss Outdoors Tungsten Weight. A 2.5-inch Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65 (Killer Gil) was another choice.
Matt Arey (79-4; 2nd)<BR>Matt Arey used a Strike King 8XD Crankbait for deeper fish. He also used a 3/4-ounce handtied prototype football jig with a variety of craw-imitation trailers.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Matt Arey (79-4; 2nd)Matt Arey used a Strike King 8XD Crankbait for deeper fish. He also used a 3/4-ounce handtied prototype football jig with a variety of craw-imitation trailers.
For finesse fishing he used a 5-inch Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick on 1/0 straight shank hook, with 1/16- or 3/32-ounce Titan Tungsten Neko Nail Sinker.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For finesse fishing he used a 5-inch Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick on 1/0 straight shank hook, with 1/16- or 3/32-ounce Titan Tungsten Neko Nail Sinker.
Chris Zaldain (79-4; 2nd)<BR>Chris Zaldain primarily relied on three lure rigs. A top bait was a 6-inch straight-tail worm with 1/16-ounce Eagle Claw Lazer Tungsten Pagoda Nail Weight. A key feature was a Size 2 Eagle Claw Trokar TK137 Pro V Finesse Hook. “The V-Bend keeps the O-ring in place so the hook point remains unobstructed for solid hooksets,” he said.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Zaldain (79-4; 2nd)Chris Zaldain primarily relied on three lure rigs. A top bait was a 6-inch straight-tail worm with 1/16-ounce Eagle Claw Lazer Tungsten Pagoda Nail Weight. A key feature was a Size 2 Eagle Claw Trokar TK137 Pro V Finesse Hook. “The V-Bend keeps the O-ring in place so the hook point remains unobstructed for solid hooksets,” he said.
Another choice was a Megabass Big M 4.0. “It’s a medium oversized knocking crankbait,” he added.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another choice was a Megabass Big M 4.0. “It’s a medium oversized knocking crankbait,” he added.
Fellow Elite Series pro Yusuke Miyazaki gave him a 7-inch flutter spoon made for Diawa that proved key on Friday and Saturday. “My wife Trait saw it on social media. I asked Yusuke about it in the parking lot at the ramp. He was gracious enough to give me one.”
Photo: Andy Crawford - Fellow Elite Series pro Yusuke Miyazaki gave him a 7-inch flutter spoon made for Diawa that proved key on Friday and Saturday. “My wife Trait saw it on social media. I asked Yusuke about it in the parking lot at the ramp. He was gracious enough to give me one.”
Jamie Hartman (79-10; 1st)<BR>Jamie Hartman scored the win with this lineup. A top choice was a 4-inch Riot Baits Fuzzy Beaver (Blue Steel), on 5/0 Owner 4x Jungle Flippin’ Hook with 1.25-ounce weight. Hartman also used a new 4.75-inch Riot Baits Synth Worm designed by he and fellow Elite Series pro Greg Diplama. Hartman used a 1/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce pencil weight to complete the drop shot rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jamie Hartman (79-10; 1st)Jamie Hartman scored the win with this lineup. A top choice was a 4-inch Riot Baits Fuzzy Beaver (Blue Steel), on 5/0 Owner 4x Jungle Flippin’ Hook with 1.25-ounce weight. Hartman also used a new 4.75-inch Riot Baits Synth Worm designed by he and fellow Elite Series pro Greg Diplama. Hartman used a 1/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce pencil weight to complete the drop shot rig.
He also used a 3/4-ounce custom football jig with a green pumpkin 3.75-inch Riot Baits R Craw trailer. The difference-maker was a bone-colored walking bait he used on Championship Monday to catch 20 pounds in the first 45 minutes of fishing.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 3/4-ounce custom football jig with a green pumpkin 3.75-inch Riot Baits R Craw trailer. The difference-maker was a bone-colored walking bait he used on Championship Monday to catch 20 pounds in the first 45 minutes of fishing.