Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester won his first Bassmaster Tournament with a come-from-behind win in the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
Take a look at the full lineup of lures the top 10 used in Florida.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cole Sands (10th; 37-1) Cole Sands was a player on the final day of the tournament, and he shared his favorite lures of the week. Photo: Andy Crawford - Sands top picks included this Yo-Zuri 3DB 110 SP jerkbait (Pearl Shad).Photo: Andy Crawford - Sands also liked this Z-Man Jackhammer ChatterBait (Golden Shiner) with a Gambler Lures Komodo on the back. He moved the lure like a hair jig through clumps of grass to get reaction bites.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Zack Birge (9th; 37-8) Zack Birge shows off his favorite lures of the week. Photo: Andy Crawford - Birge said this Yo-Zuri Vibe lipless crankbait (in a non-traditional golden color) was key.Photo: Andy Crawford - Birge holds the Omega swim jig (Bluegill) he threw on the Kissimmee Chain, hoping to attract the biggest bites.
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Soukup (8th; 39-6) John Soukup had a top 10 finish on the Kissimmee Chain. Photo: Andy Crawford - Soukup shows off the Spro McStick (P.M. Twilight) he used in open water this week. Photo: Andy Crawford - Soukup displays the YUM Thumpn’ Worm (Junebug) he used with a 3/8-ounce weight. He was able to flip and swim the lure for quality bites.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cole Drummond (7th; 40-0) Cole Drummond displays the lures that got him into the top 10 on the Kissimmee Chain. Photo: Andy Crawford - One of Drummond’s key baits was a Zoom Magnum Ultravibe Speedworm (chartreuse tail) on 65-pound Power Pro braided line.Photo: Andy Crawford - Drummond also used a Carolina-rigged Zoom Super Fluke (pumpkin spice) with 15-pound leader on 20-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon line.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Drummond also made best use of a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Jackhammer ChatterBait with a Keitech trailer on the back. Photo: Andy Crawford - Ryan Hoover (6th; 40-4) Ryan Hoover shows off his lures prior to the final day of the Southern Open. Photo: Andy Crawford - This Bitter’s Speed Worm (7-inch, Junebug) was the go-to lure when Hoover cast to bedding fish.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Texas-rigged Bitter’s black and blue 6-inch worm with a 1/4-ounce weight also was key for Hoover.Photo: Andy Crawford - When he was in thicker grass, Hoover used this Dirty Jigs No-Jack swim jig (black/blue/purple) with a Gambler Easy Swimmer (Gold Rush) and a 1/2-ounce head.Photo: Andy Crawford - Kenta Kimura (5th; 40-11) Kenta Kimura shows off the lures that worked best for him on the Kissimmee Chain.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kimura used this Red Glow square-bill crankbait in murkier water on the Kissimmee Chain.Photo: Andy Crawford - When he was in more clear water, Kimura used this Megabass Oneten Plus One (shad color) for his best catches.Photo: Andy Crawford - Adam Neu (4th; 41-13) Adam Neu holds his three best lures from the first Southern Open of 2022.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Neu’s top lures of the week included this Strike King Red Eyed Shad, with gold and black features, to match the baitfish he spotted in the Kissimmee Chain. It was best for the grass flats and edges of reed stands, he said.Photo: Andy Crawford - Neu also leaned on Strike King Rage Bug lures (both Green Pumpkin/Blue Swirl and Junebug colors). He switched up the lures, depending on water clarity, and used them with 3/8-ounce tungsten weights.Photo: Andy Crawford - Tom Frink (3rd; 47-8) Tom Frink shows some of his top lures from the Kissimmee Chain.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Here’s Frink with a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (Florabama color). He used it on 65-pound Berkley X9 braid with a 1 1/2-ounce Picasso tungsten flipping weight, 5/0 RYUGI Tantrum Control hook.Photo: Andy Crawford - Frink also used a 5-inch stick bait (plum) with a 4/0 RYUGI Infini hook and RYUGI black bean 1/4-ounce tungsten weight on 20-pound Berkley fluorocarbon. Photo: Andy Crawford - His third go-to lure of the derby was an Evergreen Buzzer Beater with RYUGI pierce treble hooks (four on the front and back) with 20-pound Berkley fluorocarbon.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Joey Cifuentes III (2nd; 48-12) Joey Cifuentes III proudly displays his top lures at the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Photo: Andy Crawford - Cifuentes points out the Berkley Stunna (Northern Lights) jerkbait he used to perfection in the tournament.Photo: Andy Crawford - Cifuentes also got key bites on this Berkley Crash Craw (Black with Blue Fleck). He paired it with a 1 1/2-ounce weight and a Berkley Fusion 19 hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester (1st; 51-2) Elite Series pro Brandon Lester credited his win in the Southern Open thanks in part to this gear. Photo: Andy Crawford - Lester favored a 6-inch Gambler Fat Ace stick worm with a 4/0 Mustad Grip-Pen Big Bite hook and 3/16-ounce Mustad tungsten weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Lester also relied on a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Jackhammer ChatterBait (Golden Shiner color) with a 3.3-inch Keitech (Tennessee Shad) trailer on the back.
