Photo: Andy Crawford - The scale of the spawning cycle tilted more towards postspawn at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open at Harris Chain. That made timing everything when setting up to intercept bass on the move. All captions: Craig Lamb Photo: Andy Crawford - Early on Championship Saturday, Keith Tuma timed it just right, catching this key largemouth for a 2-pound margin of victory and overall weight of 58 pounds, 13 ounces.
Photo: James Overstreet - See what lures did best on the Harris Chain for Tuma and the top finishers. Photo: Andy Crawford - Michael Webster (10th; 36-0) A Berkley Frittside 5 crankbait and a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm, on a 1/2-ounce shaky head jig, were the two key baits used by Michael Webster. Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Dover (9th; 44-5) Chris Dover rotated through three baits. A 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Reaction Innovations Little Dipper was a key bait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Zoom Z Craw, rigged with a 1/2-ounce tungsten weight, and a 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippinâ Hook. With the same size and brand hook, he also used a Zoom Speed Worm, with a 1/8-ounce tungsten weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Jacob Powroznik (8th; 46-9) A primary big bass bait for Jacob Powroznik was a 1/2-ounce V&M Baits Pacemaker Series Jig, with a V&M J-Bug. Photo: Andy Crawford - In thicker cover, he used a flipping setup with the J-Bug.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Blake Smith (7th; 46-10) A Berkey Cane Walker in the morning was a key bait for Blake Smith. Photo: Andy Crawford - Later on, he used a 6-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged a 5/0 Fusion19 Hook, with a 5/16-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Gibbs (6th; 47-4) A key bait for Scott Gibbs was a Gambler Burner Worm, rigged on an Owner Hook, with a 3/16-ounce Titan Tungsten ProSeries Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another choice was a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 4.8, rigged on an Owner Flashy Swimmer. Photo: Andy Crawford - Jeremy Gordon (5th; 48-0) Jeremy Gordonâs primary setup was a Zoom Magnum Speed Worm, rigged on a 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 Offset Worm Hook, with a 1/4-ounce WOO! Tungsten weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Jacob Foutz (4th; 48-14) A Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait was a key lure for Jacob Fouts.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm, rigged on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Hook, with a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Patrick Walters (3rd; 55-14) Patrick Walters fished his second championship final in three tournaments, this time at the Harris Chain. Photo: Andy Crawford - Walters used Zoom Zlinky and Zoom Fluke Stick, which he used with Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and wacky rigs. The latter setup was his key bait. He rigged it weightless on a No. 1 VMC Neko Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Alex Wetherell (2nd; 56-13) A search bait and finesse rig were the baits of choice for Alex Wetherell. Photo: Andy Crawford - A key search bait for Wetherell was a 3/4-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, rigged with a Lunker City Ribster Worm. Photo: Andy Crawford - Later in the day, he used a Carolina rig, made with a 7-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 5/0 Lunker City Texposer Hook, with a 1/2-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Tuma (1st; 58-13) Keith Tuma made what he believed was a key adjustment to his bladed jig. âEverybody else who was in the area was throwing ChatterBaits with paddletail trailers, but I think that the little subtle difference in my trailer made the fish want to eat,â he said. âI was getting bit when other guys werenât.â Photo: Andy Crawford - That choice was a Castaic Bats Jerky J, rigged on a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer.
