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Top lures at St. Johns 2021

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Championship Sunday was stacked with talent so good that jumping six places to score a win would be tough at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Series at St. Johns River. <br><br> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Steve Bowman - Championship Sunday was stacked with talent so good that jumping six places to score a win would be tough at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Series at St. Johns River. All captions: Craig Lamb
Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Bryan New did just that with an impressive winning margin of 10 pounds. New’s four-day climb began in 22nd place, then ninth and then sixth place. He knocked out the lights on Sunday with a foursome of 5-pounders and another bass over 4 pounds.
Photo: James Overstreet - Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Bryan New did just that with an impressive winning margin of 10 pounds. New’s four-day climb began in 22nd place, then ninth and then sixth place. He knocked out the lights on Sunday with a foursome of 5-pounders and another bass over 4 pounds.
“I’m going to be ready for anything,” said New, when this photo was taken prior to the start of Championship Sunday. Not pictured are another dozen rod combos leaned against the passenger seat. See the primary baits used by New and the other top contenders on the St. Johns River.
Photo: Andy Crawford - “I’m going to be ready for anything,” said New, when this photo was taken prior to the start of Championship Sunday. Not pictured are another dozen rod combos leaned against the passenger seat. See the primary baits used by New and the other top contenders on the St. Johns River.
<b>Gary Clouse (10th; 54-1) </b><br> Gary Clouse led the first two days of the tournament, targeting largemouth roaming around small patches of reeds scattered across shallow flats.
Photo: Steve Bowman - Gary Clouse (10th; 54-1) Gary Clouse led the first two days of the tournament, targeting largemouth roaming around small patches of reeds scattered across shallow flats.
Clouse’s primary baits included a Zoom Magnum Ultravibe Speed Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Clouse’s primary baits included a Zoom Magnum Ultravibe Speed Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight.
A 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jackhammer with a Yamamoto Zacko was another top choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jackhammer with a Yamamoto Zacko was another top choice.
<b>Derek Hudnall (9th; 63-11) </b><br> Derek Hudnall fished heavy cover with a weightless wacky rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Derek Hudnall (9th; 63-11) Derek Hudnall fished heavy cover with a weightless wacky rig.
Hudnall made it with a Missile Baits The 48, rigged to a No. 2 Gamakatsu G Finesse Stinger Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hudnall made it with a Missile Baits The 48, rigged to a No. 2 Gamakatsu G Finesse Stinger Hook.
<b>Bryan Schmitt (8th; 64-8) </b><br> Bryan Schmitt’s pattern included targeting largemouth around isolated lily pads.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Bryan Schmitt (8th; 64-8) Bryan Schmitt’s pattern included targeting largemouth around isolated lily pads.
Schmitt used a 3/8-ounce Hayabusa Bryan Schmitt Signature Serie Swim Jig, with a Missile Baits Shockwave Swimbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Schmitt used a 3/8-ounce Hayabusa Bryan Schmitt Signature Serie Swim Jig, with a Missile Baits Shockwave Swimbait.
He also used a weightless wacky rig, made with a Missile Baits The 48, with a Hayabusa Spin Muscle Weedless Wacky Hook. Another choice was a Missile Baits Quiver Worm, rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa WRM959 Wide Gap Offset Heavy Duty Hook, with 3/16-ounce Reins Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a weightless wacky rig, made with a Missile Baits The 48, with a Hayabusa Spin Muscle Weedless Wacky Hook. Another choice was a Missile Baits Quiver Worm, rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa WRM959 Wide Gap Offset Heavy Duty Hook, with 3/16-ounce Reins Tungsten Weight.
<b>Cliff Prince (7th; 66-2) </b><br> Cliff Prince ran a rotation of lily pads and heavy vegetation, chiefly on the St. Johns River and its canals.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Cliff Prince (7th; 66-2) Cliff Prince ran a rotation of lily pads and heavy vegetation, chiefly on the St. Johns River and its canals.
Prince primarily used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Bass Assassin Lit’l Boss.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Prince primarily used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Bass Assassin Lit’l Boss.
<b>Hank Cherry (6th; 66-5) </b><br> Hank Cherry did what he does best, which is target bass in heavy cover.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Hank Cherry (6th; 66-5) Hank Cherry did what he does best, which is target bass in heavy cover.
Cherry’s primary lure was a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged on a 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook, with a 1/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cherry’s primary lure was a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged on a 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook, with a 1/8-ounce weight.
A Brian’s Bee Series Propbait was another top pick.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Brian’s Bee Series Propbait was another top pick.
<b>Mark Menendez (5th; 67-5) </b><br> Mark Menendez focused on a flipping and pitching pattern in Crescent Lake and Dunn’s Creek. Lure targets included cypress trees and scattered lily pads.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Mark Menendez (5th; 67-5) Mark Menendez focused on a flipping and pitching pattern in Crescent Lake and Dunn’s Creek. Lure targets included cypress trees and scattered lily pads.
Menendez rigged up with a Strike King Rage Tail Craw.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Menendez rigged up with a Strike King Rage Tail Craw.
He rigged it on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook, with 1/4- or 5/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weights.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He rigged it on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Worm Hook, with 1/4- or 5/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weights.
<b>Patrick Walters (4th; 68-13) </b><br> Patrick Walters made a run at the title, choosing to use a wacky rig and this jerkbait.
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Patrick Walters (4th; 68-13) Patrick Walters made a run at the title, choosing to use a wacky rig and this jerkbait.
Walters made the wacky rig with a Zoom Zlinky, rigged on a No. 1 VMC Neko Hook, with a VMC Neko Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Walters made the wacky rig with a Zoom Zlinky, rigged on a No. 1 VMC Neko Hook, with a VMC Neko Weight.
The jerkbait was a 13 Fishing Loco Special.
Photo: Andy Crawford - The jerkbait was a 13 Fishing Loco Special.
<b>Seth Feider (3rd; 69-6) </b><br> Seth Feider primarily used a Z-Man Bang StickZ, rigged on a 3/0 VMC Straight Shank Hook, with a 3/16-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Seth Feider (3rd; 69-6) Seth Feider primarily used a Z-Man Bang StickZ, rigged on a 3/0 VMC Straight Shank Hook, with a 3/16-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weight.
<b>Greg Hackney (2nd; 69-14) </b><br> Greg Hackney spent the tournament in Lake George, doing what he does the best. That, of course, is winching bass from heavy cover.
Photo: Steve Bowman - Greg Hackney (2nd; 69-14) Greg Hackney spent the tournament in Lake George, doing what he does the best. That, of course, is winching bass from heavy cover.
Hackney’s primary lure was a Strike King Rage Bug, rigged on a 5/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook, with a 1/4-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hackney’s primary lure was a Strike King Rage Bug, rigged on a 5/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook, with a 1/4-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight.
<b>Bryan New (1st; 79-7)</b><br> Bryan New fished a crankbait over bars, and a Texas-rigged stick worm around isolated lily pads. “On an isolated target, it’s easier to pick out where the fish are sitting, and they have more light penetration,” said New, of the spawning fish he targeted.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Bryan New (1st; 79-7) Bryan New fished a crankbait over bars, and a Texas-rigged stick worm around isolated lily pads. “On an isolated target, it’s easier to pick out where the fish are sitting, and they have more light penetration,” said New, of the spawning fish he targeted.
New’s primary lure was a 5-inch Zoom Zlinky, rigged on a 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook, with a pegged 1/8th-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - New’s primary lure was a 5-inch Zoom Zlinky, rigged on a 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook, with a pegged 1/8th-ounce tungsten weight.
For offshore fishing he used a 1/2-ounce Berkley Warpig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For offshore fishing he used a 1/2-ounce Berkley Warpig.