Top lures at Lake Lanier

Posted on
A second week of big bass, weighed on the biggest stage of them all and making dreams come true. This time the prized catch was fat spotted bass at the Toyota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Lanier. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: B.A.S.S. - A second week of big bass, weighed on the biggest stage of them all and making dreams come true. This time the prized catch was fat spotted bass at the Toyota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Lanier. All captions: Craig Lamb
“I don’t look at myself as a star. I’m just an ordinary dude who loves to fish.” Paul Mueller came up through the B.A.S.S. Nation, won the 2014 championship and now adds this blue trophy to the mantle. Check out the finesse lure lineup used by Mueller and the top pros to catch big spotted bass on Lanier.
Photo: Andy Crawford - “I don’t look at myself as a star. I’m just an ordinary dude who loves to fish.” Paul Mueller came up through the B.A.S.S. Nation, won the 2014 championship and now adds this blue trophy to the mantle. Check out the finesse lure lineup used by Mueller and the top pros to catch big spotted bass on Lanier.
<b>Chris Johnston (10th; 57-7)</b><br> Chris Johnston made it back-to-back Championship Sundays with a Ned rig and crankbait. That choice was the Evergreen Faith Jerkbait. He made the Ned Rig with a Keitech Swing Impact 3.3 FAT on 1/4-ounce ball head jig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Johnston (10th; 57-7) Chris Johnston made it back-to-back Championship Sundays with a Ned rig and crankbait. That choice was the Evergreen Faith Jerkbait. He made the Ned Rig with a Keitech Swing Impact 3.3 FAT on 1/4-ounce ball head jig.
<b>Clent Davis (9th; 58-8) </b><br> Clent Davis alternated between a wacky rigged worm and jerkbait. That choice was a Duel Hardcore Minnow Flat SP.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Clent Davis (9th; 58-8) Clent Davis alternated between a wacky rigged worm and jerkbait. That choice was a Duel Hardcore Minnow Flat SP.
A 5-inch Mister Twister Comida on 1/0 wacky rig worm hook was the other choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 5-inch Mister Twister Comida on 1/0 wacky rig worm hook was the other choice.
<b>Stetson Blaylock (8th; 59-13) </b><br> Stetson Blayock used a finesse approach on Lake Lanier. A 5-inch YUM Dinger rigged wacky style with a No. 1 Gamakatsu TGW Drop Shot Hook was a top producer. So was a 4.5-inch YUM Pulse swimbait rigged on 1/4-ounce jighead.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Stetson Blaylock (8th; 59-13) Stetson Blayock used a finesse approach on Lake Lanier. A 5-inch YUM Dinger rigged wacky style with a No. 1 Gamakatsu TGW Drop Shot Hook was a top producer. So was a 4.5-inch YUM Pulse swimbait rigged on 1/4-ounce jighead.
<b>Brandon Card (7th; 60-4) </b><br> Brandon Card used a swimbait made for him by friend Bryan McGill. Card fished the namesake 3-inch BC Shad on a 3/8-ounce jighead. “The smaller hook size was perfect for a small 3-inch swimbait, and the weight kept it in the 30-foot strike zone.” Card also used a generic 3-inch swimbait on the jighead.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Card (7th; 60-4) Brandon Card used a swimbait made for him by friend Bryan McGill. Card fished the namesake 3-inch BC Shad on a 3/8-ounce jighead. “The smaller hook size was perfect for a small 3-inch swimbait, and the weight kept it in the 30-foot strike zone.” Card also used a generic 3-inch swimbait on the jighead.
<b>Bill Weidler (6th; 62-3) </b><br> “I pre-fished on Smith Lake (Alabama) and caught spotted bass fishing vertically from 40 to 60 feet and just transferred the pattern over here.” To get the job done Bill Weidler used a Dirty Jigs Matt Stefan Guppy Swimbait Jig Head. To that he rigged a 2.75-inch Z Man Finesse T.R.D. that is designed for wacky rigs and Ned rigs.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bill Weidler (6th; 62-3) “I pre-fished on Smith Lake (Alabama) and caught spotted bass fishing vertically from 40 to 60 feet and just transferred the pattern over here.” To get the job done Bill Weidler used a Dirty Jigs Matt Stefan Guppy Swimbait Jig Head. To that he rigged a 2.75-inch Z Man Finesse T.R.D. that is designed for wacky rigs and Ned rigs.
<b>Todd Auten (5th; 63-6) </b><br> Todd Auten used the Livetarget Yearling Bait that suspends at depths of 4 feet. He chose Blue Chartreuse Shad until Championship Sunday, when he marked the sides of the lure with a red marker as the water turned dingy. He also used a 3/8-ounce Zorro Baits Booza Bug with 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Todd Auten (5th; 63-6) Todd Auten used the Livetarget Yearling Bait that suspends at depths of 4 feet. He chose Blue Chartreuse Shad until Championship Sunday, when he marked the sides of the lure with a red marker as the water turned dingy. He also used a 3/8-ounce Zorro Baits Booza Bug with 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw for a trailer.
<b>David Mullins (4th; 65-14) </b><br> “I targeted fish feeding on crawfish so the color was key,” said David Mullins. A Red Crawdad Rapala DT6 was the choice. “It stayed in the 6- to 7-foot strike zone longer so that and the color were the reasons why I chose the crankbait.” Mullins also used a Megabass Ito Version 110 Jerkbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - David Mullins (4th; 65-14) “I targeted fish feeding on crawfish so the color was key,” said David Mullins. A Red Crawdad Rapala DT6 was the choice. “It stayed in the 6- to 7-foot strike zone longer so that and the color were the reasons why I chose the crankbait.” Mullins also used a Megabass Ito Version 110 Jerkbait.
<b>Keith Combs (3rd; 66-1) </b><br> Two Strike King crankbaits and a shaky head produced for Keith Combs. He alternated between a Strike King Pro Model 3XD and 5XD depending on strike zone depth. “The 3XD worked for my early bite when the fish were shallow up on the rocks.”
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Combs (3rd; 66-1) Two Strike King crankbaits and a shaky head produced for Keith Combs. He alternated between a Strike King Pro Model 3XD and 5XD depending on strike zone depth. “The 3XD worked for my early bite when the fish were shallow up on the rocks.”
Combs also used a 6.5-inch Strike King Perfect Plastics KVD Finesse Worm rigged on a 3/8-ounce Shakedown Head.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Combs also used a 6.5-inch Strike King Perfect Plastics KVD Finesse Worm rigged on a 3/8-ounce Shakedown Head.
<b>Chris Zaldain (2nd; 68-2) </b><br> Chris Zaldain rotated through four finesse rigs to maximize his opportunities for spotted bass feeding on blueback herring. His primary lure was a 3-inch Megabass Spark Shad on a 3/8-ounce jighead. To that rig he also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Zaldain (2nd; 68-2) Chris Zaldain rotated through four finesse rigs to maximize his opportunities for spotted bass feeding on blueback herring. His primary lure was a 3-inch Megabass Spark Shad on a 3/8-ounce jighead. To that rig he also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad.
For active fish in suspended timber he used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad on a 1/2-ounce Santone Lures Z Spin Head.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For active fish in suspended timber he used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad on a 1/2-ounce Santone Lures Z Spin Head.
Zaldain made drop shots with a 3-inch Hazedong and 4.5-inch Roboworm rigged on a Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook 1.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Zaldain made drop shots with a 3-inch Hazedong and 4.5-inch Roboworm rigged on a Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook 1.
<b>Paul Mueller (1st; 69-0) </b><br> Paul Mueller primarily relied on a swimbait with modifications made to the jig head. A 1/2-ounce Do-It Molds Herring Head with 3/0 Gamakatsu 111 Jig Hook in size 3/0 was the choice. Mueller removed the blade from the underspin-style jig. To that he added a 3.25 Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad. Mueller also used a 3/8-ounce Do It Molds Freestyle Jig Head with a No. 1 Mustad Hook. He added a 3-inch Reins Bubbling Shaker to complete the rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Paul Mueller (1st; 69-0) Paul Mueller primarily relied on a swimbait with modifications made to the jig head. A 1/2-ounce Do-It Molds Herring Head with 3/0 Gamakatsu 111 Jig Hook in size 3/0 was the choice. Mueller removed the blade from the underspin-style jig. To that he added a 3.25 Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad. Mueller also used a 3/8-ounce Do It Molds Freestyle Jig Head with a No. 1 Mustad Hook. He added a 3-inch Reins Bubbling Shaker to complete the rig.
“On Championship Sunday I wrote this Bible verse on my hand. It randomly came up on my Bible app. I believe it was a message from God to never give up. It was going to be the most challenging day of my career.” The verse is from Psalm 37.5: Commit thy way unto the Lord and He shall bring it to pass.
Photo: Andy Crawford - “On Championship Sunday I wrote this Bible verse on my hand. It randomly came up on my Bible app. I believe it was a message from God to never give up. It was going to be the most challenging day of my career.” The verse is from Psalm 37.5: Commit thy way unto the Lord and He shall bring it to pass.