Top lures at Sabine River

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Guerilla bass fishing in the marsh. That sums up the week at Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open #2. Check out the lures used by the Top 12 on the Sabine River and its maze of backwaters, swamps and sloughs. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Nate Sims - Guerilla bass fishing in the marsh. That sums up the week at Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open #2. Check out the lures used by the Top 12 on the Sabine River and its maze of backwaters, swamps and sloughs. All captions: Craig Lamb
<b>Terry Luedtke</b><br> “I bought every one of these I could find on eBay,” said the 12th-place finisher. Luedtke used this old school, discontinued Excalibur Bill Dance Suspending Fat Free Fry.
Photo: Nate Sims - Terry Luedtke “I bought every one of these I could find on eBay,” said the 12th-place finisher. Luedtke used this old school, discontinued Excalibur Bill Dance Suspending Fat Free Fry.
“The sides are flatter than the current Fat Free Shad. They run really well through grass,” he explained. Even better than a spinnerbait, which he tried without any luck. The crankbait ran just right, over grass edges, at 5 feet to trigger strikes.
Photo: Nate Sims - “The sides are flatter than the current Fat Free Shad. They run really well through grass,” he explained. Even better than a spinnerbait, which he tried without any luck. The crankbait ran just right, over grass edges, at 5 feet to trigger strikes.
<b>Jonathan Simon</b><br> “I fished ditches and points in the marsh with a frog; rock points and pilings with a crankbait.” That summarizes the 11th-place strategy of Jonathon Simon. He started with this black Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65. Simon also cranked this Strike King KVD HC Shallow Squarebill 1.5 Crankbait, Citrus Shad.
Photo: Nate Sims - Jonathan Simon “I fished ditches and points in the marsh with a frog; rock points and pilings with a crankbait.” That summarizes the 11th-place strategy of Jonathon Simon. He started with this black Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 65. Simon also cranked this Strike King KVD HC Shallow Squarebill 1.5 Crankbait, Citrus Shad.
<b>John Garrett</b><br> “Blue crab floated up in the livewell,” said John Garrett, the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College champ. That clue solidified his choice to match the food. The 10th-place finisher used a 4/0 Owner 4x Jungle Flipping Hook, matched with 5/16 ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight. He added this Strike King Rage Tail Denny Brauer Structure Bug, Blue Bug color.
Photo: Nate Sims - John Garrett “Blue crab floated up in the livewell,” said John Garrett, the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College champ. That clue solidified his choice to match the food. The 10th-place finisher used a 4/0 Owner 4x Jungle Flipping Hook, matched with 5/16 ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight. He added this Strike King Rage Tail Denny Brauer Structure Bug, Blue Bug color.
<b>Trey Smith</b><br> Trey Smith finished ninth using two baits for reaction and finesse bites.
Photo: Nate Sims - Trey Smith Trey Smith finished ninth using two baits for reaction and finesse bites.
For finesse he used this 1/4-ounce Dem Jigs with 4-inch Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Cane Thumper.
Photo: Nate Sims - For finesse he used this 1/4-ounce Dem Jigs with 4-inch Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Cane Thumper.
Cranking produced results with this Phil Hunt Custom Lures Old School Balsa Baits SquareBill, Backwater Bream pattern. Note the red treble hook for added strike appeal.
Photo: Nate Sims - Cranking produced results with this Phil Hunt Custom Lures Old School Balsa Baits SquareBill, Backwater Bream pattern. Note the red treble hook for added strike appeal.
<b>Matthew Delaney</b><br> “The combination of wood and lily pads was key,” said Matthew Delaney, finishing eighth. He used a 4/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook, matched with a 5/16-ounce Elite Tungsten Flippin’ Weight. Completing the rig was a V&M Baits Wild Thang Craw, Junebug or Sapphire Junebug.
Photo: Nate Sims - Matthew Delaney “The combination of wood and lily pads was key,” said Matthew Delaney, finishing eighth. He used a 4/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook, matched with a 5/16-ounce Elite Tungsten Flippin’ Weight. Completing the rig was a V&M Baits Wild Thang Craw, Junebug or Sapphire Junebug.
<b>Josh Bertrand</b><br> To finish seventh, Josh Bertrand used topwater and finesse baits. He used this 4-inch Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss Havoc Pit Boss. A 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Flipping Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight completed the finesse rig.
Photo: Nate Sims - Josh Bertrand To finish seventh, Josh Bertrand used topwater and finesse baits. He used this 4-inch Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss Havoc Pit Boss. A 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Flipping Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight completed the finesse rig.
For topwater action, and fun, he hooked up with this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, Leopard pattern.
Photo: Nate Sims - For topwater action, and fun, he hooked up with this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, Leopard pattern.
<b>Randy Sullivan</b><br> To finish sixth, Randy Sullivan used this 3/8 ounce Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig. For strike appeal he added a Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub. “It was a key bait all week.”
Photo: Nate Sims - Randy Sullivan To finish sixth, Randy Sullivan used this 3/8 ounce Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig. For strike appeal he added a Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub. “It was a key bait all week.”
He also used a Berkley PowerBait Worm, Blue Flake, rigged to a 3/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 1/2-ounce sinker. Sullivan also chose this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60.
Photo: Nate Sims - He also used a Berkley PowerBait Worm, Blue Flake, rigged to a 3/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 1/2-ounce sinker. Sullivan also chose this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60.
<b>Shane Cormier</b><br> To finish fifth, Shane Cormier used these topwaters. Choices included a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 190, Bone.
Photo: Nate Sims - Shane Cormier To finish fifth, Shane Cormier used these topwaters. Choices included a River2Sea Whopper Plopper 190, Bone.
Another choice was a classic black 3/8-ounce Storm Rattlin Chug Bug.
Photo: Nate Sims - Another choice was a classic black 3/8-ounce Storm Rattlin Chug Bug.
<b>Jeff Avery</b><br> Old school sentiment describes this classic lure. It’s a Heddon Chugger Spook, the old style, used by Jeff Avery to finish fourth. “My grandfather passed away about six years ago and it came to mind before the tournament.”
Photo: Nate Sims - Jeff Avery Old school sentiment describes this classic lure. It’s a Heddon Chugger Spook, the old style, used by Jeff Avery to finish fourth. “My grandfather passed away about six years ago and it came to mind before the tournament.”
The old bait got a facelift, too. Sturdier hooks and a tail feather were the improvements. “It’s just a cool, old lure that gave the fish a different look.”
Photo: Nate Sims - The old bait got a facelift, too. Sturdier hooks and a tail feather were the improvements. “It’s just a cool, old lure that gave the fish a different look.”
<b>Chad Morgenthaler</b><br> Chad Morgenthaler finished third using this finesse bait. The choice was a Missile Baits D Bomb. He rigged it to a 5/0 Owner Straight Shank Hook. Morgenthaler used 1/4-, 3/4- and 5/16-ounce Reins Tungsten Weights to keep the lure inside the heavy cover strike zone.
Photo: Nate Sims - Chad Morgenthaler Chad Morgenthaler finished third using this finesse bait. The choice was a Missile Baits D Bomb. He rigged it to a 5/0 Owner Straight Shank Hook. Morgenthaler used 1/4-, 3/4- and 5/16-ounce Reins Tungsten Weights to keep the lure inside the heavy cover strike zone.
<b>T-Roy Broussard</b><br> “I was in alligator holes where I’ve hunted and fished all my life.” That’s the area chosen by T-Roy Broussared to finish second. He used a 5-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad, KVD Magic or watermelon red.
Photo: Nate Sims - T-Roy Broussard “I was in alligator holes where I’ve hunted and fished all my life.” That’s the area chosen by T-Roy Broussared to finish second. He used a 5-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad, KVD Magic or watermelon red.
He used a 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Worm Hook to complete the weightless rig. “The Caffeine Shad weighs more than the average soft plastic jerkbait and that was key.” Making extra long casts and burning the bait back to the boat were the reasons.
Photo: Nate Sims - He used a 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Worm Hook to complete the weightless rig. “The Caffeine Shad weighs more than the average soft plastic jerkbait and that was key.” Making extra long casts and burning the bait back to the boat were the reasons.
<b>Carl Svebek III</b><br> “The frog was a game changer that caught key big fish,” said Carl Svebek III. The winner chose this Bass Pro Shops Kermy Frog. He fished it through lily pads in clear water, another key.
Photo: Nate Sims - Carl Svebek III “The frog was a game changer that caught key big fish,” said Carl Svebek III. The winner chose this Bass Pro Shops Kermy Frog. He fished it through lily pads in clear water, another key.
“It sounds ridiculous, but this weightless fluke sank just deep enough to get their attention on the fall.” Svebek used this Zoom Super Fluke, rigged to a 4/0 Bass Pro Shops XPS Hook. He tied a swivel 1.5 feet above the fluke to add weight.
Photo: Nate Sims - “It sounds ridiculous, but this weightless fluke sank just deep enough to get their attention on the fall.” Svebek used this Zoom Super Fluke, rigged to a 4/0 Bass Pro Shops XPS Hook. He tied a swivel 1.5 feet above the fluke to add weight.