Top lures of Toledo Bend 2017

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Toledo Bend in springtime. A lunar phase nearing the full moon. Add the nation’s top bass anglers and you have the makings of a slugfest on 185,000 acres of bass fishing heaven. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Thomas Allen - Toledo Bend in springtime. A lunar phase nearing the full moon. Add the nation’s top bass anglers and you have the makings of a slugfest on 185,000 acres of bass fishing heaven. All captions: Craig Lamb
Toledo Bend and big bass go together. Just ask John Murray. He won the tournament with 77 pounds, 10 ounces, fishing around a textbook transition area between deep water and spawning areas.
Photo: James Overstreet - Toledo Bend and big bass go together. Just ask John Murray. He won the tournament with 77 pounds, 10 ounces, fishing around a textbook transition area between deep water and spawning areas.
Murray has fished the Elite Series since it began in 2006. “To finally really win one feels like a dream. Everyone says when it’s your day, it’s your day. Today was my day.” Indeed. Here are the lures used by Murray and the Top 12 to make their day at the Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend presented by Econo Lodge.
Photo: James Overstreet - Murray has fished the Elite Series since it began in 2006. “To finally really win one feels like a dream. Everyone says when it’s your day, it’s your day. Today was my day.” Indeed. Here are the lures used by Murray and the Top 12 to make their day at the Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend presented by Econo Lodge.
<b>Matt Lee</b><br> “It came together like fishing back home on Guntersville,” said the 12th place angler. Lee targeted largemouth staging in isolated hydrilla on a spawning flat. His primary lure was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Pure Poison Swim Jig. For more strike appeal he added a 4.5-inch King KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow. For both lures he chose bluegill color to mimic the bait fed upon by the bass.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Matt Lee “It came together like fishing back home on Guntersville,” said the 12th place angler. Lee targeted largemouth staging in isolated hydrilla on a spawning flat. His primary lure was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Pure Poison Swim Jig. For more strike appeal he added a 4.5-inch King KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow. For both lures he chose bluegill color to mimic the bait fed upon by the bass.
<b>Randy Howell</b><br> “I went junk and sight fishing to make it happen,” said the 11th-place angler. For reaction strikes he used this Livingston JerkMaster 121 Team Jerkbait. Note the red Daiichi hooks up front. “The bleeding red makes the fish bite harder and gets the whole bait in their mouth.” Howell caught a key 6-13 on Day 1 using the jerkbait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Randy Howell “I went junk and sight fishing to make it happen,” said the 11th-place angler. For reaction strikes he used this Livingston JerkMaster 121 Team Jerkbait. Note the red Daiichi hooks up front. “The bleeding red makes the fish bite harder and gets the whole bait in their mouth.” Howell caught a key 6-13 on Day 1 using the jerkbait.
For bedding fish he used this 3.75-inch Yamamoto Flappin Hog II in the 955 pattern. “I removed the two rear flappers for a crawfish-like action.” A 4/0 Daiichi HD Flipping Hook and 3/8-ounce Bass Pro Shops XPS tungsten weight completed the rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - For bedding fish he used this 3.75-inch Yamamoto Flappin Hog II in the 955 pattern. “I removed the two rear flappers for a crawfish-like action.” A 4/0 Daiichi HD Flipping Hook and 3/8-ounce Bass Pro Shops XPS tungsten weight completed the rig.
<b>Jacob Wheeler</b><br> Jacob Wheeler caught largemouth feeding during a shad spawn in the morning. After that bite subsided he moved to flats bordering creek channels. For that bite he used this Rapala DT20 in the Blue Herring pattern. “The bass were about 18 feet on sides of the breaks,” said the 10th-place finisher. An upward snap of the wrist while cranking the lure triggered reaction strikes.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jacob Wheeler Jacob Wheeler caught largemouth feeding during a shad spawn in the morning. After that bite subsided he moved to flats bordering creek channels. For that bite he used this Rapala DT20 in the Blue Herring pattern. “The bass were about 18 feet on sides of the breaks,” said the 10th-place finisher. An upward snap of the wrist while cranking the lure triggered reaction strikes.
During the shad spawn he used this 5/16-ounce Jacob Wheeler Signature Series buzzbait by Accent Fishing Products. Wheeler designed it specifically to be a soft plastic buzz bait. “When they grab it the fish hold on better, something you can’t get with a skirted bait.” The maker tweaks the lure to make it noisy right out of the package.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - During the shad spawn he used this 5/16-ounce Jacob Wheeler Signature Series buzzbait by Accent Fishing Products. Wheeler designed it specifically to be a soft plastic buzz bait. “When they grab it the fish hold on better, something you can’t get with a skirted bait.” The maker tweaks the lure to make it noisy right out of the package.
<b>Brett Hite</b><br> Brett Hite and his bladed jig did it again. Hite now has six top 10 finishes in a year on this lure of his design. That is the Evergreen Jackhammer by Chatterbait. This time he used a 1/2-ounce model. “I chose that weight because of the subsurface grass.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brett Hite Brett Hite and his bladed jig did it again. Hite now has six top 10 finishes in a year on this lure of his design. That is the Evergreen Jackhammer by Chatterbait. This time he used a 1/2-ounce model. “I chose that weight because of the subsurface grass.”
To finish ninth at Toledo Bend Hite chose a green shad pattern. He added a 4-inch Yamamoto Zako Swimbait, Sight Flash pattern. “I fished the same bait with different colors, going back and forth over the grass, switching it up to give them different looks.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To finish ninth at Toledo Bend Hite chose a green shad pattern. He added a 4-inch Yamamoto Zako Swimbait, Sight Flash pattern. “I fished the same bait with different colors, going back and forth over the grass, switching it up to give them different looks.”
<b>Todd Faircloth</b><br> Todd Faircloth used three lures to work shallow, midrange and deep water. For that he chose this Strike King Pro Model 6XD, green gizzard pattern. “I fished it in the deeper zone of 14 to 18 feet of water.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Todd Faircloth Todd Faircloth used three lures to work shallow, midrange and deep water. For that he chose this Strike King Pro Model 6XD, green gizzard pattern. “I fished it in the deeper zone of 14 to 18 feet of water.”
For pitching and flipping into matted hay grass he chose this Strike King Rage Tail Shellcracker, blue craw pattern. He rigged it to a 4/0 hook and 1 1/4-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - For pitching and flipping into matted hay grass he chose this Strike King Rage Tail Shellcracker, blue craw pattern. He rigged it to a 4/0 hook and 1 1/4-ounce tungsten weight.
Fishing 4-6 feet deep he used this KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow, bream pattern. “I fished it around hydrilla and milfoil clumps,” said the eighth place finisher.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Fishing 4-6 feet deep he used this KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow, bream pattern. “I fished it around hydrilla and milfoil clumps,” said the eighth place finisher.
<b>Alton Jones</b><br> Alton Jones chose this 4.25-inch Yum Bad Mamma, green pumpkin pattern. The seventh-place finisher Texas rigged it to a 4/0 Zonelock Offset Hook. “I ran pockets looking for bedding fish, and for dirty water that was intentionally avoided by other anglers.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Alton Jones Alton Jones chose this 4.25-inch Yum Bad Mamma, green pumpkin pattern. The seventh-place finisher Texas rigged it to a 4/0 Zonelock Offset Hook. “I ran pockets looking for bedding fish, and for dirty water that was intentionally avoided by other anglers.”
<b>Andy Montgomery</b><br> Andy Montgomery targeted docks using flipping and skipping tactics. His primary bait was this 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig. For more strike appeal he added a 4-inch Strike King Rage Bug. Blue craw was the color of choice for both baits.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Andy Montgomery Andy Montgomery targeted docks using flipping and skipping tactics. His primary bait was this 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig. For more strike appeal he added a 4-inch Strike King Rage Bug. Blue craw was the color of choice for both baits.
<b>Brandon Palaniuk</b><br> Brandon Palaniuk fished areas of isolated vegetation using these two baits. His main choice was this 1/2-ounce bladed jig with a 4.25-inch Zoom Z Craw, California 420 pattern. Alternatively, he used this 3/8-ounce swim jig and white 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brandon Palaniuk Brandon Palaniuk fished areas of isolated vegetation using these two baits. His main choice was this 1/2-ounce bladed jig with a 4.25-inch Zoom Z Craw, California 420 pattern. Alternatively, he used this 3/8-ounce swim jig and white 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw.
<b>Casey Ashley</b><br> These homemade lures helped Ashley fish to a fourth-place finish at Toledo Bend. During the shad spawn he used this 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with No. 4 gold and No. 5 silver willowleaf blades. “I added an old school twin-tailed trailer in the back.” He also used this 3/4-ounce green pumpkin/orange football jig, rigged with color matching Zoom Z Craw trailer.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Casey Ashley These homemade lures helped Ashley fish to a fourth-place finish at Toledo Bend. During the shad spawn he used this 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with No. 4 gold and No. 5 silver willowleaf blades. “I added an old school twin-tailed trailer in the back.” He also used this 3/4-ounce green pumpkin/orange football jig, rigged with color matching Zoom Z Craw trailer.
<b>Jamie Hartman</b><br> The third-place finisher and native upstate New Yorker brought a favorite deepwater tactic and lure to finish third at Toledo Bend. He made a drop shot rig with this 6-inch Roboworm Special FX Straight Tail Worm, M.M. II pattern, with a 1/0 Owner Worm Hook.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jamie Hartman The third-place finisher and native upstate New Yorker brought a favorite deepwater tactic and lure to finish third at Toledo Bend. He made a drop shot rig with this 6-inch Roboworm Special FX Straight Tail Worm, M.M. II pattern, with a 1/0 Owner Worm Hook.
To complete the rig he used this i1 Baits Loudmouth Rattle Weight. The prototype weight is about to be released to retail.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To complete the rig he used this i1 Baits Loudmouth Rattle Weight. The prototype weight is about to be released to retail.
<b>Jason Christie</b><br> Runner-up Jason Christie used this 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Bait. Co. Spinnerbait, alternating between chartreuse and white patterns, depending on water clarity.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jason Christie Runner-up Jason Christie used this 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Bait. Co. Spinnerbait, alternating between chartreuse and white patterns, depending on water clarity.
<b>John Murray</b><br> John Murray made a key move on Championship Sunday to catch 24-15 and win the tournament by 5 pounds. The area was familiar ground for the veteran pro that won his first Bassmaster Elite Series.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - John Murray John Murray made a key move on Championship Sunday to catch 24-15 and win the tournament by 5 pounds. The area was familiar ground for the veteran pro that won his first Bassmaster Elite Series.
In shallow water the champion chose these lures. For bedding fish Murray made a flip shot rig with this 8-inch Gene Larew Lures Tatteltail Worm, Red Bug pattern. To that he added a 2/0 Gamakatsu Offset Hook and 1/4-ounce River2Sea tungsten weight. Murray also used this 4.75-inch, 13/16-ounce River2Sea S-Waver swim bait helped him locate bass. 
Photo: Garrick Dixon - In shallow water the champion chose these lures. For bedding fish Murray made a flip shot rig with this 8-inch Gene Larew Lures Tatteltail Worm, Red Bug pattern. To that he added a 2/0 Gamakatsu Offset Hook and 1/4-ounce River2Sea tungsten weight. Murray also used this 4.75-inch, 13/16-ounce River2Sea S-Waver swim bait helped him locate bass.
When Murray found the bass he sometimes switched to this Smithwick Rogue. “I only have a few in my collection and the rattle and flash is the best.” Collection indeed. That lure is 25 or 30 years old, which coincidentally covers the same time spent by Murray as a pro angler.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - When Murray found the bass he sometimes switched to this Smithwick Rogue. “I only have a few in my collection and the rattle and flash is the best.” Collection indeed. That lure is 25 or 30 years old, which coincidentally covers the same time spent by Murray as a pro angler.
The key lure was this Strike King Pro Model 5XD. “I liked it for the wide bill that made the bait deflect off stumps for a reaction bite.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The key lure was this Strike King Pro Model 5XD. “I liked it for the wide bill that made the bait deflect off stumps for a reaction bite.”