Top lures at Ross Barnett

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The rookie wanting the blue trophy. The veteran trying to take it away. Dustin Connell vs. KVD. A Championship Sunday that turned into Championship Monday. The weather added to the drama at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - The rookie wanting the blue trophy. The veteran trying to take it away. Dustin Connell vs. KVD. A Championship Sunday that turned into Championship Monday. The weather added to the drama at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett. All captions: Craig Lamb
At Ross Barnett Reservoir, shallow water patterns ruled the week. From buzzbaits and spinnerbaits to frogs and plastics, here are lures used by the pros at The Rez in central Mississippi.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - At Ross Barnett Reservoir, shallow water patterns ruled the week. From buzzbaits and spinnerbaits to frogs and plastics, here are lures used by the pros at The Rez in central Mississippi.
<b>Brent Chapman</b><br> “High skies and a high-pressure system positioned my bass beneath mats of heavy vegetation,” said Brent Chapman. The 12th-place angler used this 3-inch Tightlines UV Whisker Beaver, blue/black. He rigged it on a 4/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Pro V Flipping Hook with 3/4-ounce Picasso Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Brent Chapman “High skies and a high-pressure system positioned my bass beneath mats of heavy vegetation,” said Brent Chapman. The 12th-place angler used this 3-inch Tightlines UV Whisker Beaver, blue/black. He rigged it on a 4/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Pro V Flipping Hook with 3/4-ounce Picasso Tungsten Weight.
<b>Keith Poche</b><br> “I fished isolated patches of grass,” said Keith Poche. With the abundance of it in Ross Barnett that was a wise choice. Bass were everywhere, using the cover as ambush points to feed upon baitfish.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Keith Poche “I fished isolated patches of grass,” said Keith Poche. With the abundance of it in Ross Barnett that was a wise choice. Bass were everywhere, using the cover as ambush points to feed upon baitfish.
To finish 11th Poche chose this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. The pattern of choice was Leopard.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To finish 11th Poche chose this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. The pattern of choice was Leopard.
<b>Fred Roumbanis</b><br> “I covered a lot of water, looking for feeding bass,” said Fred Roumbanis. The 10th-place finisher drove the bass crazy with this buzzbait. The crazy factor escalated in windy conditions. That was all of the time.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Fred Roumbanis “I covered a lot of water, looking for feeding bass,” said Fred Roumbanis. The 10th-place finisher drove the bass crazy with this buzzbait. The crazy factor escalated in windy conditions. That was all of the time.
“It just squeaks like crazy when the wind picks up.” The choice was this 1/2-ounce Ima US Buzz Bait, Bluegill. The lure features a unique oversized buzz blade and asymmetrical head shape that gets it on plane quicker at slower speeds.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “It just squeaks like crazy when the wind picks up.” The choice was this 1/2-ounce Ima US Buzz Bait, Bluegill. The lure features a unique oversized buzz blade and asymmetrical head shape that gets it on plane quicker at slower speeds.
<b>Skeet Reese</b><br> Skeet Reese used this trio of lures to finish ninth. From left, a Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss, a 1/2-ounce swim jig with white grub trailer and a 3/4-ounce Berkley Chigger Craw. For the latter bait and the Pit Boss he used a 5/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Pro V Flipping Hook, and a 5/16-ounce weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Skeet Reese Skeet Reese used this trio of lures to finish ninth. From left, a Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss, a 1/2-ounce swim jig with white grub trailer and a 3/4-ounce Berkley Chigger Craw. For the latter bait and the Pit Boss he used a 5/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Pro V Flipping Hook, and a 5/16-ounce weight.
<b>Matt Herren</b><br> Matt Herren kept things simple to finish eighth place. His key bait was this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. Midnight Walker was the pattern of choice.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Matt Herren Matt Herren kept things simple to finish eighth place. His key bait was this Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. Midnight Walker was the pattern of choice.
<b>Ish Monroe</b><br> “I fished over bedding bass and the key was working slow,” said Ish Monroe. “It was really important to stop the bait long enough for the fish to come up and eat it.” He chose this prototype frog under development for River2Sea.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Ish Monroe “I fished over bedding bass and the key was working slow,” said Ish Monroe. “It was really important to stop the bait long enough for the fish to come up and eat it.” He chose this prototype frog under development for River2Sea.
The choice was this Ish’s Phat Matt Daddy Frog, Yellow Head pattern. Last week, Monroe used the scarred frog held between his fingers to finish fifth on Lake Chickamauga at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open. This week, Monroe finished seventh.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The choice was this Ish’s Phat Matt Daddy Frog, Yellow Head pattern. Last week, Monroe used the scarred frog held between his fingers to finish fifth on Lake Chickamauga at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open. This week, Monroe finished seventh.
<b>Dave Lefebre</b><br> Dave Lefebre fished a shallow flat featuring a mix of aquatic grasses and lily pads. He chose this trio of lures. From right, Z Man Original Chatterbait, custom skirt and craw trailer. At left is a Terminator Swim Jig with a craw trailer.
Photo: Photo Courtesy of Dave Lefebre - Dave Lefebre Dave Lefebre fished a shallow flat featuring a mix of aquatic grasses and lily pads. He chose this trio of lures. From right, Z Man Original Chatterbait, custom skirt and craw trailer. At left is a Terminator Swim Jig with a craw trailer.
<b>Dave Lefebre </b><br> “I owe getting into the Top 12 to a prototype jig and craw trailer,” said the sixth-place finisher. Lefebre fished the no-name lure for the first time on Ross Barnett. Let your imagination come up with the tantalizing action and stay tuned for more.
Photo: Thomas Allen - Dave Lefebre “I owe getting into the Top 12 to a prototype jig and craw trailer,” said the sixth-place finisher. Lefebre fished the no-name lure for the first time on Ross Barnett. Let your imagination come up with the tantalizing action and stay tuned for more.
<b>Mark Menendez</b><br> Consistency got Mark Menendez into the Top 12 to finish fifth. He flipped isolated shoreline cover using this setup. A 5/0 straight shank hook, 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight, and an assortment of 3-inch Strike King Baby Rage Craws.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Mark Menendez Consistency got Mark Menendez into the Top 12 to finish fifth. He flipped isolated shoreline cover using this setup. A 5/0 straight shank hook, 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight, and an assortment of 3-inch Strike King Baby Rage Craws.
On Championship Monday he used this 3/8-ounce jig with Strike King Rage Tail. Alternatively he used this 1/2-ounce Strike King Premier Plus Spinnerbait with 6-inch ribbon tail worm. Ironically, he used that very lure to win the 2005 Bassmaster Southern Open on West Point Lake.
Photo: Craig Lamb - On Championship Monday he used this 3/8-ounce jig with Strike King Rage Tail. Alternatively he used this 1/2-ounce Strike King Premier Plus Spinnerbait with 6-inch ribbon tail worm. Ironically, he used that very lure to win the 2005 Bassmaster Southern Open on West Point Lake.
<b>Bobby Lane</b><br> Bobby Lane did what he does the best to finish fourth. That is covering lots of water, armed with a long rod and a keen eye for picking apart lily pads and grass.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Bobby Lane Bobby Lane did what he does the best to finish fourth. That is covering lots of water, armed with a long rod and a keen eye for picking apart lily pads and grass.
Primary baits were these lures from 4x4 Bass Jigs. For flipping he chose this 3/4-ounce Bobby Lane Signature Series Jig, Pro Black/Blue. To cover water he used this 3/8-ounce Randall Tharp Swim Jig, Glimmer Shad.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Primary baits were these lures from 4x4 Bass Jigs. For flipping he chose this 3/4-ounce Bobby Lane Signature Series Jig, Pro Black/Blue. To cover water he used this 3/8-ounce Randall Tharp Swim Jig, Glimmer Shad.
<b>Jonathan VanDam</b><br> “I targeted bass feeding on shad,” said the third-place finisher. Nothing special about that, you say? Jonathon VanDam proved otherwise. Here’s what else he did to finish third.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jonathan VanDam “I targeted bass feeding on shad,” said the third-place finisher. Nothing special about that, you say? Jonathon VanDam proved otherwise. Here’s what else he did to finish third.
JVD fished this jerkbait through lily pad fields where the bass staged on underwater saddles. He chose a 4.75-inch, 1/2-ounce Strike King KVD 300 Series Jerkbait, Chartreuse Sexy Shad.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - JVD fished this jerkbait through lily pad fields where the bass staged on underwater saddles. He chose a 4.75-inch, 1/2-ounce Strike King KVD 300 Series Jerkbait, Chartreuse Sexy Shad.
<b>Kevin VanDam</b><br> Kevin VanDam charged into second place by catching postspawn largemouth funneling through current breaks. The bass staged in calm water and fed on threadfin shad. He matched lure types and sizes to match the bait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Kevin VanDam Kevin VanDam charged into second place by catching postspawn largemouth funneling through current breaks. The bass staged in calm water and fed on threadfin shad. He matched lure types and sizes to match the bait.
KVD used spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and other lures of his design by Strike King. Those included KVD Splash Popper, KVD 300 Series Jerkbait and Tour Grade Swim Jig. He used the lures based on time of day, including the early morning shad spawn.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - KVD used spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and other lures of his design by Strike King. Those included KVD Splash Popper, KVD 300 Series Jerkbait and Tour Grade Swim Jig. He used the lures based on time of day, including the early morning shad spawn.
<b>Dustin Connell</b><br> Elite Series rookie Dustin Connell won the tournament doing what he does the best. That is flipping and pitching lures for spotted bass and largemouth in moving water, just like back home on the Alabama and Coosa rivers. Early on, he used this jig during the shad spawn.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Dustin Connell Elite Series rookie Dustin Connell won the tournament doing what he does the best. That is flipping and pitching lures for spotted bass and largemouth in moving water, just like back home on the Alabama and Coosa rivers. Early on, he used this jig during the shad spawn.
The shad spawn was a key to his finish. He chose this 1/2-ounce 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig, Table Rock Shad, with a 3-inch NetBait Paca Craw, Pearl finish.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The shad spawn was a key to his finish. He chose this 1/2-ounce 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig, Table Rock Shad, with a 3-inch NetBait Paca Craw, Pearl finish.
The jig’s semi-flat, keel-weighted belly creates a secondary swimming action and allows it to be skipped under docks and around willows. 
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The jig’s semi-flat, keel-weighted belly creates a secondary swimming action and allows it to be skipped under docks and around willows.