Gear

Top lures at Cayuga Lake

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Largemouth and smallmouth. You could choose one or both to weigh-in at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake. The western New York fishery was entering its summer prime, with largemouth ganged up in isolated weeds, and smallmouth staged offshore, chasing baitfish. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - Largemouth and smallmouth. You could choose one or both to weigh-in at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake. The western New York fishery was entering its summer prime, with largemouth ganged up in isolated weeds, and smallmouth staged offshore, chasing baitfish. All captions: Craig Lamb
Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams. Last week in Waddington. The next in Union Springs. The fans showed out in New York and so did their dynamic bass fisheries, this time at Cayuga Lake. The Year of the Fan was celebrated big time when native son Jamie Hartman earned a second blue trophy of the season. See his winning lures and those of the top anglers.
Photo: James Overstreet - Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams. Last week in Waddington. The next in Union Springs. The fans showed out in New York and so did their dynamic bass fisheries, this time at Cayuga Lake. The Year of the Fan was celebrated big time when native son Jamie Hartman earned a second blue trophy of the season. See his winning lures and those of the top anglers.
<b>Cliff Prince (65-4; 10th) </b><br> Cliff Prince used two soft plastic rigs at Cayuga Lake. Those included a 3/16-ounce Owner Shaky Ultrahead, with 4.5-inch Bass Assassin Lit’l Tapper. He also used a Texas-rigged 5.25-inch Bass Assassin Fat Job on 3/0 Owner 4X Jungle Flipping Hook, and 1/4-ounce Fitzgerald Fishing Tungsten Worm Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cliff Prince (65-4; 10th) Cliff Prince used two soft plastic rigs at Cayuga Lake. Those included a 3/16-ounce Owner Shaky Ultrahead, with 4.5-inch Bass Assassin Lit’l Tapper. He also used a Texas-rigged 5.25-inch Bass Assassin Fat Job on 3/0 Owner 4X Jungle Flipping Hook, and 1/4-ounce Fitzgerald Fishing Tungsten Worm Weight.
<b>Drew Cook (69-2; 9th) </b><br> Drew Cook’s top bait all week was this Spro Fat Papa 70 Crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Drew Cook (69-2; 9th) Drew Cook’s top bait all week was this Spro Fat Papa 70 Crankbait.
<b>Stetson Blaylock (71-0; 8th) </b><br> Stetson Blaylock used these two soft plastic setups. A 5-inch Yum Dinger on 3/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook, with 5/16-ounce tungsten weight was a top choice. So was a 5-inch Yum Thumpin’ Dinger on 2/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook, with 1/4-ounce tungsten weight. Both baits were Texas rigged.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Stetson Blaylock (71-0; 8th) Stetson Blaylock used these two soft plastic setups. A 5-inch Yum Dinger on 3/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook, with 5/16-ounce tungsten weight was a top choice. So was a 5-inch Yum Thumpin’ Dinger on 2/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook, with 1/4-ounce tungsten weight. Both baits were Texas rigged.
<b>Cory Johnston (71-7; 7th) </b><br> Cory Johnston chose these soft-plastic rigs. A wacky-rigged 5-inch Yamamoto Senko on Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Drop Shot Hook 2. On the same hook and a 3/8-ounce tungsten sinker he rigged a 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cory Johnston (71-7; 7th) Cory Johnston chose these soft-plastic rigs. A wacky-rigged 5-inch Yamamoto Senko on Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Drop Shot Hook 2. On the same hook and a 3/8-ounce tungsten sinker he rigged a 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm.
Completing the lineup was a Strike King Pro Model 6XD crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Completing the lineup was a Strike King Pro Model 6XD crankbait.
<b>Brandon Lester (75-9; 6th) </b><br> Brandon Lester alternated between a drop shot and bladed jig. That choice was an 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer, with 3.5-inch X Zone Lures Pro Series Muscle Back Craw for a trailer. He made the drop shot rig with an X Zone Lures 4-inch Slim Slammer on No. 4 Mustad TitanX Finesse Wacky/Neko Hook, with 3/8-ounce drop shot weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester (75-9; 6th) Brandon Lester alternated between a drop shot and bladed jig. That choice was an 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer, with 3.5-inch X Zone Lures Pro Series Muscle Back Craw for a trailer. He made the drop shot rig with an X Zone Lures 4-inch Slim Slammer on No. 4 Mustad TitanX Finesse Wacky/Neko Hook, with 3/8-ounce drop shot weight.
<b>Seth Feider (75-13; 5th) </b><br> By Championship Sunday, Seth Feider narrowed his choices to one primary bait. That choice was a 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Stealth Feider Jig, with unnamed trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Seth Feider (75-13; 5th) By Championship Sunday, Seth Feider narrowed his choices to one primary bait. That choice was a 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Stealth Feider Jig, with unnamed trailer.
<b>David Mullins (75-14; 4th) </b><br> David Mullins alternated between a crankbait and Texas rigged plastic worm. That choice was a prototype Doomsday Tackle 7-inch Roku Worm on 3/0 Owner 4X Jungle Flipping Hook, with 5/16-ounce Scottsboro Tackle STC Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - David Mullins (75-14; 4th) David Mullins alternated between a crankbait and Texas rigged plastic worm. That choice was a prototype Doomsday Tackle 7-inch Roku Worm on 3/0 Owner 4X Jungle Flipping Hook, with 5/16-ounce Scottsboro Tackle STC Tungsten Weight.
Another choice was a Strike King Pro Model 6XD crankbait, with retrofitted Owner STX-36 Treble Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another choice was a Strike King Pro Model 6XD crankbait, with retrofitted Owner STX-36 Treble Hooks.
<b>Chris Zaldain (79-0; 3rd) </b><br> Chris Zaldain used this lure lineup to coax offshore fish into his livewell. A top choice was a 5-inch black stickbait on Trokar Neko Hook 2, wacky rig O-ring, and 1/16-ounce Eagle Claw Tungsten Pagoda Nail Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Zaldain (79-0; 3rd) Chris Zaldain used this lure lineup to coax offshore fish into his livewell. A top choice was a 5-inch black stickbait on Trokar Neko Hook 2, wacky rig O-ring, and 1/16-ounce Eagle Claw Tungsten Pagoda Nail Weight.
He also used a Santone Lures 1/2-ounce Z-Spin Head, Hollow Point, with 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad, Moroku.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Santone Lures 1/2-ounce Z-Spin Head, Hollow Point, with 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad, Moroku.
<b>Jeff Gustafson (80-03; 2nd) </b><br> Jeff Gustafson used a 3/4-ounce homemade football head jig with 4-inch Z-Man Turbo CrawZ trailer. Another choice was a homemade ball-head jig with a Z-Man 4-inch Hula StickZ trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jeff Gustafson (80-03; 2nd) Jeff Gustafson used a 3/4-ounce homemade football head jig with 4-inch Z-Man Turbo CrawZ trailer. Another choice was a homemade ball-head jig with a Z-Man 4-inch Hula StickZ trailer.
<b>Jamie Hartman (80-13; 1st)</b><br> Jamie Hartman alternated between a drop shot and vibrating jig. That choice featured a 3.75-inch Riot Baits T3 Tattletail Swimbait for a trailer. He also used a 4.75-inch Riot Baits The Synth finesse worm, green pumpkin neon, with chartreuse dye added to the tip of the worm. Depending on wind speed, he completed the rig with 3/8 or 1/2-ounce weights, and 2/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jamie Hartman (80-13; 1st) Jamie Hartman alternated between a drop shot and vibrating jig. That choice featured a 3.75-inch Riot Baits T3 Tattletail Swimbait for a trailer. He also used a 4.75-inch Riot Baits The Synth finesse worm, green pumpkin neon, with chartreuse dye added to the tip of the worm. Depending on wind speed, he completed the rig with 3/8 or 1/2-ounce weights, and 2/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook.