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Top lures at St. Lawrence 2019

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Another smallmouth whack fest unfolded at <em>Bassmaster</em> Magazine’s Top Bass Lake at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another smallmouth whack fest unfolded at Bassmaster Magazine’s Top Bass Lake at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet. All captions: Craig Lamb
Micah Frazier hoisted the blue trophy for the first time in Waddington, New York, a town embraced by the fans and the pros. The smallmouth fell for drop shots and even crankbaits, and you can check out the lineup here.
Photo: James Overstreet - Micah Frazier hoisted the blue trophy for the first time in Waddington, New York, a town embraced by the fans and the pros. The smallmouth fell for drop shots and even crankbaits, and you can check out the lineup here.
<b>Brian Snowden (74-6; 10th) </b><br> Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brian Snowden (74-6; 10th) Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
During cloudy weather he used a drop shot rig made from a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop, with 2/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook, and 1/2-ounce weight. He also used a 1/4-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig, with 3.5-inch Zoom Beatdown Worm.
Photo: Andy Crawford - During cloudy weather he used a drop shot rig made from a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop, with 2/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook, and 1/2-ounce weight. He also used a 1/4-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig, with 3.5-inch Zoom Beatdown Worm.
<b>Chris Zaldain (78-4; 9th) </b><br> Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. “The biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.” He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Zaldain (78-4; 9th) Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. “The biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.” He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
<b>Greg DiPalma (81-11; 8th) </b><br> Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lil’ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Greg DiPalma (81-11; 8th) Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lil’ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
<b>Ray Hanselman Jr. (81-12; 7th) </b><br> A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. “I burned it as fast as I could against the current,” he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Ray Hanselman Jr. (81-12; 7th) A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. “I burned it as fast as I could against the current,” he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
He made the drop shot from a 3.5-inch Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell, with No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He fished the rig over current breaks in 28- to 32-feet of water.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He made the drop shot from a 3.5-inch Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell, with No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He fished the rig over current breaks in 28- to 32-feet of water.
<b>Steve Kennedy (82-5; 6th) </b><br> Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. “In practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didn’t stay on.”
Photo: Andy Crawford - Steve Kennedy (82-5; 6th) Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. “In practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didn’t stay on.”
He switched to a 4.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, and using a needle, threaded the line through the body and added an inline 2/0 Gamakatsu Treble Hook. For missed fish he followed up with a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He switched to a 4.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, and using a needle, threaded the line through the body and added an inline 2/0 Gamakatsu Treble Hook. For missed fish he followed up with a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig.
These good luck charms also came into play for Kennedy. “My next-door neighbor Cloe left me a note with good luck wishes and this rock, and my daughter made this one that she painted with a four-leafed clover.” Kennedy carried the rocks on the cooler lid integrated into his Bass Cat Boat.
Photo: Andy Crawford - These good luck charms also came into play for Kennedy. “My next-door neighbor Cloe left me a note with good luck wishes and this rock, and my daughter made this one that she painted with a four-leafed clover.” Kennedy carried the rocks on the cooler lid integrated into his Bass Cat Boat.
<b>Jay Yelas (83-1; 5th) </b><br> “I caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,” said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jay Yelas (83-1; 5th) “I caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,” said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
<b>Keith Combs (84-11; 4th) </b><br> Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Combs (84-11; 4th) Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
Combs also used a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, and Strike King 5XD and 6XD crankbaits.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Combs also used a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, and Strike King 5XD and 6XD crankbaits.
<b>Scott Canterbury (84-11; 3rd) </b><br> Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Canterbury (84-11; 3rd) Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
Other choices were an American Bait Works Co. Set The Hook Stumpy Crush Worm, green pumpkin; and a Set The Hook Drifter, Juvenile Goby. All were rigged with No. 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks and Flat Out Tungsten 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weights, depending on the current.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Other choices were an American Bait Works Co. Set The Hook Stumpy Crush Worm, green pumpkin; and a Set The Hook Drifter, Juvenile Goby. All were rigged with No. 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks and Flat Out Tungsten 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weights, depending on the current.
<b>Chris Johnston (86-11; 2nd) </b><br> Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. “I fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.”
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Johnston (86-11; 2nd) Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. “I fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.”
For blind casting he chose a Duo Realis Spinbait 80. “I let it sink a couple of feet below the surface and wound it back using a steady retrieve.”
Photo: Andy Crawford - For blind casting he chose a Duo Realis Spinbait 80. “I let it sink a couple of feet below the surface and wound it back using a steady retrieve.”
<b>Micah Frazier (87-4; 1st)</b><br> A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Micah Frazier (87-4; 1st) A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.