Top lures at St. Lawrence River

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“This is a historic event. This is the best smallmouth tournament ever in the history of man.” Kevin VanDam said it and the weights spoke the truth at the HUK Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Thomas Allen - “This is a historic event. This is the best smallmouth tournament ever in the history of man.” Kevin VanDam said it and the weights spoke the truth at the HUK Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet. All captions: Craig Lamb
The St. Lawrence River showed out like never before. In three days there were 107 bags weighing at least 20 pounds. Nearly 2 1/2 tons of bass came across the scales, including a limit weighing 27-12 caught by Matt Lee.
Photo: James Overstreet - The St. Lawrence River showed out like never before. In three days there were 107 bags weighing at least 20 pounds. Nearly 2 1/2 tons of bass came across the scales, including a limit weighing 27-12 caught by Matt Lee.
“If I had to lose to anyone I’d want it to be my good friend Josh Bertrand,” said Justin Lucas, who finished second in a Championship Sunday that came down to the wire. Bertrand won with 95-3 and Lucas took the lead for Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year. See the lures used by Bertrand, Lucas and the other top finishers.
Photo: James Overstreet - “If I had to lose to anyone I’d want it to be my good friend Josh Bertrand,” said Justin Lucas, who finished second in a Championship Sunday that came down to the wire. Bertrand won with 95-3 and Lucas took the lead for Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year. See the lures used by Bertrand, Lucas and the other top finishers.
<b>Mark Daniels Jr. </b><br> To finish 12th, Mark Daniels Jr. used a drop-shot rig. He made it with a 3.5-inch Z Man Trick ShotZ, nose hooked through an Owner Mosquito Light Hook 1. He alternated between 1/2- and 5/8-ounce weights, depending on depth and current.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Mark Daniels Jr. To finish 12th, Mark Daniels Jr. used a drop-shot rig. He made it with a 3.5-inch Z Man Trick ShotZ, nose hooked through an Owner Mosquito Light Hook 1. He alternated between 1/2- and 5/8-ounce weights, depending on depth and current.
<b>James Elam</b><br> To finish 11th, James Elam used soft plastics on a jighead and drop shot. He made it with a shortened 4-inch Molix Sator worm with Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook 1, and 1/2-ounce weight. A Molix Sidus 145 worm on a 3/16-ounce jighead was the other choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - James Elam To finish 11th, James Elam used soft plastics on a jighead and drop shot. He made it with a shortened 4-inch Molix Sator worm with Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook 1, and 1/2-ounce weight. A Molix Sidus 145 worm on a 3/16-ounce jighead was the other choice.
<b>Seth Feider</b><br> To finish 10th, Seth Feider used this Storm Arashi Spin 08 Spinbait, featuring a three-bladed prop up front and two blades in the back, which rotate in opposite directions for a unique vibrating action.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Seth Feider To finish 10th, Seth Feider used this Storm Arashi Spin 08 Spinbait, featuring a three-bladed prop up front and two blades in the back, which rotate in opposite directions for a unique vibrating action.
<b>Bobby Lane</b><br> To finish ninth, Bobby Lane used the new 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged to Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook 1, and 1/2-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bobby Lane To finish ninth, Bobby Lane used the new 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged to Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook 1, and 1/2-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Weight.
<b>Keith Combs</b><br> To finish eighth, Keith Combs relied on a crankbait and jerkbait. That choice was a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait. A Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait was the other choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Combs To finish eighth, Keith Combs relied on a crankbait and jerkbait. That choice was a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait. A Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait was the other choice.
<b>Brandon Palaniuk</b><br> To finish seventh, Brandon Palaniuk used a drop shot made with a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop. He rigged it to a No. 2 VMC Finesse Neko Hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce tungsten drop shot weights.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Palaniuk To finish seventh, Brandon Palaniuk used a drop shot made with a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop. He rigged it to a No. 2 VMC Finesse Neko Hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce tungsten drop shot weights.
<b>Rick Morris</b><br> To finish sixth, Rick Morris made a Carolina rig using the Zoom Super Speed Craw and Zoom Lizard. He rigged those to 2/0 round bend hooks and 1/2-ounce weights. Morris also used a jighead rigged with a Get Bit Baits soft plastic tube.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Rick Morris To finish sixth, Rick Morris made a Carolina rig using the Zoom Super Speed Craw and Zoom Lizard. He rigged those to 2/0 round bend hooks and 1/2-ounce weights. Morris also used a jighead rigged with a Get Bit Baits soft plastic tube.
<b>Mike McClelland</b><br> To finish fifth, Mike McClelland went retro with a soft plastic tube, and a new soft plastic goby imitator under development by he and Jeff Kriet for Big Bite Baits. He rigged the bait to a No. 1 split shot drop shot hook, and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Swagger Tackle Tungsten Weights. Through a 1/2-ounce homemade jighead made by Kriet he inserted a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Salt Tube.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Mike McClelland To finish fifth, Mike McClelland went retro with a soft plastic tube, and a new soft plastic goby imitator under development by he and Jeff Kriet for Big Bite Baits. He rigged the bait to a No. 1 split shot drop shot hook, and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Swagger Tackle Tungsten Weights. Through a 1/2-ounce homemade jighead made by Kriet he inserted a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Salt Tube.
<b>David Walker</b><br> To finish fourth, David Walker made a drop shot using the 3.5- and 4.2-inch Z Man Trick ShotZ. He rigged those to No. 1 Owner Mosquito Hooks and Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks, with 3/8 and 1/2-ounce Reins Drop Shot Weights, depending on depth and current.
Photo: Andy Crawford - David Walker To finish fourth, David Walker made a drop shot using the 3.5- and 4.2-inch Z Man Trick ShotZ. He rigged those to No. 1 Owner Mosquito Hooks and Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks, with 3/8 and 1/2-ounce Reins Drop Shot Weights, depending on depth and current.
<b>Brandon Lester</b><br> To finish third, Brandon Lester made a drop shot with a 4-inch hand poured X Zone Slammer, Mustad TitanX Wacky/Neko Rig Hook and 1/2-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester To finish third, Brandon Lester made a drop shot with a 4-inch hand poured X Zone Slammer, Mustad TitanX Wacky/Neko Rig Hook and 1/2-ounce weight.
<b>Justin Lucas</b><br> To finish second, Justin Lucas used the new 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, No. 1 hook and 1/2-ounce drop shot weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Justin Lucas To finish second, Justin Lucas used the new 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, No. 1 hook and 1/2-ounce drop shot weight.
<b>Josh Bertrand</b><br> Josh Bertrand made a drop shot with the new 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm. Alternatively, he used a 3-inch Gulp! Minnow. For both baits he used No. 1 Berkley Fusion19 Drop Shot Hooks, with a 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Josh Bertrand Josh Bertrand made a drop shot with the new 4-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm. Alternatively, he used a 3-inch Gulp! Minnow. For both baits he used No. 1 Berkley Fusion19 Drop Shot Hooks, with a 3/8-ounce weight.