Top lures of the St. Lawrence

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Lamenting about catching just a 20-pound limit of smallmouth. You needed a couple more pounds in the bag on a daily basis to fish this particular Championship Sunday. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Lamenting about catching just a 20-pound limit of smallmouth. You needed a couple more pounds in the bag on a daily basis to fish this particular Championship Sunday. All captions: Craig Lamb
The St. Lawrence River proved its status as a premier smallmouth fishery at the Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence presented by Go RVing.
Photo: Steve Bowman - The St. Lawrence River proved its status as a premier smallmouth fishery at the Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence presented by Go RVing.
Kevin VanDam, fishing his 300th B.A.S.S. event, held the winner’s trophy for the 24th time. Here are some of the top lures used by the champ and the Championship Sunday anglers.
Photo: James Overstreet - Kevin VanDam, fishing his 300th B.A.S.S. event, held the winner’s trophy for the 24th time. Here are some of the top lures used by the champ and the Championship Sunday anglers.
<b>Bernie Schultz</b><br> Topwaters proved key for 12th-place angler Bernie Schultz. Smallmouth fell for the walk-the-dog action of this chrome Rapala Skitter V, or the erratic darting action of a Rapala Shadow Rap, Gone pattern.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Bernie Schultz Topwaters proved key for 12th-place angler Bernie Schultz. Smallmouth fell for the walk-the-dog action of this chrome Rapala Skitter V, or the erratic darting action of a Rapala Shadow Rap, Gone pattern.
A 2-inch tube inserted into a 1/4-ounce jig head also produced bites. So did a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - A 2-inch tube inserted into a 1/4-ounce jig head also produced bites. So did a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko.
<b>Alton Jones</b><br> Alton Jones used this setup to finish 11th. “I like this Yum Warning Shot for its unique tail design that is specifically designed for a drop shot rig.” To make the rig he used a 2/0 ZoneLoc Offset Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce weight. Color choice was Green Pumpkin Purple.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Alton Jones Alton Jones used this setup to finish 11th. “I like this Yum Warning Shot for its unique tail design that is specifically designed for a drop shot rig.” To make the rig he used a 2/0 ZoneLoc Offset Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce weight. Color choice was Green Pumpkin Purple.
<b>Gerald Swindle</b><br> Gerald Swindle used a 1/2-ounce Buckeye Lures G-Man Ballin’ Out Jig with a Zoom Z Craw trailer. A 4.25-inch Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 112 was another choice. Swindle also used a Zoom Z Drop Worm on a No. 2 Rebarb hook. He alternated between 5/16 and 3/8 ounce weights.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Gerald Swindle Gerald Swindle used a 1/2-ounce Buckeye Lures G-Man Ballin’ Out Jig with a Zoom Z Craw trailer. A 4.25-inch Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 112 was another choice. Swindle also used a Zoom Z Drop Worm on a No. 2 Rebarb hook. He alternated between 5/16 and 3/8 ounce weights.
“Sunglasses were key, more so than the lures.” Swindle was referring to these newly released Torch Sunglasses. “The smallmouth were hard to see in the ripping current, and even if I couldn’t see them and not get a bite, it caused me to slow down and drop shot.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “Sunglasses were key, more so than the lures.” Swindle was referring to these newly released Torch Sunglasses. “The smallmouth were hard to see in the ripping current, and even if I couldn’t see them and not get a bite, it caused me to slow down and drop shot.”
<b>Brandon Coulter</b><br> Brandon Coulter finished ninth using a finesse approach. “I liked this X Zone Slammer for its close resemblance to a round goby.” He rigged the bait to a 1/0 Mustad Double Wide KVD Drop Shot Hook, alternating between 1/2 and 3/8 ounce weights.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brandon Coulter Brandon Coulter finished ninth using a finesse approach. “I liked this X Zone Slammer for its close resemblance to a round goby.” He rigged the bait to a 1/0 Mustad Double Wide KVD Drop Shot Hook, alternating between 1/2 and 3/8 ounce weights.
Coulter also used a 3-inch Megabass Spark Shad Swimbait, Ayu, rigged with a 1/8-ounce jig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Coulter also used a 3-inch Megabass Spark Shad Swimbait, Ayu, rigged with a 1/8-ounce jig.
<b>Casey Ashley</b><br> Casey Ashley finished eighth using these baits. A drop shot rigged 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, No. 1 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook and1/8- to 1/4-ounce weights.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Casey Ashley Casey Ashley finished eighth using these baits. A drop shot rigged 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, No. 1 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook and1/8- to 1/4-ounce weights.
Ashley also used a 3.3- or 3.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT in the following colors. Tennessee Shad, Smallmouth Magic or Green Pumpkin Fire. He alternated between 1/4 and 3/16 ounce jig heads.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Ashley also used a 3.3- or 3.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT in the following colors. Tennessee Shad, Smallmouth Magic or Green Pumpkin Fire. He alternated between 1/4 and 3/16 ounce jig heads.
<b>Jamie Hartman</b><br> Jamie Hartman finished seventh using this 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper compact football jig, PB&J color. He added a Yamamoto Double Tail Grub for a trailer.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jamie Hartman Jamie Hartman finished seventh using this 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper compact football jig, PB&J color. He added a Yamamoto Double Tail Grub for a trailer.
<b>James Elam</b><br> James Elam finished sixth using three lures. He used a Jackall I Prop with a spybaiting technique. Elam also chose a green pumpkin Jackall Crosstail Shad, rigged to 1/2-ounce weight and No. 1 Owner Down Shot Offset hook. Another choice was a 2.8-inch Jackall Rhythm Wave Swimbait, rigged to a 3/8-ounce jighead.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - James Elam James Elam finished sixth using three lures. He used a Jackall I Prop with a spybaiting technique. Elam also chose a green pumpkin Jackall Crosstail Shad, rigged to 1/2-ounce weight and No. 1 Owner Down Shot Offset hook. Another choice was a 2.8-inch Jackall Rhythm Wave Swimbait, rigged to a 3/8-ounce jighead.
<b>Jonathon VanDam</b><br> Jonathon VanDam’s key bait to finish fifth was a Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell. The bait has a series of ridges and tapered points to deliver an irresistible glide. He used a No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/4 or 3/16 ounce weights.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jonathon VanDam Jonathon VanDam’s key bait to finish fifth was a Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell. The bait has a series of ridges and tapered points to deliver an irresistible glide. He used a No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/4 or 3/16 ounce weights.
<b>Brent Ehrler</b><br> Brent Ehrler relied on this key bait to finish fourth. That was a Lucky Craft Pointer 78, Chartreuse Shad. “It’s an old-school model rarely used anymore.” A fast jerking action over sandy spots visible from the surface produced strikes.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brent Ehrler Brent Ehrler relied on this key bait to finish fourth. That was a Lucky Craft Pointer 78, Chartreuse Shad. “It’s an old-school model rarely used anymore.” A fast jerking action over sandy spots visible from the surface produced strikes.
<b>Brandon Palaniuk</b><br> Brandon Palaniuk relied on one key lure to finish third. “I targeted specific cover like boulders and grass patches, shaking it to keep it longer inside the strike zone.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brandon Palaniuk Brandon Palaniuk relied on one key lure to finish third. “I targeted specific cover like boulders and grass patches, shaking it to keep it longer inside the strike zone.”
Palanuik’s weapon was a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, Green Weenie, rigged to a No. 2 drop shot hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten drop shot weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Palanuik’s weapon was a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, Green Weenie, rigged to a No. 2 drop shot hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten drop shot weight.
<b>Brock Mosley</b><br> Brock Mosley finessed his way to second place. He made a drop shot rig with a Netbait Contour Worm, 1/0 Gamakatsu Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brock Mosley Brock Mosley finessed his way to second place. He made a drop shot rig with a Netbait Contour Worm, 1/0 Gamakatsu Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Key bites also came on a homemade 1/5-ounce homemade Ned Rig with a Yamamoto Senko.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Key bites also came on a homemade 1/5-ounce homemade Ned Rig with a Yamamoto Senko.
Another choice was this 4-inch Poor Boy’s Tube inserted through the head of a 3/8-ounce Poor Boy’s Goby Profile Tube Jig Head.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Another choice was this 4-inch Poor Boy’s Tube inserted through the head of a 3/8-ounce Poor Boy’s Goby Profile Tube Jig Head.
<b>Kevin VanDam</b><br> Kevin VanDam won with a mix of finesse and reaction lures. To trigger strikes he used Strike King KVD 200 and 300 Series Jerkbaits, Ayu and Sexy Ghost Minnow. Other strikes came on a perch colored spybait-type bait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Kevin VanDam Kevin VanDam won with a mix of finesse and reaction lures. To trigger strikes he used Strike King KVD 200 and 300 Series Jerkbaits, Ayu and Sexy Ghost Minnow. Other strikes came on a perch colored spybait-type bait.
“The majority of my fish came on a Strike King KVD Dream Shot.” VanDam chose a Chartreuse Glimmer Shad pattern. He used 3/8 and 1/2 ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weights. A new Mustad Titan X Wacky Neko Rig Hook completed the rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “The majority of my fish came on a Strike King KVD Dream Shot.” VanDam chose a Chartreuse Glimmer Shad pattern. He used 3/8 and 1/2 ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weights. A new Mustad Titan X Wacky Neko Rig Hook completed the rig.
KVD also used a 5-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho, Honey Candy pattern. He rigged it weightless to the new Mustad hook used for the wacky rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - KVD also used a 5-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho, Honey Candy pattern. He rigged it weightless to the new Mustad hook used for the wacky rig.