Top lures of Lake Champlain

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A Championship Sunday with scoreboard weights so tight that anyone in the top 10 could’ve won. The dark horse nobody guessed would come from 19th place to score the win. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - A Championship Sunday with scoreboard weights so tight that anyone in the top 10 could’ve won. The dark horse nobody guessed would come from 19th place to score the win. All captions: Craig Lamb
Aaron Martens caught 23 pounds, 5 ounces from an expanded field of 51 anglers fishing on the final day at the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels. Here are the lures used by the winner and other top finishers.
Photo: James Overstreet - Aaron Martens caught 23 pounds, 5 ounces from an expanded field of 51 anglers fishing on the final day at the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels. Here are the lures used by the winner and other top finishers.
<b>Steve Kennedy</b><br> To finish 17th, Steve Kennedy chose a Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, Bluegill Flash and other colors, rigged to 1/2- or 1-ounce unnamed jigheads.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Steve Kennedy To finish 17th, Steve Kennedy chose a Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, Bluegill Flash and other colors, rigged to 1/2- or 1-ounce unnamed jigheads.
<b>Jeff Kriet</b><br> Jeff Kriet chose a drop shot rig and jig to finish 16th. He rigged the worm to No. 1 Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook, and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Eco Pro Tungsten Pro Drop Shot Weight. Kriet also used a 3/8-ounce Eco Pro Tungsten Jig with a craw trailer.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jeff Kriet Jeff Kriet chose a drop shot rig and jig to finish 16th. He rigged the worm to No. 1 Lazer Trokar Drop Shot Hook, and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Eco Pro Tungsten Pro Drop Shot Weight. Kriet also used a 3/8-ounce Eco Pro Tungsten Jig with a craw trailer.
<b>Adrian Avena</b><br> “Smallmouth are very scent oriented and this new MaxScent for PowerBait was a big part of my week,” said Adrian Avena, who finished 15th. Avena used a one-two punch of a wacky rig and drop shot rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Adrian Avena “Smallmouth are very scent oriented and this new MaxScent for PowerBait was a big part of my week,” said Adrian Avena, who finished 15th. Avena used a one-two punch of a wacky rig and drop shot rig.
Avena made the wacky rig using a 5-inch Berkley Power Bait Max Scent The General, rigging to No. 1 B10S Stinger hook. He made the drop shot using a 4-inch Berkley Power Bait Max Scent Flat Nose Minnow. Adding a No. 1 Berkley Fusion 19 Drop Shot Hook and 1/4- or 1/2-ounce drop shot weights completed the rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Avena made the wacky rig using a 5-inch Berkley Power Bait Max Scent The General, rigging to No. 1 B10S Stinger hook. He made the drop shot using a 4-inch Berkley Power Bait Max Scent Flat Nose Minnow. Adding a No. 1 Berkley Fusion 19 Drop Shot Hook and 1/4- or 1/2-ounce drop shot weights completed the rig.
<b>David Walker</b><br> David Walker carried over a lure and tactic from the previous week at the St. Lawrence River to finish 14th at Lake Champlain. He used a new addition to the Z Man ElaZtech soft plastic lineup.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - David Walker David Walker carried over a lure and tactic from the previous week at the St. Lawrence River to finish 14th at Lake Champlain. He used a new addition to the Z Man ElaZtech soft plastic lineup.
The choice was this Trick Shotz, which is designed for drop shot rigging. He added a No. 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook, and 3/8-ounce Reins TG Drop Shot Slim Weight to complete the rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The choice was this Trick Shotz, which is designed for drop shot rigging. He added a No. 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook, and 3/8-ounce Reins TG Drop Shot Slim Weight to complete the rig.
<b>Matt Herren</b><br> To finish 13th, Matt Herren used this Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. He rigged that to 5/0 Haybusa FPP Straight Worm Hook and 1/2-ounce or 3/4-ounce Elite Tungsten Weights.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Matt Herren To finish 13th, Matt Herren used this Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. He rigged that to 5/0 Haybusa FPP Straight Worm Hook and 1/2-ounce or 3/4-ounce Elite Tungsten Weights.
<b>Matt Lee</b><br> Matt Lee fished his third Championship Sunday of the season, finishing 12th at Lake Champlain. He used a wacky rig and drop shot rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Matt Lee Matt Lee fished his third Championship Sunday of the season, finishing 12th at Lake Champlain. He used a wacky rig and drop shot rig.
Lee made the wacky rig using a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho, adding an O ring for durability, a 3/32 nail weight and No. 2 Owner Circle Hook. A Strike King KVD Dream Shot, No. 1 Owner Circle hook and 3/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight made the drop shot rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Lee made the wacky rig using a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho, adding an O ring for durability, a 3/32 nail weight and No. 2 Owner Circle Hook. A Strike King KVD Dream Shot, No. 1 Owner Circle hook and 3/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight made the drop shot rig.
<b>Alton Jones</b><br> To finish 11th, Alton Jones rigged a Yum Bad Mamma to a 4/0 ZoneLoc Flipping Hook and 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Another choice was the Yum Warning Shot, rigged to a 1/0 ZoneLoc Hook and 3/16-ounce weight. He also used a Yum Dinger, rigged to a 4/0 ZoneLoc Flipping Hook and 3/16-ounce weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Alton Jones To finish 11th, Alton Jones rigged a Yum Bad Mamma to a 4/0 ZoneLoc Flipping Hook and 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Another choice was the Yum Warning Shot, rigged to a 1/0 ZoneLoc Hook and 3/16-ounce weight. He also used a Yum Dinger, rigged to a 4/0 ZoneLoc Flipping Hook and 3/16-ounce weight.
<b>Chris Lane</b><br> To finish 10th, Chris Lane used a new River2Sea Top Notch, Monkey Butt pattern. The lure is designed as a follow-up lure for the popular Whopper Plopper.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Chris Lane To finish 10th, Chris Lane used a new River2Sea Top Notch, Monkey Butt pattern. The lure is designed as a follow-up lure for the popular Whopper Plopper.
Lane also used this Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn STX Jerkbait to trigger reaction strikes.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Lane also used this Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn STX Jerkbait to trigger reaction strikes.
<b>Jordan Lee</b><br> The reigning world champion fished his second Championship Sunday of the Bassmaster Elite Series season, finishing eighth at Lake Champlain.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jordan Lee The reigning world champion fished his second Championship Sunday of the Bassmaster Elite Series season, finishing eighth at Lake Champlain.
Lee used a KVD Perfect Plastics Caffeine Shad, Pearl, with 4/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook. He added a barrel swivel about 18 inches from the bait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Lee used a KVD Perfect Plastics Caffeine Shad, Pearl, with 4/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hook. He added a barrel swivel about 18 inches from the bait.
<b>Ott DeFoe</b><br> To finish seventh, Ott DeFoe used two finesse rigs. Those were this 3/4-ounce Terminator Jig, Green Pumpkin Olive. For a trailer he added a Bass Pro Shops River Bug, Okeechobee Craw. Alternatively, he rigged a 3/16-ounce jighead with 3.5-inch Bass Pro Shops Stik-O Worm, Cali Craw.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Ott DeFoe To finish seventh, Ott DeFoe used two finesse rigs. Those were this 3/4-ounce Terminator Jig, Green Pumpkin Olive. For a trailer he added a Bass Pro Shops River Bug, Okeechobee Craw. Alternatively, he rigged a 3/16-ounce jighead with 3.5-inch Bass Pro Shops Stik-O Worm, Cali Craw.
<b>Brandon Lester</b><br> Brandon Lester used a drop shot and Ned rig to finish sixth. The drop shot consisted of a 4-inch X Zone Lures Slim Slammer, rigged to a No. 4 Mustad Titan X Wacky Neko Hook. A 1/4-ounce drop shot weight completed the rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brandon Lester Brandon Lester used a drop shot and Ned rig to finish sixth. The drop shot consisted of a 4-inch X Zone Lures Slim Slammer, rigged to a No. 4 Mustad Titan X Wacky Neko Hook. A 1/4-ounce drop shot weight completed the rig.
The Ned rig featured a 1/8-ounce Mustad Grip Pin Ned Head with about 3 inches of an X Zone Lures True Center Stick. “I fished a community hole and those fish had seen every lure known to man. Having the right bait, and a different look, made a huge difference.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The Ned rig featured a 1/8-ounce Mustad Grip Pin Ned Head with about 3 inches of an X Zone Lures True Center Stick. “I fished a community hole and those fish had seen every lure known to man. Having the right bait, and a different look, made a huge difference.”
<b>Kelley Jaye</b><br> Kelley Jaye used two topwater lures to finish fifth. The choices were a Heddon Saltwater Super Spook, chartreuse/clear and Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait, Perch.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Kelley Jaye Kelley Jaye used two topwater lures to finish fifth. The choices were a Heddon Saltwater Super Spook, chartreuse/clear and Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait, Perch.
<b>Jacob Wheeler</b><br> Jacob Wheeler fished the farthest hard bottom areas he could find nearest the deepest water of long, rocky shoals to finish fourth. A key bait was a 3/8-ounce VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig with a Storm 360 GT Swimbait for a trailer.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jacob Wheeler Jacob Wheeler fished the farthest hard bottom areas he could find nearest the deepest water of long, rocky shoals to finish fourth. A key bait was a 3/8-ounce VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig with a Storm 360 GT Swimbait for a trailer.
To make a Carolina rig chose a 3.25-inch Gene Larew Lures Biffle Bug Jr., rigged to a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Wide Gap Hook. A 3/4-ounce VMC Tungsten Worm Weight completed the rig. Also producing strikes was a Rapala Shadow Rap Deep.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To make a Carolina rig chose a 3.25-inch Gene Larew Lures Biffle Bug Jr., rigged to a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Wide Gap Hook. A 3/4-ounce VMC Tungsten Worm Weight completed the rig. Also producing strikes was a Rapala Shadow Rap Deep.
<b>Brandon Palaniuk</b><br> “I caught lethargic, post-spawn smallmouth and needed lures to trigger reaction strikes,” said the third place finisher.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brandon Palaniuk “I caught lethargic, post-spawn smallmouth and needed lures to trigger reaction strikes,” said the third place finisher.
Palaniuk created a drop shot using a Zoom Z Drop, with No. 2 drop shot hook and 3/8- or 1/4-ounce tungsten drop shot sinker. A Storm Arashi Spinbait, Green Gill, was key for triggering strikes using a spybaiting technique.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Palaniuk created a drop shot using a Zoom Z Drop, with No. 2 drop shot hook and 3/8- or 1/4-ounce tungsten drop shot sinker. A Storm Arashi Spinbait, Green Gill, was key for triggering strikes using a spybaiting technique.
Also key was a Storm Arashi Top Walker 13, Ayu. For strike appeal he added a VMC Feathered Treble Hook. He also used this Rapala Shadow Rap Deep.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Also key was a Storm Arashi Top Walker 13, Ayu. For strike appeal he added a VMC Feathered Treble Hook. He also used this Rapala Shadow Rap Deep.
<b>Seth Feider</b><br> A prototype jig paid off for runner-up Seth Feider. Trimming the skirt and tentacles on the trailer made the rig more compact, a key for strikes.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Seth Feider A prototype jig paid off for runner-up Seth Feider. Trimming the skirt and tentacles on the trailer made the rig more compact, a key for strikes.
About to hit the market is this 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Tungsten Stealth Feider Jig. He added a BioSpawn Vilecraw trailer for strike appeal.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - About to hit the market is this 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Tungsten Stealth Feider Jig. He added a BioSpawn Vilecraw trailer for strike appeal.
<b>Aaron Martens</b><br> Winner Aaron Martens fished for largemouth with a familiar lure over a rocky flat covered by weeds.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Aaron Martens Winner Aaron Martens fished for largemouth with a familiar lure over a rocky flat covered by weeds.
The winning bait was a 4.25-inch Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm, Aaron’s Magic/Red-Black Flake. A new No. 1 Gamakatsu G Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, and 1/4-ounce cylinder tungsten weight completed the rig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The winning bait was a 4.25-inch Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm, Aaron’s Magic/Red-Black Flake. A new No. 1 Gamakatsu G Finesse Heavy Cover Hook, and 1/4-ounce cylinder tungsten weight completed the rig.