Lures of the Top 12 at Cayuga

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Epic sums up the week of fishing at the Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake. Kevin VanDam won a record eighth Elite event. He now has 22 B.A.S.S. wins, another record. Against his normal fast-paced style of fishing the angling great relied on a finesse approach for the victory. <p> “I’ve never caught so many 3-pound bass in a single day as I did this week,” he said. Most of those, in very un-VanDam form, were caught on soft plastics. He wasn’t alone. <p> The other top finishers caught bass sight fishing and luring bass from grassy shoals. Reports of catching 50 or more keeper-sized largemouth or smallmouth a day were common. That’s epic by anyone’s standards. Here’s a look at the lures of the Top 12. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - Epic sums up the week of fishing at the Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake. Kevin VanDam won a record eighth Elite event. He now has 22 B.A.S.S. wins, another record. Against his normal fast-paced style of fishing the angling great relied on a finesse approach for the victory. “I’ve never caught so many 3-pound bass in a single day as I did this week,” he said. Most of those, in very un-VanDam form, were caught on soft plastics. He wasn’t alone. The other top finishers caught bass sight fishing and luring bass from grassy shoals. Reports of catching 50 or more keeper-sized largemouth or smallmouth a day were common. That’s epic by anyone’s standards. Here’s a look at the lures of the Top 12. All captions: Craig Lamb
<b>12. Matt Herren, 65-8</b><br> Matt Herren fished a Reaction Lures Pocket Rocket and 3/8-ounce Santone Lures M Series Jig. He fished the Pocket Rocket on a weightless Texas rig with a 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG Light Wire hook. “I fished along the shoreline and focused on shallow docks and any rock along the way,” he said.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 12. Matt Herren, 65-8 Matt Herren fished a Reaction Lures Pocket Rocket and 3/8-ounce Santone Lures M Series Jig. He fished the Pocket Rocket on a weightless Texas rig with a 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG Light Wire hook. “I fished along the shoreline and focused on shallow docks and any rock along the way,” he said.
<b>11. Mike Iaconelli, 67-8</b><br> Mike Iaconelli relied on a selection of self-designed Berkley Havoc soft plastics. He alternated between a Texas-rigged Devil Spear and Back Slide, depending on the wind-driven bite conditions. <p> “I fished the bulkier Devil Spear in the wind but they wouldn’t touch it in calm conditions,” he said. The changeup from a reaction to finesse bite influenced the weight and profile of the lure. Casting targets were sandy spots and openings in the grass with evidence of spawning activity.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 11. Mike Iaconelli, 67-8 Mike Iaconelli relied on a selection of self-designed Berkley Havoc soft plastics. He alternated between a Texas-rigged Devil Spear and Back Slide, depending on the wind-driven bite conditions. “I fished the bulkier Devil Spear in the wind but they wouldn’t touch it in calm conditions,” he said. The changeup from a reaction to finesse bite influenced the weight and profile of the lure. Casting targets were sandy spots and openings in the grass with evidence of spawning activity.
He fished the Devil Spear on a 5/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flippin’ hook with a 3/4-ounce VMC. For the Back Slide he lightened up with a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce VMC nail weight rigged through one end of the worm.
Photo: Ronnie Moore - He fished the Devil Spear on a 5/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flippin’ hook with a 3/4-ounce VMC. For the Back Slide he lightened up with a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce VMC nail weight rigged through one end of the worm.
<b>10. Gerald Swindle, 67-10</b><br> Gerald Swindle fished an offshore style of junk fishing to leverage his skills with the technique. To do that he used a Zoom Baits Ultra Vibe Speed Worm. “I fished just about anything out there I came up on,” he said. “Grass edges, flats, wood and rock.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 10. Gerald Swindle, 67-10 Gerald Swindle fished an offshore style of junk fishing to leverage his skills with the technique. To do that he used a Zoom Baits Ultra Vibe Speed Worm. “I fished just about anything out there I came up on,” he said. “Grass edges, flats, wood and rock.”
<b>9. Morizo Shimizu, 68-11</b><br> Morizo Shimizu caught his fair share of “Big Momma” bass, as he calls them, on a topwater lure. He used an Evergreen Shower Blows that features a spitting, bubbling chug from its pencil-popper design. When the topwater bite slowed he switched to a Chatterbait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 9. Morizo Shimizu, 68-11 Morizo Shimizu caught his fair share of “Big Momma” bass, as he calls them, on a topwater lure. He used an Evergreen Shower Blows that features a spitting, bubbling chug from its pencil-popper design. When the topwater bite slowed he switched to a Chatterbait.
<b>8. Drew Benton, 68-15</b><br> Drew Benton alternated between a bluegill color Bagley Knocker B and a 6-inch UVenko soft plastic stick bait. He fished the green pumpkin lure weightless and rigged Texas style with an Owner 6/0 EWG Hook. <p> “I used the topwater as a locator lure for finding bedding bass,” he said. “When I found the fish I slowed down and pitched the UVenko into openings in the grass where the bass were bedding.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 8. Drew Benton, 68-15 Drew Benton alternated between a bluegill color Bagley Knocker B and a 6-inch UVenko soft plastic stick bait. He fished the green pumpkin lure weightless and rigged Texas style with an Owner 6/0 EWG Hook. “I used the topwater as a locator lure for finding bedding bass,” he said. “When I found the fish I slowed down and pitched the UVenko into openings in the grass where the bass were bedding.”
<b>7. Dean Rojas, 69-1</b><br> Dean Rojas fished his strengths to score with a soft plastic frog and drop shot rigged finesse worm. His choices were a 5-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and a hand poured worm. He rigged the frog with a 1/2-ounce tungsten weight and 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Lightweight Hook. A 3/16-ounce weight and 2/0 Gamakatsu hook completed the drop shot rig. He fished those lures around mixed vegetation near flats.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 7. Dean Rojas, 69-1 Dean Rojas fished his strengths to score with a soft plastic frog and drop shot rigged finesse worm. His choices were a 5-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and a hand poured worm. He rigged the frog with a 1/2-ounce tungsten weight and 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Lightweight Hook. A 3/16-ounce weight and 2/0 Gamakatsu hook completed the drop shot rig. He fished those lures around mixed vegetation near flats.
<b>6. Keith Combs, 69-6</b><br> Keith Combs alternated between a Strike King Pure Poison bladed swimbait, a Strike King Ocho and this Strike King 10-inch worm. Fishing grassy flats provided most effective for the Texas pro.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 6. Keith Combs, 69-6 Keith Combs alternated between a Strike King Pure Poison bladed swimbait, a Strike King Ocho and this Strike King 10-inch worm. Fishing grassy flats provided most effective for the Texas pro.
<b>5. Koby Kreiger, 69-8</b><br> For his fifth-place finish Koby Kreiger packed a one-two punch of lure choices. Those were a Heddon Zara Spook and 5-inch V&M Baits Chopstick. The topwater was an attention-getter that stirred the predator instinct of the bass. Once lured out of the dock he picked up the wacky-rigged soft plastic bait to catch the bass. “I just repeated that same tactic on every dock,” he said.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 5. Koby Kreiger, 69-8 For his fifth-place finish Koby Kreiger packed a one-two punch of lure choices. Those were a Heddon Zara Spook and 5-inch V&M Baits Chopstick. The topwater was an attention-getter that stirred the predator instinct of the bass. Once lured out of the dock he picked up the wacky-rigged soft plastic bait to catch the bass. “I just repeated that same tactic on every dock,” he said.
<b>4. Jacob Powroznik, 69-8</b><br> Jacob Powroznik caught up to 100 bass and northern pike every day on a selection of soft plastics. His choices covered the water column from top to bottom and for a variety of tactics. Those included flipping, pitching and sight fishing for bedding bass. He used a 6 1/2-inch V&M Trickster, V&M Swamp Hog and a hand poured worm.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 4. Jacob Powroznik, 69-8 Jacob Powroznik caught up to 100 bass and northern pike every day on a selection of soft plastics. His choices covered the water column from top to bottom and for a variety of tactics. Those included flipping, pitching and sight fishing for bedding bass. He used a 6 1/2-inch V&M Trickster, V&M Swamp Hog and a hand poured worm.
<b>3. Brett Hite, 69-11</b><br> When the bladed jig bite is hot you can expect success from Brett Hite. For another strong Top 12 finish he matched up a pair of self-designed lures. Those were an Evergreen Jack Hammer bladed jig with a 4-inch Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Zako. Depending on depth of the grass he alternated between ounce sizes of 1/2, 3/8 and 3/4.
Photo: James Overstreet - 3. Brett Hite, 69-11 When the bladed jig bite is hot you can expect success from Brett Hite. For another strong Top 12 finish he matched up a pair of self-designed lures. Those were an Evergreen Jack Hammer bladed jig with a 4-inch Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Zako. Depending on depth of the grass he alternated between ounce sizes of 1/2, 3/8 and 3/4.
Hite fished the green pumpkin color matched jig and trailer on the grassy edges of a sloping flat. “I let the bait fall on a count to five and then slow rolled it through the grass,” he said. Best depth was about 10 feet. <p> Hite alternated between the bladed jig and a 6 1/2-inch Yamamoto Kut Tail watermelon candy worm. He fished the wacky rigged worm on a 1/0 drop shot circle hook with a rubber o-ring for securing the rig. He added a 3/32-ounce Reins Fishing TG Nail Sinker for getting the lure into the strike zone.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Hite fished the green pumpkin color matched jig and trailer on the grassy edges of a sloping flat. “I let the bait fall on a count to five and then slow rolled it through the grass,” he said. Best depth was about 10 feet. Hite alternated between the bladed jig and a 6 1/2-inch Yamamoto Kut Tail watermelon candy worm. He fished the wacky rigged worm on a 1/0 drop shot circle hook with a rubber o-ring for securing the rig. He added a 3/32-ounce Reins Fishing TG Nail Sinker for getting the lure into the strike zone.
<b>2. Jordan Lee, 70-12</b><br> Jordan Lee kept things simple all week. In doing so his mind stayed keenly focused on dialing in to the bass on a drop shot and wacky rig. That allowed him to discover subtle changes in the bite instead of shifting gears mentally and mechanically with a variety of lures.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - 2. Jordan Lee, 70-12 Jordan Lee kept things simple all week. In doing so his mind stayed keenly focused on dialing in to the bass on a drop shot and wacky rig. That allowed him to discover subtle changes in the bite instead of shifting gears mentally and mechanically with a variety of lures.
To catch smallmouth on Days 1 and 2 he wacky rigged a 5-inch Strike King Ocho and a 5-inch Strike King Dream Shot, both in watermelon colors. After switching to largemouth he used a drop shot rig featuring a 6-inch hand-poured worm. He favored natural colors to match the perch and bluegill in his fishing areas. Lee used a 1/4-ounce and No. 1 drop shot or 2/0 worm hook.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To catch smallmouth on Days 1 and 2 he wacky rigged a 5-inch Strike King Ocho and a 5-inch Strike King Dream Shot, both in watermelon colors. After switching to largemouth he used a drop shot rig featuring a 6-inch hand-poured worm. He favored natural colors to match the perch and bluegill in his fishing areas. Lee used a 1/4-ounce and No. 1 drop shot or 2/0 worm hook.
“The largemouth were spawning in the deep grass,” he said. “I just pitched the bait into the openings.” Best depths ranged from 8-10 feet. “The smallmouth were spawning, too, but the bite went cold after the second day.”
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “The largemouth were spawning in the deep grass,” he said. “I just pitched the bait into the openings.” Best depths ranged from 8-10 feet. “The smallmouth were spawning, too, but the bite went cold after the second day.”
<b>1. Kevin VanDam, 71-13</b><br> VanDam chose the slim profile of soft plastics to mimic small perch and bluegill hiding in grassbeds spread over shallow flats. Productive lure targets were open spaces in the grass. That is where bass hid to ambush perch and bluegill (and his lures). <p> Playing a starring role was a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho. He chose a 5-inch model in a variety of natural hued colors. “The Ocho is good for spawners because it resembles a perch or baitfish invading a bed.”
Photo: Ronnie Moore - 1. Kevin VanDam, 71-13 VanDam chose the slim profile of soft plastics to mimic small perch and bluegill hiding in grassbeds spread over shallow flats. Productive lure targets were open spaces in the grass. That is where bass hid to ambush perch and bluegill (and his lures). Playing a starring role was a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho. He chose a 5-inch model in a variety of natural hued colors. “The Ocho is good for spawners because it resembles a perch or baitfish invading a bed.”
VanDam rigged the Ocho to resemble the action of a stealthy perch or bluegill diving into a spawning bed. He rigged it with a 1/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight and a 3/0 Mustad KVD Grip Pin Wide Gap Hook. <p> VanDam Texas-rigged the lure most of the week. Alternatively, he fished it wacky style under calm conditions. For bedding bass he switched to a drop shot rig. Playing a supporting role in VanDam’s soft plastic arsenal was a duo of Strike King baits. Those were a KVD Dream Shot and Strike King Rage Tail Shellcracker.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - VanDam rigged the Ocho to resemble the action of a stealthy perch or bluegill diving into a spawning bed. He rigged it with a 1/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight and a 3/0 Mustad KVD Grip Pin Wide Gap Hook. VanDam Texas-rigged the lure most of the week. Alternatively, he fished it wacky style under calm conditions. For bedding bass he switched to a drop shot rig. Playing a supporting role in VanDam’s soft plastic arsenal was a duo of Strike King baits. Those were a KVD Dream Shot and Strike King Rage Tail Shellcracker.
Wind stimulated a Strike King KVD Suspending Jerkbait bite on Day 4. “Wind makes bait and bass more active while opening up more lure choices you can use in clear water,” he said. As a result the more productive reaction bite creates more catch opportunities.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Wind stimulated a Strike King KVD Suspending Jerkbait bite on Day 4. “Wind makes bait and bass more active while opening up more lure choices you can use in clear water,” he said. As a result the more productive reaction bite creates more catch opportunities.