Photo: Andy Crawford - Lake Norman presented the competition with two options at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open. You could target largemouth in the shallows, most of them congregated around the shade of docks, or target spotted bass in deeper water. All captions: Craig LambPhoto: Andy Crawford - Cody Hoyle did what he does best. A skilled local tournament angler, the North Carolinian fished more than 100 docks during the three days to win the event with 40 pounds, 4 ounces. See the lures used by the winner and top finishers, and get geared up for the fall transition with their choices.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Shane Lineberger (10th; 26-4) Shane Lineberger relied on local knowledge of Lake Norman and a lineup of proven baits on the fishery. Photo: Andy Crawford - He used a 9/16-ounce TrueSouth Custom Lures Fathead Flipping Jig, rigged with a Zoom Big Salty Chunk trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/4-ounce Dirty Jigs Swimbait Head, rigged with a Gajo Swim Shad was another top choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lineberger also used a handmade Brianâs Bees B1 Prop Bait, available from Brianâs Crankbaits. Photo: Andy Crawford - Charlie Hartley (9th; 31-1) When in the Carolinas, you must try a Carolina rig. And that old school approach produced well for Charlie Hartley. Photo: Andy Crawford - He made the rig with a 6-inch Zoom Lizard, rigged on a 4/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook, with a 1/2-ounce cylinder weight. He used an 18- to 22-inch leader.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hartley also used a D&L Tackle 3/8-ounce Original Jig. Photo: Andy Crawford - Christian Shoda (8th; 31-3) A bladed jig, homemade jig and prop bait were the lures of choice for Christian Shoda. Photo: Andy Crawford - For covering water, he used a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Gambler Little EZ 3.75-inch swimbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Shoda also used a 5/8-ounce homemade jig with a Zoom Salty Pro Chunk. Photo: Andy Crawford - An Academy Sports + Outdoors H20 EXPRESS Double Plop Bait was another choice. Photo: Andy Crawford - Josh Douglas (7th; 32-2) Josh Douglas earned an invitation to the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Norman by rotating through a swimbait, jig and new jerkbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - That choice was the new Shimano World Minnow 115SP, featuring technologies that provide greater casting distance and more lifelike appearance. He added an additional weight below the head to make the bait quickly reach the cane pile strike zone. Photo: Andy Crawford - Douglas also took a 1/4-once Outkast Tackle Golden Eye Swimmer Head, and he added a 3.25-inch BioSpawn ExoSwim for a swimbait rig. Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 3/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Cage Feider Jig, with a Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cole Sands (6th; 32-4) Cole Sands relied on two mainstay baits that are commonly used during the fall on Lake Norman. Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/4-ounce jighead with a Keitech Swing Impact 3.3 swimbait was a top choice. Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil Popper, for topwater action.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For a finesse approach, Sands used a 6-inch Roboworm, rigged on a 1/0 Roboworm Rebarb Hook, with a 1/4-ounce weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Masayuki Matsushita (5th; 33-6) Lures he designed for Deps produced well for Masayuki Matsushita. Photo: Andy Crawford - Matsushita used a 3/8-ounce Deps Clinghead Jig with a 3.5-inch Deps Barbute trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 1/2-ounce Deps Matsu Buzz with a frog trailer was another choice. Photo: Andy Crawford - Matsushita also used a 1/2-ounce Ryugi football head jig with a Nories Escape Twin trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - David Williams (4th; 34-2) A crankbait and jig were the baits of choice for David Williams, who received an invitation to the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He chose a Duo Realis Crank M65 11A for cranking. Photo: Andy Crawford - For slower presentations, Williams used a 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle Jig, with a Zoom Z Hog Jr. trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - Cole Huskins (3rd; 34-7) Cole Huskins rotated through a jerkbait, jig for skipping,and a locally-made, handmade prop bait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - That choice was a Bloody Thumb Lures Prop Hammer, made by Brianâs Crankbaits. Photo: Andy Crawford - Huskins also used a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait. Photo: Andy Crawford - For skipping beneath docks, he used a 1/2-ounce Brianâs Custom Jig, made by Brianâs Crankbaits.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Joey Nania (2nd; 36-11) Joey Nania used a lightweight jig to reach quality bass holding on the bottom at Lake Norman. Photo: Andy Crawford - His bait choice was a 3/16-ounce Z-Man Finesse EyeZ Jighead, with a 3.75-inch Z-Man StreakZ swimbait. Photo: Andy Crawford - Cody Hoyle (1st; 40-4) Cody Hoyle combined local knowledge of Lake Norman with baits commonly used to catch bass during the fall.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A primary bait was a 1/2-ounce homemade jig with a Zoom Twin Tail Grub.Photo: Andy Crawford - For boat docks, he made a drop shot with a 6-inch Roboworm, rigged on a 1/0 Gamakatsu Hook with a 1/2-ounce ball sinker. Photo: Andy Crawford - Hoyle also used a Rapala DT6 crankbait.
