Gear

Top lures at Arkansas River 2020

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Stay local or make the long run. Those were the best bets for fishing on Championship Saturday at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on the Arkansas River. High water expanded the strike zone in the backwaters. Or you could sacrifice time and lock through to the Kerr Pool in the more reservoir-like environment. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Steve Bowman - Stay local or make the long run. Those were the best bets for fishing on Championship Saturday at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on the Arkansas River. High water expanded the strike zone in the backwaters. Or you could sacrifice time and lock through to the Kerr Pool in the more reservoir-like environment. All captions: Craig Lamb
Oklahoman Chris Jones stuck with what he knows best. That was swimming a jig, and doing it in Kerr. Soft plastics for power fishing along the shorelines, and swim jigs for deeper fish, were universal choices of the Top 12.
Photo: James Overstreet - Oklahoman Chris Jones stuck with what he knows best. That was swimming a jig, and doing it in Kerr. Soft plastics for power fishing along the shorelines, and swim jigs for deeper fish, were universal choices of the Top 12.
<b>Paul Browning (12th; 25-13)</b><br> A 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Slither Rig with a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog was the go-to setup for Paul Browning.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Paul Browning (12th; 25-13) A 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Slither Rig with a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog was the go-to setup for Paul Browning.
<b>Mark Watson (11th; 31-1) </b><br> Three lures made up the lure arsenal of Mark Watson. A Strike King Ocho rigged weightless on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook was a top choice. So was a 7-inch Zoom Magnum Speed Worm, rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook with 1/4-ounce weight. Watson also used a Strike King HC Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait. <p> Buy it now on Amazon: <br> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Mark Watson (11th; 31-1) Three lures made up the lure arsenal of Mark Watson. A Strike King Ocho rigged weightless on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook was a top choice. So was a 7-inch Zoom Magnum Speed Worm, rigged on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook with 1/4-ounce weight. Watson also used a Strike King HC Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Ocho Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook Strike King Rage Tail Cut-R Worm Strike King HC Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait
<b>Spike Stoker (10th; 32-11)</b><br> A Molix Supernato Hybrid Crankbait was a top lure for Spike Stoker. So was a 10.5-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm, rigged on 5/0 Gamakatsu Hook with 1/4- or 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weights.
Spike Stoker (10th; 32-11) A Molix Supernato Hybrid Crankbait was a top lure for Spike Stoker. So was a 10.5-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm, rigged on 5/0 Gamakatsu Hook with 1/4- or 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weights.
<b>Justin Margraves (9th; 33-9) </b><br> Justin Margraves rotated through these lures. A 5/16-ounce Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig, with 4-inch Strike King Rage Craw trailer was a top choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Justin Margraves (9th; 33-9) Justin Margraves rotated through these lures. A 5/16-ounce Santone Lures Chris McCall Rayburn Swim Jig, with 4-inch Strike King Rage Craw trailer was a top choice.
So was a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Margraves also used a vintage 2.5-inch Zoom Bait Co. W.E.C. E-2 Series Crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Margraves also used a vintage 2.5-inch Zoom Bait Co. W.E.C. E-2 Series Crankbait.
<b>Caleb Gibson (8th; 35-13) </b><br> A Booyah Bait Co. prototype jig was a key bait for Caleb Gibson. He added a Strike King Rage Craw to the 1/2-ounce jig. Another choice was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig, with Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Caleb Gibson (8th; 35-13) A Booyah Bait Co. prototype jig was a key bait for Caleb Gibson. He added a Strike King Rage Craw to the 1/2-ounce jig. Another choice was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Swim Jig, with Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub for a trailer.
<b>Brandon Palaniuk (7th; 35-15) </b><br> Brandon Palaniuk rotated through these two lures. A Rapala BX Brat Square Bill Crankbait, retrofitted with No. 6 VMC 7547 Hybrid Treble Hooks was a key lure. So was an X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw, rigged on 4/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flipping Hook, with 1.5-ounce VMC Tungsten Weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Palaniuk (7th; 35-15) Brandon Palaniuk rotated through these two lures. A Rapala BX Brat Square Bill Crankbait, retrofitted with No. 6 VMC 7547 Hybrid Treble Hooks was a key lure. So was an X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw, rigged on 4/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flipping Hook, with 1.5-ounce VMC Tungsten Weight.
<b>Stephen Browning (6th; 36-15) </b><br> Stephen Browning grinded it out on the river doing what he does best. Picking apart shallow water cover using the flipping and pitching tactic.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Stephen Browning (6th; 36-15) Stephen Browning grinded it out on the river doing what he does best. Picking apart shallow water cover using the flipping and pitching tactic.
Browning’s top bait was a 4-inch Z-Man Big TRD, rigged on 3/16- or 5/16-ounce jig heads for flipping or swimming.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Browning’s top bait was a 4-inch Z-Man Big TRD, rigged on 3/16- or 5/16-ounce jig heads for flipping or swimming.
<b>Cody Huff (5th; 37-3) </b><br> Cody Huff spent much of his time fishing the shallows.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Cody Huff (5th; 37-3) Cody Huff spent much of his time fishing the shallows.
A 3/8-ounce Queen Tackle Switch Blade with Zoom Z Craw Jr. was a key bait for Huff. So was a Strike King Rage Menace, rigged on 4/0 VMC hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 3/8-ounce Queen Tackle Switch Blade with Zoom Z Craw Jr. was a key bait for Huff. So was a Strike King Rage Menace, rigged on 4/0 VMC hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
<b>Lee Livesay (4th; 41-4) </b><br> Lee Livesay worked a jig over shallow vegetation in the early morning, and then switched to a flipping package later in the day. The choices were a NetBait Kickin B, rigged on 3/0 hook with 3/4-ounce weight, and a NetBait Paca Craw, rigged on 4/0 hook and either 1/4- or 3/4-ounce weights.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Lee Livesay (4th; 41-4) Lee Livesay worked a jig over shallow vegetation in the early morning, and then switched to a flipping package later in the day. The choices were a NetBait Kickin B, rigged on 3/0 hook with 3/4-ounce weight, and a NetBait Paca Craw, rigged on 4/0 hook and either 1/4- or 3/4-ounce weights.
A Scum Frog Launch Frog was another top choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Scum Frog Launch Frog was another top choice.
<b>Dale Hightower (3rd; 41-4) </b><br> A 7-inch Yum Baits Ribbontail Worm, rigged on 4/0 Sixgill straight shank worm hook was a top choice for Dale Hightower.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Dale Hightower (3rd; 41-4) A 7-inch Yum Baits Ribbontail Worm, rigged on 4/0 Sixgill straight shank worm hook was a top choice for Dale Hightower.
He also used a Booyah Baits XCS Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Booyah Baits XCS Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait.
<b>John Garrett (2nd; 42-7) </b><br> John Garrett stayed shallow on Championship Saturday to make a run at the title.
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Garrett (2nd; 42-7) John Garrett stayed shallow on Championship Saturday to make a run at the title.
Short strikes and lethargic bass prompted Garrett to upgrade the hooks on a Strike King HC Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait. He used Owner ST-36 BC Treble Hooks to keep fish on. A Strike King Rage Bug, rigged with 3/8- or 1/22-ounce Strike King Tungsten Grade Weights, was another top choice
Photo: Andy Crawford - Short strikes and lethargic bass prompted Garrett to upgrade the hooks on a Strike King HC Square Bill 1.5 Crankbait. He used Owner ST-36 BC Treble Hooks to keep fish on. A Strike King Rage Bug, rigged with 3/8- or 1/22-ounce Strike King Tungsten Grade Weights, was another top choice
<b>Chris Jones (1st; 42-13) </b><br> Chris Jones rotated through spinnerbaits, plastic frogs and this key bait. He chose a 3/8-ounce Booyah Bait Co. prototype jig with YUM 3.25 inch Craw Chunk.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Jones (1st; 42-13) Chris Jones rotated through spinnerbaits, plastic frogs and this key bait. He chose a 3/8-ounce Booyah Bait Co. prototype jig with YUM 3.25 inch Craw Chunk.