Top lures at Grand Lake

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Oklahoman James Elam scored a win on his home water of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. See what lures he and other top finishers used at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - Oklahoman James Elam scored a win on his home water of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees. See what lures he and other top finishers used at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open. All captions: Craig Lamb
<b>Gary Clouse</b><br> A Strike King Rage Bug rigged multiple ways helped Gary Clouse to finish 12th. “I fished docks and near shore dropoffs,” said the president of Phoenix Boats.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Gary Clouse A Strike King Rage Bug rigged multiple ways helped Gary Clouse to finish 12th. “I fished docks and near shore dropoffs,” said the president of Phoenix Boats.
The lineup featured an 11/16-ounce Gene Larew Biffle Hardhead, 1/2-ounce shaky head jig and a Texas rig. To complete that he used a 4/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Craig Lamb - The lineup featured an 11/16-ounce Gene Larew Biffle Hardhead, 1/2-ounce shaky head jig and a Texas rig. To complete that he used a 4/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Dave Mansue</b><br> Dave Mansue used what he described as a “power finesse” approach to finish 11th. “The fish were biting short due to heavy fishing pressure. A jig bite was unproductive so I went with my go-to rig.”
Photo: James Overstreet - Dave Mansue Dave Mansue used what he described as a “power finesse” approach to finish 11th. “The fish were biting short due to heavy fishing pressure. A jig bite was unproductive so I went with my go-to rig.”
That was flipping a Texas rigged Yamamoto Senko in less than one foot of water. He made the rig with a No. 5 Daichi Offset Wide Gap Worm Hook, with 1/4- or 3/8-ounce worm hook.
Photo: Craig Lamb - That was flipping a Texas rigged Yamamoto Senko in less than one foot of water. He made the rig with a No. 5 Daichi Offset Wide Gap Worm Hook, with 1/4- or 3/8-ounce worm hook.
<b>Jonathon Simon</b><br> Like many of the top anglers Jonathon Simons junked fished his way to finish 10th. A 5/8- or 3/4-ounce V&M Cliff Pace The Flatline Pacemaker Football Jig with Strike King Rage Craw was a key choice.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Jonathon Simon Like many of the top anglers Jonathon Simons junked fished his way to finish 10th. A 5/8- or 3/4-ounce V&M Cliff Pace The Flatline Pacemaker Football Jig with Strike King Rage Craw was a key choice.
So was a 10.5-inch Texas rigged Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm. He rigged that to a 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Line Hook and 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. He also used the same terminal tackle with a 9-inch Zoom Mag II Worm. He also used a Strike King KVD HC Shallow Squarebill 1.5 Crankbait.
Photo: Craig Lamb - So was a 10.5-inch Texas rigged Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm. He rigged that to a 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Line Hook and 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. He also used the same terminal tackle with a 9-inch Zoom Mag II Worm. He also used a Strike King KVD HC Shallow Squarebill 1.5 Crankbait.
<b>Andy Ortega</b><br> Andy Ortega used a custom-made jig of his design, a Texas rig and topwater to finish ninth. “The topwater was my key bait all week,” said the 18-year-old Texas angler.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Andy Ortega Andy Ortega used a custom-made jig of his design, a Texas rig and topwater to finish ninth. “The topwater was my key bait all week,” said the 18-year-old Texas angler.
That choice was a 6-inch Evergreen Shower Blows 105. The bait was key because the pencil design and unique action does everything from walking the dog to chugging, so he could vary the action to suit the bite.
Photo: Craig Lamb - That choice was a 6-inch Evergreen Shower Blows 105. The bait was key because the pencil design and unique action does everything from walking the dog to chugging, so he could vary the action to suit the bite.
“I also fished pea gravel shorelines with the jig and Texas rig.” He used the latter for flipping when encountering isolated wood. Choices were the Strike King Rage Tail Craw or Rage Bug. He used a 3/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hook and 1/4-ounce weight to make the rigs.
Photo: Craig Lamb - “I also fished pea gravel shorelines with the jig and Texas rig.” He used the latter for flipping when encountering isolated wood. Choices were the Strike King Rage Tail Craw or Rage Bug. He used a 3/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hook and 1/4-ounce weight to make the rigs.
To cover shorelines Ortega used a personally made 1/2-ounce Money Maker Jig. “I missed lots of fish when I was younger and wanted to come up with a better weed guard.” A light wire was the solution. “It covers the hook but won’t get hung in wood or rocks. It also collapses when a fish takes the jig for a better hookset.”
Photo: Craig Lamb - To cover shorelines Ortega used a personally made 1/2-ounce Money Maker Jig. “I missed lots of fish when I was younger and wanted to come up with a better weed guard.” A light wire was the solution. “It covers the hook but won’t get hung in wood or rocks. It also collapses when a fish takes the jig for a better hookset.”
<b>Harvey Horne</b><br> Harvey Horne fished a football jig on ledges and dropoffs to finish eighth. “I tried to key on unused water, because there was so much fishing pressure in my areas.”
Photo: Craig Lamb - Harvey Horne Harvey Horne fished a football jig on ledges and dropoffs to finish eighth. “I tried to key on unused water, because there was so much fishing pressure in my areas.”
His choice was a 1-ounce Bass X Football Jig with a Strike King Rage Craw.
Photo: Craig Lamb - His choice was a 1-ounce Bass X Football Jig with a Strike King Rage Craw.
<b>Roy Hawk</b><br> Roy Hawk used a jig and crankbait to finish seventh.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Roy Hawk Roy Hawk used a jig and crankbait to finish seventh.
A 1/2-ounce Pepper Jig and Yamamoto PsychoDad was a key choice. So was a Duo Realis M65 11A crankbait, capable of running at depths up to 11 feet.
Photo: Craig Lamb - A 1/2-ounce Pepper Jig and Yamamoto PsychoDad was a key choice. So was a Duo Realis M65 11A crankbait, capable of running at depths up to 11 feet.
<b>Beau Branine</b><br> A Texas-rigged worm fished across shallow flats was a key lure for sixth-place finisher Beau Branine.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Beau Branine A Texas-rigged worm fished across shallow flats was a key lure for sixth-place finisher Beau Branine.
A Tight Lines UV Hog rigged to a 4/0 Owner hook and 1/4-ounce weight completed the rig.
Photo: Craig Lamb - A Tight Lines UV Hog rigged to a 4/0 Owner hook and 1/4-ounce weight completed the rig.
<b>Allan Nail</b><br> Allan Nail finished fifth using a jig, topwater and Carolina rig.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Allan Nail Allan Nail finished fifth using a jig, topwater and Carolina rig.
A 1/2-ounce homemade jig and V&M trailer and a topwater were key choices. So was a Carolina-rigged, V&M Baits Baby Swamp Hog that he rigged to a 4/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Craig Lamb - A 1/2-ounce homemade jig and V&M trailer and a topwater were key choices. So was a Carolina-rigged, V&M Baits Baby Swamp Hog that he rigged to a 4/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Toby Hartsell</b><br> A topwater, homemade jig and Texas rig produced a fourth-place finish for Toby Hartsell.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Toby Hartsell A topwater, homemade jig and Texas rig produced a fourth-place finish for Toby Hartsell.
A Reaction Innovations Vixen was a key choice. So was a 5/16-ounce homemade skirted jig with a NetBait Paca Chunk. Hartsell also rigged a 10-inch Berkley Powerbait Worm to a 5/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Craig Lamb - A Reaction Innovations Vixen was a key choice. So was a 5/16-ounce homemade skirted jig with a NetBait Paca Chunk. Hartsell also rigged a 10-inch Berkley Powerbait Worm to a 5/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Masayuki Matsushita </b><br> Masayuki Matsushita fished his first Championship Saturday and scored a third-place finish.
Photo: James Overstreet - Masayuki Matsushita Masayuki Matsushita fished his first Championship Saturday and scored a third-place finish.
This Whopper Plopper was a key bait in his success, especially for schooling fish in the early morning.
Photo: Craig Lamb - This Whopper Plopper was a key bait in his success, especially for schooling fish in the early morning.
<b>Casey Scanlon</b><br> Casey Scanlon made a run at the title and finished second in the tournament. A 2.5-inch Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn Series 3 Crankbait was a key choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Trophy Bass Company Trophy Pro Jig.
Photo: James Overstreet - Casey Scanlon Casey Scanlon made a run at the title and finished second in the tournament. A 2.5-inch Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn Series 3 Crankbait was a key choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Trophy Bass Company Trophy Pro Jig.
Scanlon also used a Luck-E-Strike Con Man Worm or Bass Pro Shops Tube. He rigged the worm to a 1/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook and 5/16-ounce Bass Pro Shops Tungsten Weight, or a 1/4-ounce shaky head jig. For the tube bait he used a 4/0 Hayabusa TNS Offset Worm Hook and 5/16-ounce weight.
Photo: Craig Lamb - Scanlon also used a Luck-E-Strike Con Man Worm or Bass Pro Shops Tube. He rigged the worm to a 1/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook and 5/16-ounce Bass Pro Shops Tungsten Weight, or a 1/4-ounce shaky head jig. For the tube bait he used a 4/0 Hayabusa TNS Offset Worm Hook and 5/16-ounce weight.
<b>James Elam</b><br> James Elam fished shallow and deep to score the win.
Photo: Craig Lamb - James Elam James Elam fished shallow and deep to score the win.
A 3-inch Jackall Pompadour was a key choice. The lure is fitted with metal wings that collapse on the cast and then flare out upon hitting the water. The wings create splash that complement dual rattle chambers. He also Carolina rigged a lizard with a 4/0 Owner Rig ‘N Bass Hook and 3/4-ounce weight.
Photo: Craig Lamb - A 3-inch Jackall Pompadour was a key choice. The lure is fitted with metal wings that collapse on the cast and then flare out upon hitting the water. The wings create splash that complement dual rattle chambers. He also Carolina rigged a lizard with a 4/0 Owner Rig ‘N Bass Hook and 3/4-ounce weight.