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Top lures at Santee Cooper 2020

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The fall transition posed a challenge for the sport’s top pros at the Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper brought to you by the United States Marine Corps. But never mind, this derby occurred on the legendary lakes known for producing heavyweight catches, and even during the fall slump. <strong><a href=
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - The fall transition posed a challenge for the sport’s top pros at the Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper brought to you by the United States Marine Corps. But never mind, this derby occurred on the legendary lakes known for producing heavyweight catches, and even during the fall slump. Shop for lures on Amazon.com All captions: Craig Lamb
Punch rigs and bladed jigs prevailed for the top finishers, including Brandon Palaniuk, who notched his fifth career Elite Series win, and second of the season. See the baits chosen by Palaniuk and other top finishers in a Championship Sunday battled out in heavily matted vegetation. <strong><a href=
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Punch rigs and bladed jigs prevailed for the top finishers, including Brandon Palaniuk, who notched his fifth career Elite Series win, and second of the season. See the baits chosen by Palaniuk and other top finishers in a Championship Sunday battled out in heavily matted vegetation. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<b>Derek Hudnall (10th; 50-6)</b><br> Skipping a wacky-rigged worm beneath cypress tree branches, and allowing the rig to free fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Derek Hudnall. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Derek Hudnall (10th; 50-6) Skipping a wacky-rigged worm beneath cypress tree branches, and allowing the rig to free fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Derek Hudnall. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Hudnall’s primary setup was a Missile Baits The 48 Worm, rigged weightless on a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Hudnall’s primary setup was a Missile Baits The 48 Worm, rigged weightless on a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook
<p>He also used a 1/2-ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig, with a Missile Baits D Bomb trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 1/2-ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig, with a Missile Baits D Bomb trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Missle Baits D Bomb | Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig
<p><strong>Jeff Gustafson (9th; 53-12)</strong><br> Jeff Gustafson rigged a Z-Man Palmetto BugZ on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with a 1.5-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Weight. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jeff Gustafson (9th; 53-12) Jeff Gustafson rigged a Z-Man Palmetto BugZ on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with a 1.5-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Weight. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Palmetto BugZ | Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook | Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer | Z-Man RaZor ShadZ
<p><strong>David Mullins (8th; 56-1)</strong><br> David Mullins alternated between a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, and a 1/2-ounce Nichols Reflex Buzzbait, with a frog-style trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - David Mullins (8th; 56-1) David Mullins alternated between a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, and a 1/2-ounce Nichols Reflex Buzzbait, with a frog-style trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait
<p><strong>Destin DeMarion (7th; 57-6)</strong><br> Destin DeMarion rotated between a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Berkley soft plastic trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Destin DeMarion (7th; 57-6) Destin DeMarion rotated between a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Berkley soft plastic trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer
<p><strong>Bill Lowen (6th; 58-7)</strong><br> Bill Lowen rotated between three soft plastic Texas-rig setups. A Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent, on a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook, with 1/4- to 5/16-ounce weights was a top producer. Using the same brand and size hook and weights, he also used a Strike King Rage Bug and Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw, dipping the tails of all baits in chartreuse dye. Using lighter weights allowed the baits to drift with the current, instead of falling vertically to the bottom, and outside the strike zone. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bill Lowen (6th; 58-7) Bill Lowen rotated between three soft plastic Texas-rig setups. A Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent, on a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook, with 1/4- to 5/16-ounce weights was a top producer. Using the same brand and size hook and weights, he also used a Strike King Rage Bug and Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw, dipping the tails of all baits in chartreuse dye. Using lighter weights allowed the baits to drift with the current, instead of falling vertically to the bottom, and outside the strike zone. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent | Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook | Strike King Rage Bug Zoom | Ultra Vibe Speed Craw
<b>Bernie Schultz (5th; 60-5)</b><br> A wacky rig skipped beneath the limbs of cypress trees, and allowed to fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Bernie Schultz. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bernie Schultz (5th; 60-5) A wacky rig skipped beneath the limbs of cypress trees, and allowed to fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Bernie Schultz. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>A key setup was a weightless wacky rig made with a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 2/0 VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook. Key to the setup was the new VMC Crossover Ring, providing multiple rigging options for wacky and Neko style rigging, while also extending the life of plastics and increasing hook-up percentages. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - A key setup was a weightless wacky rig made with a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 2/0 VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook. Key to the setup was the new VMC Crossover Ring, providing multiple rigging options for wacky and Neko style rigging, while also extending the life of plastics and increasing hook-up percentages. Buy it now on Amazon: Yamamoto Senko | VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook
Another key bait for Schultz was a prototype all-tin buzzbait that he designed for Hildebrandt Lures. Tin is two-thirds the weight of lead by volume, and that allows slower retrieves that keep the bait higher in the water column, prolonging its effectiveness in the strike zone. Schultz rotated between 1/4- and 1/2-ounce sizes. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another key bait for Schultz was a prototype all-tin buzzbait that he designed for Hildebrandt Lures. Tin is two-thirds the weight of lead by volume, and that allows slower retrieves that keep the bait higher in the water column, prolonging its effectiveness in the strike zone. Schultz rotated between 1/4- and 1/2-ounce sizes. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<b>Austin Felix (4th; 60-14)</b><br> A rotation of docks and offshore cover were the patterns in play for Austin Felix. <strong><a href=
Photo: Shane Durrance - Austin Felix (4th; 60-14) A rotation of docks and offshore cover were the patterns in play for Austin Felix. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Felix used a 7-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook, with a 5/16-ounce Swagger Tungsten weight. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Felix used a 7-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook, with a 5/16-ounce Swagger Tungsten weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Roboworm Straight Tail Worm | Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook
<p>He also rigged a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.8 on a 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher Swimbait Head. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also rigged a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.8 on a 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher Swimbait Head. Buy it now on Amazon: Keitech FAT Swing Impact
<b>Cory Johnston (3rd; 61-9)</b><br> A punch rig pattern was the way to go for Cory Johnston. <strong><a href=
Photo: Shane Durrance - Cory Johnston (3rd; 61-9) A punch rig pattern was the way to go for Cory Johnston. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Johnston rigged a creature bait to a 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 5/16- to 1.25-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weights. He also used a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Johnston rigged a creature bait to a 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 5/16- to 1.25-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weights. He also used a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook | Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60
<b>Carl Jocumsen (2nd; 64-2)</b><br> A midday and on punch session were ideal for Carl Jocumsen to capitalize on his bass using the cover of heavy vegetation to ambush baitfish. <strong><a href=
Photo: Steve Bowman - Carl Jocumsen (2nd; 64-2) A midday and on punch session were ideal for Carl Jocumsen to capitalize on his bass using the cover of heavy vegetation to ambush baitfish. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Jocumsen caught schooling fish on a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Yamamoto Zacko swimbait trailer. He made a punch rig with a Molix XD Craw rigged on a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, with a WOO! Tungsten 1.25-ounce weight. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jocumsen caught schooling fish on a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Yamamoto Zacko swimbait trailer. He made a punch rig with a Molix XD Craw rigged on a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, with a WOO! Tungsten 1.25-ounce weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer | Yamamoto Zacko | Owner Jungle Flipping Hook
<b>Brandon Palaniuk (1st; 64-2)</b><br> A punching pattern was a primary tactic used all week by Brandon Palaniuk. On Championship Sunday, he called an audible and moved to a new area, adding a drop shot to the lure lineup. The gutsy move paid off with a key 7-pounder. <strong><a href=
Photo: Dalton Tumblin - Brandon Palaniuk (1st; 64-2) A punching pattern was a primary tactic used all week by Brandon Palaniuk. On Championship Sunday, he called an audible and moved to a new area, adding a drop shot to the lure lineup. The gutsy move paid off with a key 7-pounder. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Palaniuk rigged a 5.5-inch X Zone Lures Mega Swammer on a 1/2-ounce VMC Ike Approved Swimbait Head. He also rigged a 3.5-inch X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw on a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with a 1.25-ounce weight. On Championship Sunday he added a drop-shot rigged X Zone Lures Deception Worm to the lineup. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Palaniuk rigged a 5.5-inch X Zone Lures Mega Swammer on a 1/2-ounce VMC Ike Approved Swimbait Head. He also rigged a 3.5-inch X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw on a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with a 1.25-ounce weight. On Championship Sunday he added a drop-shot rigged X Zone Lures Deception Worm to the lineup. Buy it now on Amazon: X Zone Lures Mega Swammer | VMC Ike Approved Swimbait Head | X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw