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Top lures at Lake Hartwell 2020

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Running and gunning. That was the pattern of the week at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell. Blueback herring were on the move, and the bass were behind them. Find the bait, find the bass. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Running and gunning. That was the pattern of the week at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Lake Hartwell. Blueback herring were on the move, and the bass were behind them. Find the bait, find the bass. Shop for lures on Amazon.com All captions: Craig Lamb
Throwing it back to his collegiate fishing days at the University of South Carolina, Patrick Walters used his experience and blueback herring pattern skills to win a second Open. Check out his winning baits and those of the Top 12 anglers. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Throwing it back to his collegiate fishing days at the University of South Carolina, Patrick Walters used his experience and blueback herring pattern skills to win a second Open. Check out his winning baits and those of the Top 12 anglers. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<b>John Maner (12th; 34-1)</b><br> John Maner rotated through three baits, including a jig that he used in 40 feet of water for deep fish. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Maner (12th; 34-1) John Maner rotated through three baits, including a jig that he used in 40 feet of water for deep fish. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>That choice was a Tight Lines Jigs 3/4-ounce football jig, with Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - That choice was a Tight Lines Jigs 3/4-ounce football jig, with Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Rage Tail Craw
<p>He also used a Lucky Craft Gunfish 95, and Evergreen Shower Blows 125 walking topwater. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Lucky Craft Gunfish 95, and Evergreen Shower Blows 125 walking topwater. Buy it now on Amazon: Lucky Craft Gunfish 95
<p><strong>Cody Hahner (11th; 34-10)<br></strong>Top lures for Cody Hahner were an IMA Little Stik 135 and drop shot made with a 4.5-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, rigged on 1/0 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook with 1/4-ounce weight. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Shane Durrance - Cody Hahner (11th; 34-10)Top lures for Cody Hahner were an IMA Little Stik 135 and drop shot made with a 4.5-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, rigged on 1/0 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook with 1/4-ounce weight. Buy it now on Amazon: IMA Little Stik 135, Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook
<p><strong>Brandon Cobb (10th; 36-0)<br></strong>Top lure choices for Brandon Cobb were a Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil Popper 135 and Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 hook. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Cobb (10th; 36-0)Top lure choices for Brandon Cobb were a Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil Popper 135 and Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Super Fluke, Berkley Fusion19 Hook
<p><strong>Marc Frazier (9th; 37-8)<br></strong>A Spro McStick Jerkbait was the top lure of choice for Marc Frazier. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Marc Frazier (9th; 37-8)A Spro McStick Jerkbait was the top lure of choice for Marc Frazier. Buy it now on Amazon: Spro McStick Jerkbait
<p><strong>Derek Lehtonen (8th; 37-11)<br></strong>Derek Lehtonen used a Lucky Craft Wander and a Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on 4/0 Gamakatsu hook with a leader and swivel. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Derek Lehtonen (8th; 37-11)Derek Lehtonen used a Lucky Craft Wander and a Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on 4/0 Gamakatsu hook with a leader and swivel. Buy it now on Amazon: Lucky Craft Wander, Zoom Super Fluke
<p><strong>Jason Christie (7th; 39-8)</strong><br>A Heddon One Knocker Spook in the new Boneheaad color was the top lure of choice for Jason Christie. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jason Christie (7th; 39-8)A Heddon One Knocker Spook in the new Boneheaad color was the top lure of choice for Jason Christie. Buy it now on Amazon: Heddon One Knocker Spook
<p><strong>Andrew Upshaw (6th; 40-4)</strong><br>Andrew Upshaw used a Strike King HC KVD Sexy Dawg Hard Knock for schooling fish. Alternatively, he used a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Caffeine Shad, rigged on a 2/0 weighted hook. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Andrew Upshaw (6th; 40-4)Andrew Upshaw used a Strike King HC KVD Sexy Dawg Hard Knock for schooling fish. Alternatively, he used a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Caffeine Shad, rigged on a 2/0 weighted hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Caffeine Shad
<p><strong>Scott Martin (5th; 40-7)</strong><br>Scott Martin used this entire arsenal to capitalize on any and all opportunities on a given spot. “I chose the bait based on the prevailing habitat and bait.” Key choices were a soft-plastic fluke, walking topwater baits and a Sebile Magic Swimmer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Martin (5th; 40-7)Scott Martin used this entire arsenal to capitalize on any and all opportunities on a given spot. “I chose the bait based on the prevailing habitat and bait.” Key choices were a soft-plastic fluke, walking topwater baits and a Sebile Magic Swimmer. Buy it now on Amazon: Sebile Magic Swimmer
<p><strong>Bobby Stanfill (4th; 40-8)</strong><br>Bobby Stanfill used a Lucky Craft Sammy 100 and a Zoom Super Fluke, on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Offset EWG Hook, with 14-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon leader, tied to a swivel to prevent line twist. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bobby Stanfill (4th; 40-8)Bobby Stanfill used a Lucky Craft Sammy 100 and a Zoom Super Fluke, on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Offset EWG Hook, with 14-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon leader, tied to a swivel to prevent line twist. Buy it now on Amazon: Lucky Craft Sammy 100, Zoom Super Fluke
<p><strong>Andy Wicker (3rd; 40-12)</strong><br>Andy Wicker rotated through a fluke and two topwater baits. For calm conditions he used a Berkley Drift Walker; windy scenarios required a Berkley Cane Walker. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Andy Wicker (3rd; 40-12)Andy Wicker rotated through a fluke and two topwater baits. For calm conditions he used a Berkley Drift Walker; windy scenarios required a Berkley Cane Walker. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>He also used a Sebile Magic Swimmer. A Zoom Super Fluke, on Berkley Fusion 5/0 Offset Hook was another choice. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Sebile Magic Swimmer. A Zoom Super Fluke, on Berkley Fusion 5/0 Offset Hook was another choice. Buy it now on Amazon: Sebile Magic Swimmer, Zoom Super Fluke, Berkley Fusion Offset Hook
<p><strong>Jayme Rampey (2nd; 42-6)</strong><br>A Berkley Cane Walker and Zoom Super Fluke, rigged with a locally made 3/0 hook were the top lures of choice for Jayme Rampey. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jayme Rampey (2nd; 42-6)A Berkley Cane Walker and Zoom Super Fluke, rigged with a locally made 3/0 hook were the top lures of choice for Jayme Rampey. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Super Fluke
<p><strong>Patrick Walters (1st; 44-5)</strong><br>A key lure adjustment was key to the win for Patrick Walters. “I had been throwing the Zoom Super Fluke in white pearl on 14-pound line on a baitcaster, but when I switched over to the Zoom Fluke Stick in natural shad on a spinning rod, it was lights-out after that. A little bit of bait profile change showed out this week. It was like they had never seen it.” <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Patrick Walters (1st; 44-5)A key lure adjustment was key to the win for Patrick Walters. “I had been throwing the Zoom Super Fluke in white pearl on 14-pound line on a baitcaster, but when I switched over to the Zoom Fluke Stick in natural shad on a spinning rod, it was lights-out after that. A little bit of bait profile change showed out this week. It was like they had never seen it.” Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Walters rigged the Super Fluke on 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Wide Gap Hook, or a Zoom Super Fluke Jr., rigged on No. 2 VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Walters rigged the Super Fluke on 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Wide Gap Hook, or a Zoom Super Fluke Jr., rigged on No. 2 VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Super Fluke, VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook, Zoom Super Fluke Jr.