Top lures at Winyah Bay

It was a different kind of competition at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay. Instead of angler vs. angler it was the Waccamaw River vs. the Cooper River. Most pros went there to fish the fertile waters, while fewer chose to fish local near the host city of Georgetown. <BR><BR> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>

Photo: Steve Bowman - It was a different kind of competition at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay. Instead of angler vs. angler it was the Waccamaw River vs. the Cooper River. Most pros went there to fish the fertile waters, while fewer chose to fish local near the host city of Georgetown. All captions: Craig Lamb

Photo: James Overstreet - In the end the Waccamaw won and so did Stetson Blaylock. Check out his winning baits and those used by the top finishers.

<b>Clent Davis (40-13; 10th)</b><BR> Clent Davis used a Texas-rigged Mister Twister Buzz Bug on 3/0 Gamakatsu hook and 1/4-ounce weight. A 3/8-ounce Nichols Lures Saber Swim Jig was another choice.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Clent Davis (40-13; 10th) Clent Davis used a Texas-rigged Mister Twister Buzz Bug on 3/0 Gamakatsu hook and 1/4-ounce weight. A 3/8-ounce Nichols Lures Saber Swim Jig was another choice.

<b>Jesse Tacoronte (41-4; 9th)</b><BR> Jesse Tacoronte began with a worm and swimbait, and then on Championship Sunday he switched to a jig and topwater. That choice was a Smithwick Devils Horse chosen to imitate juvenile needle fish fed upon by the bass. Another choice was a Zoom Magnum Ultravibe Speed Worm with 5/0 OâShaughnessy Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Jesse Tacoronte (41-4; 9th) Jesse Tacoronte began with a worm and swimbait, and then on Championship Sunday he switched to a jig and topwater. That choice was a Smithwick Devils Horse chosen to imitate juvenile needle fish fed upon by the bass. Another choice was a Zoom Magnum Ultravibe Speed Worm with 5/0 OâShaughnessy Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight.

A Tightlines UV Beaver with 3/0 Owner Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight was another top choice. He also used 1/4- or 3/8-ounce BnB Swim Jigs with Strike King Rage Craw trailer.

Photo: Andy Crawford - A Tightlines UV Beaver with 3/0 Owner Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight was another top choice. He also used 1/4- or 3/8-ounce BnB Swim Jigs with Strike King Rage Craw trailer.

<b>Luke Palmer (42-9; 8th)</b><BR> Luke Palmer used a Yum Dinger with 1/8-ounce tungsten weight and 3/0 or 4/0 Trokar hooks. He used the same size hooks on a creature bait with 3/8-or 1/2-ounce tungsten weights. To the Yum Dinger he inserted a spinner in the tail for added flash and vibration.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Luke Palmer (42-9; 8th) Luke Palmer used a Yum Dinger with 1/8-ounce tungsten weight and 3/0 or 4/0 Trokar hooks. He used the same size hooks on a creature bait with 3/8-or 1/2-ounce tungsten weights. To the Yum Dinger he inserted a spinner in the tail for added flash and vibration.

<b>Patrick Walters (44-0; 7th)</b><BR> Patrick Walters rotated through three baits on each day of the tournament. He started with Texas- and wacky-rigged weightless Zoom Fluke Sticks with a VMC Finesse Neko Hook 1. For the Texas rig he used a 4/0 VMC Offset Vanadium Round Bend Worm Hook. On Day 2 it was a Terminator Popping Frog. He also used a 3/8-ounce bladed jig with a Zoom Super Fluke and Lake Fork Shad trailers.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Patrick Walters (44-0; 7th) Patrick Walters rotated through three baits on each day of the tournament. He started with Texas- and wacky-rigged weightless Zoom Fluke Sticks with a VMC Finesse Neko Hook 1. For the Texas rig he used a 4/0 VMC Offset Vanadium Round Bend Worm Hook. On Day 2 it was a Terminator Popping Frog. He also used a 3/8-ounce bladed jig with a Zoom Super Fluke and Lake Fork Shad trailers.

<b>Koby Kreiger (45-3; 6th)</b> <BR> A wacky-rigged 5-inch V&M Chopstick Worm on No. 1 Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger Hook was a top choice for Koby Kreiger. So was a V&M Swamp Hog Jr. on 4/0 Mustad Straight Shank Soft Plastic Worm Hook. With the same size hook he used a Zoom Super Hog.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Koby Kreiger (45-3; 6th) A wacky-rigged 5-inch V&M Chopstick Worm on No. 1 Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger Hook was a top choice for Koby Kreiger. So was a V&M Swamp Hog Jr. on 4/0 Mustad Straight Shank Soft Plastic Worm Hook. With the same size hook he used a Zoom Super Hog.

<b>John Crews (46-2; 5th)</b> <BR> A Missile Baits The 48 Worm on 1/16-ounce belly weighted swim bait hook was a top choice for John Crews. He also used a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Original Chatterbait with Missile Baits Fishalicious Twin Turbo trailer.

Photo: Andy Crawford - John Crews (46-2; 5th) A Missile Baits The 48 Worm on 1/16-ounce belly weighted swim bait hook was a top choice for John Crews. He also used a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Original Chatterbait with Missile Baits Fishalicious Twin Turbo trailer.

Crews also used a weightless wacky rigged 3.8-inch Missile Baits 38 stick bait on No. 1 Gamakatsu Octupus Hook. He also used a Zoom Speed Worm on 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippinâ Hook with 1/8-ounce weight.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Crews also used a weightless wacky rigged 3.8-inch Missile Baits 38 stick bait on No. 1 Gamakatsu Octupus Hook. He also used a Zoom Speed Worm on 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippinâ Hook with 1/8-ounce weight.

<b>Jason Williamson (46-3; 4th)</b> <BR> A Zoom Fluke Stick, Zoom Z Craw Jr. and Zoom Brush Hog, all fished on 5/0 straight shank worm hooks and 5/16-ounce tungsten weights were the choices for Jason Williamson.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Jason Williamson (46-3; 4th) A Zoom Fluke Stick, Zoom Z Craw Jr. and Zoom Brush Hog, all fished on 5/0 straight shank worm hooks and 5/16-ounce tungsten weights were the choices for Jason Williamson.

<b>Cory Johnston (49-5; 3rd)</b> <BR> Cory Johnston fished weightless wacky-rigged 4- and 5-inch Original Yamamoto Senkos on 4/0 Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger or a 3/0 Gamakatsu Superline hooks. He also used a Zoom Magnum Speed Worm with 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Hook and 1/8- and 3/16 weights. A Rebel Pop-R was another choice.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Cory Johnston (49-5; 3rd) Cory Johnston fished weightless wacky-rigged 4- and 5-inch Original Yamamoto Senkos on 4/0 Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger or a 3/0 Gamakatsu Superline hooks. He also used a Zoom Magnum Speed Worm with 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Hook and 1/8- and 3/16 weights. A Rebel Pop-R was another choice.

<b>Scott Canterbury (50-6; 2nd)</b> <BR>Scott Canterbury used a 3/8-ounce Dirty Jig Swim Jig with Netbait Mini Kickin B trailer. He also used a 5/0 off-shank worm hook and 5/16-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight with a soft plastic craw.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Canterbury (50-6; 2nd) Scott Canterbury used a 3/8-ounce Dirty Jig Swim Jig with Netbait Mini Kickin B trailer. He also used a 5/0 off-shank worm hook and 5/16-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight with a soft plastic craw.

Photo: Andy Crawford - On Championship Sunday he added a 1/4-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Pro Buzz with a toad trailer.

<b>Stetson Blaylock (50-15; 1st)</b> <BR> Stetson Blaylock carried over lures used for a second-place finish at Lake Hartwell. Those choices were a Rebel Pop-R P70 and Yum Dinger stickbait. He fished it wacky-rigged on two hook styles. A No. 1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hook and 1/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse.

Photo: Andy Crawford - Stetson Blaylock (50-15; 1st) Stetson Blaylock carried over lures used for a second-place finish at Lake Hartwell. Those choices were a Rebel Pop-R P70 and Yum Dinger stickbait. He fished it wacky-rigged on two hook styles. A No. 1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hook and 1/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse.