Top lures at the 2018 Classic

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The 52 best bass fishermen in the world fishing on Lake Hartwell. A Championship Sunday stacked with talent at the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: James Overstreet - The 52 best bass fishermen in the world fishing on Lake Hartwell. A Championship Sunday stacked with talent at the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. All captions: Craig Lamb
“This morning I had no idea that I could do this again.” Jordan Lee did it again and now holds consecutive Classic titles. Check out the lures used by the two-time champ and other top anglers.
Photo: James Overstreet - “This morning I had no idea that I could do this again.” Jordan Lee did it again and now holds consecutive Classic titles. Check out the lures used by the two-time champ and other top anglers.
<b>Clifford Pirch</b><br> To finish 13th Clifford Pirch used a worm and jig of his own design. That choice was a 1/2-ounce Clifford Pirch Outdoors Jig with Uncle Josh Meat Pork used for a trailer. A 3/16-ounce jig head with 4.5-inch Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm was another choice.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Clifford Pirch To finish 13th Clifford Pirch used a worm and jig of his own design. That choice was a 1/2-ounce Clifford Pirch Outdoors Jig with Uncle Josh Meat Pork used for a trailer. A 3/16-ounce jig head with 4.5-inch Roboworm Fat Straight Tail Worm was another choice.
<b>Edwin Evers</b><br> To finish 12th Edwin Evers primarily relied on four baits. For reaction bites he chose a 3-inch Megabass Flap Slap.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Edwin Evers To finish 12th Edwin Evers primarily relied on four baits. For reaction bites he chose a 3-inch Megabass Flap Slap.
A 6.25-inch Zoom Fluke Stick fished weightless on 1/0 Mustad Hook was another choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Andy’s Custom Bass Lures Old School Flipping Jig with 2-inch Zoom Bait Co. Super Chunk. He also used a 1/2-ounce vibrating jig with 5-inch Lake Fork Tackle Magic Shad.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - A 6.25-inch Zoom Fluke Stick fished weightless on 1/0 Mustad Hook was another choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Andy’s Custom Bass Lures Old School Flipping Jig with 2-inch Zoom Bait Co. Super Chunk. He also used a 1/2-ounce vibrating jig with 5-inch Lake Fork Tackle Magic Shad.
<b>James Elam</b><br> To finish 11th James Elam covered the water column using soft plastic rigs and a lipless crankbait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - James Elam To finish 11th James Elam covered the water column using soft plastic rigs and a lipless crankbait.
That choice was a 4-inch Molix Lipless Crankbait. A 1/2-ounce Molix Lover Skirted Vibration Jig with 3.8-ich Molix RA Shad trailer was another choice. So was a 4-inch Molix Creature rigged to 3/0 Lazer Trokar Flippin’ Hook and 3/8-ounce sinker. He also used a 6-inch lizard rigged to 4/0 Lazer Trokar HD Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce sinker. Another choice was a 1/2-ounce bladed jig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - That choice was a 4-inch Molix Lipless Crankbait. A 1/2-ounce Molix Lover Skirted Vibration Jig with 3.8-ich Molix RA Shad trailer was another choice. So was a 4-inch Molix Creature rigged to 3/0 Lazer Trokar Flippin’ Hook and 3/8-ounce sinker. He also used a 6-inch lizard rigged to 4/0 Lazer Trokar HD Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce sinker. Another choice was a 1/2-ounce bladed jig.
<b>Gerald Swindle</b><br> To finish 10th the primary lure used by Gerald Swindle was the 1/2-ounce Z Man/Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer. For strike appeal he added a 4-inch Zoom Boot Tail Fluke.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Gerald Swindle To finish 10th the primary lure used by Gerald Swindle was the 1/2-ounce Z Man/Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer. For strike appeal he added a 4-inch Zoom Boot Tail Fluke.
<b>Aaron Martens</b><br> Aaron Martens added another top 10 Classic finish to his resume in South Carolina. He called on a Picasso Rhino head with a 4 1/2-inch Roboworm and Picasso tungsten football jig, both 3/8- and 1/2 ounce to finish ninth.
Aaron Martens Aaron Martens added another top 10 Classic finish to his resume in South Carolina. He called on a Picasso Rhino head with a 4 1/2-inch Roboworm and Picasso tungsten football jig, both 3/8- and 1/2 ounce to finish ninth.
<b>Casey Ashley</b><br> To finish eighth Casey Ashley used a jig and shaky head. That choice was a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce ball jig with 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm. Around docks he used a 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle Skipping Jig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Casey Ashley To finish eighth Casey Ashley used a jig and shaky head. That choice was a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce ball jig with 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm. Around docks he used a 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle Skipping Jig.
<b>Jacob Wheeler</b><br> To finish seventh Jacob Wheeler primarily relied on two lures. The Accent Jacob Wheeler “Game Changer” Buzzbait Large Blade was a choice. So was a 3/8-ounce bladed jig with 4.5-inch Lake Fork Magic Shad.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jacob Wheeler To finish seventh Jacob Wheeler primarily relied on two lures. The Accent Jacob Wheeler “Game Changer” Buzzbait Large Blade was a choice. So was a 3/8-ounce bladed jig with 4.5-inch Lake Fork Magic Shad.
<b>Ott DeFoe</b><br> A consistent producer in the lure lineup of sixth-place finisher Ott DeFoe was this 1/2-ounce Bass Pro Shops bladed jig. He added a 3.5-inch Bass Pro Shops Sassy Sally for strike appeal.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Ott DeFoe A consistent producer in the lure lineup of sixth-place finisher Ott DeFoe was this 1/2-ounce Bass Pro Shops bladed jig. He added a 3.5-inch Bass Pro Shops Sassy Sally for strike appeal.
<b>Jacob Powroznik</b><br> To finish fifth Jacob Powroznik primarily relied on a wacky rig. He made that with a 5-inch V&M Chopstick Worm and No. 2 Mustad TitanX Neko Wacky/Neko Hook.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jacob Powroznik To finish fifth Jacob Powroznik primarily relied on a wacky rig. He made that with a 5-inch V&M Chopstick Worm and No. 2 Mustad TitanX Neko Wacky/Neko Hook.
<b>Matt Lee</b><br> To finish fourth Matt Lee used a 4-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho impaled with a 3/32-ounce nail weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Matt Lee To finish fourth Matt Lee used a 4-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho impaled with a 3/32-ounce nail weight.
<b>Jason Christie</b><br> To finish third Jason Christie used a jig, spinnerbait, and bladed jigs. The taped up finger proved the Oklahoman held nothing back in his quest for the title.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jason Christie To finish third Jason Christie used a jig, spinnerbait, and bladed jigs. The taped up finger proved the Oklahoman held nothing back in his quest for the title.
A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Jig with 2.75-inch Yum Craw Papi was a top producer. A 1/2-ounce double willowleaf blade BOOYAH Baits prototype spinnerbait of his design was another choice. So was a 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Melee bladed jig with 4.5-inch Yum Pulse Swimbait. He also used a 1/2-ounce bladed jig with 4.5-inch Yum Pulse Swimbait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - A 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Jig with 2.75-inch Yum Craw Papi was a top producer. A 1/2-ounce double willowleaf blade BOOYAH Baits prototype spinnerbait of his design was another choice. So was a 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Melee bladed jig with 4.5-inch Yum Pulse Swimbait. He also used a 1/2-ounce bladed jig with 4.5-inch Yum Pulse Swimbait.
<b>Brent Ehrler</b><br> On Championship Sunday adding a wacky rig to the lure lineup was a wise move for second place finisher Brent Ehrler.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brent Ehrler On Championship Sunday adding a wacky rig to the lure lineup was a wise move for second place finisher Brent Ehrler.
“I targeted prespawn largemouth staging around docks.” He made it with a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko rigged to 1/0 Gamakatsu BT10S Stinger Hook.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “I targeted prespawn largemouth staging around docks.” He made it with a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko rigged to 1/0 Gamakatsu BT10S Stinger Hook.
<b>Jordan Lee</b><br> The champ rotated through a selection of jerkbaits, two types of soft stickbaits, swimbaits and a homemade bladed jig. Catching prespawn bass around docks was a key strategy.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Jordan Lee The champ rotated through a selection of jerkbaits, two types of soft stickbaits, swimbaits and a homemade bladed jig. Catching prespawn bass around docks was a key strategy.
For that tactic he chose a wacky rig. He made it using a 4-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho impaled with a 3/32-ounce nail weight. To the worm he added an O Ring and weed guard with a 2/0 straight shank hook.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - For that tactic he chose a wacky rig. He made it using a 4-inch Strike King KVD Perfect Plastics Ocho impaled with a 3/32-ounce nail weight. To the worm he added an O Ring and weed guard with a 2/0 straight shank hook.
To cover water around the docks he used this Strike King Rage Swimmer, rigged to 1/4-ounce Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball Head Jig.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To cover water around the docks he used this Strike King Rage Swimmer, rigged to 1/4-ounce Owner Ultrahead Finesse Ball Head Jig.