COLUMBIA, S.C. — There were a lot of similarities among the top five pros’ baits at the Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash on Lake Murray. Here are the details.
1. Casey Ashley
Most of Ashley’s fish fell for a Pearl-colored Zoom Super Fluke. He would wind the bait quickly, let it rest, then wind again. He had a double-Fluke rig (donkey rig) tied on as well as a single, standard, single-Fluke rig.
Rod: Fenwick Techna AV
Reel: Abu Garcia Revo
Line: 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
He also threw a shaky head when the wind laid down, or when he wanted to give his highly-pressured areas a different look.
Bait: Zoom Trick Worm, Green Pumpkin Purple Flake
Rod: Fenwick Techna AV
Reel: Abu Garcia Revo
Line: 8-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
2. Davy Hite
Hite caught most of his fish on a Zara Spook.
Rod: 7-0 medium-action All Star
Reel: Pflueger Patriarch
Line: 30-pound-test Spiderwire UltraCast
He also used a Buckeye Wake Bait, known as a Wake Up.
Rod: 7-0 medium action All Star
Reel: Pflueger Patriarch
Line: 30-pound-test Spiderwire UltraCast
His secret weapon was a hand-poured soft jerkbait, which Yamamoto will be selling shortly. Hite has had a lot of say in its development.
Rod: 7-0 medium-action All Star
Reel: Pflueger Patriarch
Line: 15-pound-test Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
3. Mike Iaconelli
Iaconelli used a spinnerbait, as well as a soft jerkbait.
Rod: Abu Garcia Veritas
Reel: Abu Garcia Revo
Line: Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
Bait: Molix spinnerbait, with a trailer hook.
His go-to was a soft jerkbait. He says that the line was key. Spiderwire’s Fluorobraid has the best qualities of fluorocarbon (it sinks) and the strength, thinness and sensitivity of braid.
Rod: 7-0 medium-action Abu Garcia Veritas rod
Reel: Revo spinning reel
Line: Spiderwire Fluorobraid, with a
Bait: Prototype Berkley Havoc soft jerkbait
He also used a Berkley swimbait rigged on a Revenge head.
Rod: Abu Garcia Veritas
Reel: Abu Garcia Revo
Line: Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
4. Brian Snowden
Most of Snowden’s fish fell for a Yum Money Minnow and a Zoom Swimming’ Super Fluke. He used the same setup for both.
Rod: 7-0 medium-heavy St. Croix Legend Elite
Reel: Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series reel
Line: 17-pound-test Bass Pro Shops XPS Fluorocarbon
He also caught a few fish on a drop shot rig.
Rod: 7-0 medium action St. Croix
Reel: Bass Pro Shops spinning reel
Line: 6-pound-test Bass Pro Shops XPS Fluorocarbon
Bait: Zoom Trick Worm, Watermelon Candy
5. Kevin Wirth
Wirth was running a pattern of points, docks, and sight fish. When it was sunny and slick, he’d catch them off of beds and in deeper water. Otherwise he ran points. He caught every one of his fish but three on a drop shot rig.
Rod: 7-0 medium-action Berkley rod
Reel: Revo spinning reel
Line: 6-pound-test UltraCast fluorocarbon
Bait: 4 3/4-inch Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper Jr. finesse worm in green pumpkin
His other three fish ate a Fluke-style bait he skipped across points.
Rod: 7-0 medium-action
Reel: “A high-speed Revo that’s not even on the market.” It has a 7.9:1 ratio.
Line: 17-pound-test UltraCast fluorocarbon
Bait: Big Bite Bait Co. Jerk Minnow, in Glow Silver color