Photo: Andy Crawford - Daisuke Aoki has claimed numerous accolades in Japan, and he achieved a lifetime goal of qualifying for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. He did that by winning the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open at Douglas Lake. See his winning baits, along with those of other top finishers, in a derby fished during the spawning cycle. All captions: Craig Lamb Photo: Andy Crawford - Jeff Bauler (10th; 37-6) Jeff Bauler chose a Keitech Swing FAT Impact, rigged on a Owner Flashy Swimmer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A River2Sea S-Waver was another top choice for Bauler. Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Megabass Vision 110+1 Jr. Jerkbait. Photo: Shane Durrance - Billy McCaghren Jr. (9th; 38-3) A swimbait, fluke and spinnerbait were baits in play for Billy McCaghren Jr
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Zoom Super Fluke, rigged on a No. 4 Owner EWG Hook, was a top lure for McCaghren. Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Zoom Z Swim, rigged on a Motivated Baits Swimbait Head. Photo: Andy Crawford - McCaghren also used a 3/4-ounce Talon Lures Spinnerbait.
Photo: Shane Durrance - Drew Boggs (8th; 38-6) Drew Boggs rotated through a soft plastic tube and a swimbait. Photo: Andy Crawford - Boggs used a Big Bite Baits Craw Tube, rigged on a 4/0 Mustad Denny Brauer Grip-Pin Max Flippinâ Hook, with a 1/2-ounce Jenko Fishing Creature Weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Bass Pro Shops Swimbait, rigged with a 1/8-ounce belly weight hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Poche (7th; 40-0) Keith Poche rotated through a creature bait, jig and vibrating jig. He added a Berkley PowerBait The Deal to the 1/4-ounce jig. Poche also used a 3-inch Berkley Pit Boss, rigged on a 3/0 Berkley Fusion19 Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Poche also used a bladed jig with The Deal for a trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - Jackson Swisher (6th; 40-15) Jackson Swisher used a pair of Megabass Magdraft Swimbaits, removing the internal magnet from one of the baits to make it lighter.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He made a Neko rig with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged on a No. 2 Owner Drop Shot Hook and a nail weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Josh Herren (5th; 41-6) Josh Herren used a self-designed swimbait, crankbait and protoype lure. Photo: Andy Crawford - Herren used a Reaction Innovations 5/16-ounce prototype bait with a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Taddo Designs Glide was another top bait for Herren. Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Strike King 6XD Crankbait. Photo: Andy Crawford - David Williams (4th; 41-15) David Williams rotated through a topwater, swim jig and jig.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Duo Realis Pencil 130 topwater was a top choice for Williams. Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Queen Tackle Tungsten Swim Jig, with a Queen Tackle Switch Blade, and a Zoom Fluke trailer. Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle Jig with a Zoom Z Craw Jr. trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Josh Douglas (3rd; 42-3) Josh Douglas mixed it up with a creature bait, jig and crankbait. Photo: Andy Crawford - That choice was a Strike King 6XD. Photo: Andy Crawford - Douglas made a Carolina rig with a Zoom Baby Brush Hog, on a 4/0 Owner Straight Shank Hook, with a 1-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Chicken Jig. Photo: Andy Crawford - Drew Benton (2nd; 43-12) Drew Benton used this creature bait, along with a pair of swimbaits. Photo: Andy Crawford - Benton used a 6-inch Scottsboro Tackle Line Through Swimbait. He also used a Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad Swimbait, rigged on an 8/0 Owner Weighted Beast Hook.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another top choice was a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Worm Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight. Photo: Andy Crawford - Daisuke Aoki (1st; 43-13) Daisuke Aoki used a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko on a 1/16-ounce wacky jig, for bedding bass. Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a DStyle finesse worm, rigged weightless on a Hayabusa hook.
