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Top lures at Cherokee Lake 2020

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Tropical Storm Zeta, with its wind and rain, followed by bluebird skies and post-frontal conditions. The sum of the whole was tough fishing at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lake. Photos like this one taken of champion Matt Robertson on Championship Saturday were rare. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Tropical Storm Zeta, with its wind and rain, followed by bluebird skies and post-frontal conditions. The sum of the whole was tough fishing at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lake. Photos like this one taken of champion Matt Robertson on Championship Saturday were rare. Shop for lures on Amazon.com All captions: Craig Lamb
These are no ordinary walking topwater baits, held by Robertson and his final day co-angler Jon Jezierski. Robertson made a gutsy midday move, switched baits and tactics, and went with his gut. Find out what made these baits special, and check out the others used by the top anglers. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - These are no ordinary walking topwater baits, held by Robertson and his final day co-angler Jon Jezierski. Robertson made a gutsy midday move, switched baits and tactics, and went with his gut. Find out what made these baits special, and check out the others used by the top anglers. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p><strong>Marc Frazier (12th; 25-1)</strong><br>A 3/16-ounce Gamakatsu jighead with a Zoom Finesse Worm was the key bait for Marc Frazier. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Marc Frazier (12th; 25-1)A 3/16-ounce Gamakatsu jighead with a Zoom Finesse Worm was the key bait for Marc Frazier. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Finesse Worm
<p><strong>Jeremy Gordon (11th; 27-9)</strong><br>Jeremy Gordon alternated between 3/4- and 1-ounce homemade football jigs, both rigged with a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jeremy Gordon (11th; 27-9)Jeremy Gordon alternated between 3/4- and 1-ounce homemade football jigs, both rigged with a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub. Buy it now on Amazon: Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub
<p>He also made a drop shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow, on a VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook with a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also made a drop shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow, on a VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook with a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. Buy it now on Amazon: PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow | VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook
<p><strong>Patrick Walters (10th; 27-15)</strong><br>A Rapala Shadow Rap Deep was the key bait for Patrick Walters. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Patrick Walters (10th; 27-15)A Rapala Shadow Rap Deep was the key bait for Patrick Walters. Buy it now on Amazon: Rapala Shadow Rap Deep
<b>Denny Fiedler (9th; 28-5) </b><br> A bladed jig was a key bait for Denny Fiedler. <strong><a href=
Photo: Shane Durrance - Denny Fiedler (9th; 28-5) A bladed jig was a key bait for Denny Fiedler. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Fiedler fished a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer and a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.5 Swimbait. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Fiedler fished a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer and a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.5 Swimbait. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer | Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.5 Swimbait
<b>Timmy Thompkins (8th; 30-3) </b><br> Find the bait, find the bass. That was the program for Timmy Thompkins. <strong><a href=
Photo: Shane Durrance - Timmy Thompkins (8th; 30-3) Find the bait, find the bass. That was the program for Timmy Thompkins. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
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Photo: Andy Crawford - Thompkins made a drop-shot rig with either a soft plastic mini fluke or a Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too on a No. 1 hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight. Thompkins also used a 1/4-ounce Ned head with either a Z-Man Hula StickZ or Z-Man TRD. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too | Z-Man Hula StickZ | Z-Man TRD
<p><strong>Spencer Peters (7th; 31-1)</strong><br>A Keitech FAT Swing Impact 2.8 Swimbait, rigged on a 1/4-ounce jighead was a key bait for Spencer Peters. So was a Berkley J-Walker that he used for topwater action. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Spencer Peters (7th; 31-1)A Keitech FAT Swing Impact 2.8 Swimbait, rigged on a 1/4-ounce jighead was a key bait for Spencer Peters. So was a Berkley J-Walker that he used for topwater action. Buy it now on Amazon: Keitech FAT Swing Impact 2.8 Swimbait | Berkley J-Walker
<p><strong>John Hunter Jr. (6th; 32-10)</strong><br>A 6th Sense Clout 5.4 Worm, rigged wacky style on a No. 2 VMC Neko Hook, was the key bait for John Hunter Jr. Alternatively, he used a 3-inch swimbait rigged on a 5/16-ounce jighead. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Hunter Jr. (6th; 32-10)A 6th Sense Clout 5.4 Worm, rigged wacky style on a No. 2 VMC Neko Hook, was the key bait for John Hunter Jr. Alternatively, he used a 3-inch swimbait rigged on a 5/16-ounce jighead. Buy it now on Amazon: 6th Sense Clout 5.4 Worm
<b>Andy Hribar (5th; 32-15) </b><br> A drop shot and swimbait were top producers for Andy Hribar. <strong><a href=
Photo: Shane Durrance - Andy Hribar (5th; 32-15) A drop shot and swimbait were top producers for Andy Hribar. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>He used a 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher Swimbait Head with a Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer. Hribar also made a drop shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on a No. 2 Neko Hook with a 3/8-ounce VMC Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He used the swimbait with a 7-foot, 6-inch St. Croix Avid X Casting Rod with a Daiwa Tatula SV reel, with 12-pound Seaguar line. He used the drop shot with a St. Croix Avid X Spinning Rod with a Pfluegar reel and 12-pound Sunline SX1 Braided Line and a 6-pound Seaguar leader. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He used a 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher Swimbait Head with a Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer. Hribar also made a drop shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on a No. 2 Neko Hook with a 3/8-ounce VMC Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He used the swimbait with a 7-foot, 6-inch St. Croix Avid X Casting Rod with a Daiwa Tatula SV reel, with 12-pound Seaguar line. He used the drop shot with a St. Croix Avid X Spinning Rod with a Pfluegar reel and 12-pound Sunline SX1 Braided Line and a 6-pound Seaguar leader. Buy it now on Amazon: Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer | VMC Tungsten Drop Shot Weight | St. Croix Avid X Casting Rod | Daiwa Tatula SV | Seaguar Freshwater Fluorocarbon | Sunline SX1 Braided Line | St. Croix Avid X Spinning Rod
<b>Bill Humbard (4th; 33-8) </b><br> A crankbait and creature bait were top baits for Bill Humbard. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bill Humbard (4th; 33-8) A crankbait and creature bait were top baits for Bill Humbard. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Humbard alternated between a Rapala DT 10 crankbait, and a Gene Larew Biffle Bug, rigged on a 7/16-ounce Gene Larew Biffle Hardhead. He fished the crankbait on a Dixie Custom Rods Cranking Stik, with a Lew’s BB1 Speed Spool 6.4:1 Reel with 12-pound sunline. He also used a Dixie Custom Rods Meat Stik with an Abu Garcia Reel and 20-pound Sunline. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Humbard alternated between a Rapala DT 10 crankbait, and a Gene Larew Biffle Bug, rigged on a 7/16-ounce Gene Larew Biffle Hardhead. He fished the crankbait on a Dixie Custom Rods Cranking Stik, with a Lew’s BB1 Speed Spool 6.4:1 Reel with 12-pound sunline. He also used a Dixie Custom Rods Meat Stik with an Abu Garcia Reel and 20-pound Sunline. Buy it now on Amazon: Rapala DT 10 | Gene Larew Biffle Bug | Gene Larew Biffle Hardhead | Lew’s BB1 Speed Spool 6.4:1 Reel
<p><strong>Josh Stracner (3rd; 38-15)</strong><br>A 3/4-ounce Spro John Crews Little John DD Crankbait was a key bait for Josh Stracner. He fished it on a Daiwa Tatula rod and reel combo with 10-pound Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Josh Stracner (3rd; 38-15)A 3/4-ounce Spro John Crews Little John DD Crankbait was a key bait for Josh Stracner. He fished it on a Daiwa Tatula rod and reel combo with 10-pound Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line. Buy it now on Amazon: Daiwa Tatula Casting Rod | Daiwa Tatula Casting Reel | Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line
<p>Stracner also used a Reaction Innovations Shiver Shot on a 3/8-ounce jighead. He made a drop shot with either a Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm 4.95, or a Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket, rigged on a 1/0 Gamakatsu G Finesse Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight. He fished the finesse rigs on a Daiwa Tatula rod and reel combo, spooled with 12-pound Sunline Braided Line, with 6-pound Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Stracner also used a Reaction Innovations Shiver Shot on a 3/8-ounce jighead. He made a drop shot with either a Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm 4.95, or a Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket, rigged on a 1/0 Gamakatsu G Finesse Hook, with a 3/8-ounce weight. He fished the finesse rigs on a Daiwa Tatula rod and reel combo, spooled with 12-pound Sunline Braided Line, with 6-pound Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line. Buy it now on Amazon: Reaction Innovations Shiver Shot | Gamakatsu G Finesse Hook | Daiwa Tatula Spinning Rod | Daiwa Tatula Spinning Reel
<b>Josh Roark (2nd; 39-2)</b><br> A swimbait and drop shot were top baits for Josh Roark. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Josh Roark (2nd; 39-2) A swimbait and drop shot were top baits for Josh Roark. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>Roark made the drop shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on a No. 2 hook with 3/8-ounce cylinder weight. He also used a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 2.8 Swimbait, rigged on a 3/8-ounce jighead. He fished both rigs on a 6-foot, 10-inch G. Loomis GLX rod with a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ reel. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Roark made the drop shot with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on a No. 2 hook with 3/8-ounce cylinder weight. He also used a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 2.8 Swimbait, rigged on a 3/8-ounce jighead. He fished both rigs on a 6-foot, 10-inch G. Loomis GLX rod with a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ reel. Buy it now on Amazon: Keitech FAT Swing Impact 2.8 Swimbait | Shimano Stradic Ci4+
<b>Matt Robertson (1st; 40-12)</b><br> Keeping one eye on the screen and the other on his line was the program for Matt Robertson, who fished a Ned rig until making a midday audible on Championship Saturday by switching to a new pattern — and bait — that earned him the win. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Matt Robertson (1st; 40-12) Keeping one eye on the screen and the other on his line was the program for Matt Robertson, who fished a Ned rig until making a midday audible on Championship Saturday by switching to a new pattern — and bait — that earned him the win. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
<p>A Strike King Ned Ocho fished on a 1/4-ounce Outkast Tackle Perfect Ned Head was the key bait of choice throughout the tournament. Robertson fished it on a Lew’s Tournament Performance TP Series Rod with a Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spin Series Reel, spooled with 10-pound Strike King Tour Grade Braid and 6-pound fluorocarbon line. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - A Strike King Ned Ocho fished on a 1/4-ounce Outkast Tackle Perfect Ned Head was the key bait of choice throughout the tournament. Robertson fished it on a Lew’s Tournament Performance TP Series Rod with a Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spin Series Reel, spooled with 10-pound Strike King Tour Grade Braid and 6-pound fluorocarbon line. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Ned Ocho | Lew’s Tournament Performance TP Series Rod | Lew’s Custom Pro Speed Spin Series Reel | Strike King Tour Grade Braid
“I wouldn’t have won had he not given me this bait.” And with that, you have the payoff bait for Robertson. His co-angler Jon Jezierski gave him the Strike King Sexy Dawg given to him by Japanese pro Kenta Kimura. Kimura modified the bait by adding SuspenDots (adhesive lead dots) and replacing the stock hooks with ultra-sharp Japanese hooks. The dots, added to the belly, made the bait sit lower in the water. <strong><a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - “I wouldn’t have won had he not given me this bait.” And with that, you have the payoff bait for Robertson. His co-angler Jon Jezierski gave him the Strike King Sexy Dawg given to him by Japanese pro Kenta Kimura. Kimura modified the bait by adding SuspenDots (adhesive lead dots) and replacing the stock hooks with ultra-sharp Japanese hooks. The dots, added to the belly, made the bait sit lower in the water. Shop for lures on Amazon.com