Top lures at Lake Chickamauga

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Most everyone betted on the come for postspawn largemouth to show up on Lake Chickamauga’s signature river ledges at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open. Just about everyone but one man. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Andy Crawford - Most everyone betted on the come for postspawn largemouth to show up on Lake Chickamauga’s signature river ledges at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open. Just about everyone but one man. All captions: Craig Lamb
He was John Cox, who won the tournament in shallow water where largemouth were cruising the shorelines. Check out the wide variety of baits used by Cox and his peers to catch bass shallow and deep.
Photo: James Overstreet - He was John Cox, who won the tournament in shallow water where largemouth were cruising the shorelines. Check out the wide variety of baits used by Cox and his peers to catch bass shallow and deep.
<b>David May (38-7; 12th)</b><br> Fishing around isolated stumps along the river channel and creeks produced for David May. A 1/4-ounce shaky head with 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm was a top choice. So was a 7-inch Zoom Magnum UV Speedworm on 5/0 Trapper Tackle Hook with 3/16-ounce pegged weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - David May (38-7; 12th) Fishing around isolated stumps along the river channel and creeks produced for David May. A 1/4-ounce shaky head with 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worm was a top choice. So was a 7-inch Zoom Magnum UV Speedworm on 5/0 Trapper Tackle Hook with 3/16-ounce pegged weight.
<b>Jeff Dyer (40-1; 11th)</b><br> Jeff Dyer used a 1/4-ounce custom made jig with a Mister Twister Curly Tail Grub.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Jeff Dyer (40-1; 11th) Jeff Dyer used a 1/4-ounce custom made jig with a Mister Twister Curly Tail Grub.
On 3/16-ounce shaky head jigs he used a 4-inch trike King Rage Tail Craw and 4-inch Yamamoto Senko.
Photo: Andy Crawford - On 3/16-ounce shaky head jigs he used a 4-inch trike King Rage Tail Craw and 4-inch Yamamoto Senko.
<b>Kay Choosakul (41-12; 10th)</b><br> Kay Choosakul used a wacky rigged worm and bladed jig. That choice was a 3/8-ounce NuTech Lures Crazy Jig. He also used a 5-inch Deep Creek Lures Sink ‘n Catch Worm rigged wacky style with 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook and split shot weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Kay Choosakul (41-12; 10th) Kay Choosakul used a wacky rigged worm and bladed jig. That choice was a 3/8-ounce NuTech Lures Crazy Jig. He also used a 5-inch Deep Creek Lures Sink ‘n Catch Worm rigged wacky style with 2/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook and split shot weight.
<b>Austin Felix (43-6; 9th)</b><br> Austin Felix used a jig in the morning before power generation, then a crankbait in the afternoon when current stimulated the bite. A top choice was a 3/4-ounce All Terrain Tackle Jim Moynagh’s Football Jig, Moynagh’s Magic, with a 3-inch Strike King Rage Craw trailer, green pumpkin. His quality bite came on a Strike King 6XD Crankbait, Sexy Blue Back Herring.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Austin Felix (43-6; 9th) Austin Felix used a jig in the morning before power generation, then a crankbait in the afternoon when current stimulated the bite. A top choice was a 3/4-ounce All Terrain Tackle Jim Moynagh’s Football Jig, Moynagh’s Magic, with a 3-inch Strike King Rage Craw trailer, green pumpkin. His quality bite came on a Strike King 6XD Crankbait, Sexy Blue Back Herring.
<b>Scott Hamrick (44-8; 8th)</b><br> Scott Hamrick rotated between two jigs, both fished around boat docks. The choices were 1/2- and 3/8-ounce Shooter Lures Shooter Jigs, White Trash and Green Pumpkin. For both he used a 3.75-inch Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Scott Hamrick (44-8; 8th) Scott Hamrick rotated between two jigs, both fished around boat docks. The choices were 1/2- and 3/8-ounce Shooter Lures Shooter Jigs, White Trash and Green Pumpkin. For both he used a 3.75-inch Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver trailer.
<b>Sam George (48-7; 7th)</b><br> Sam George skipped a jig around boat docks, used a swimbait during the shad spawn, and a topwater and square bill crankbait fished over grass. He used a 3/8-ounce Greenfish Tackle Brandon Cobb All Purpose Jig with 4-inch Strike King Rage Bug trailer. Salmo Performance Fishing Lures rounded out the arsenal. A new prototype swimbait was a top choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Sam George (48-7; 7th) Sam George skipped a jig around boat docks, used a swimbait during the shad spawn, and a topwater and square bill crankbait fished over grass. He used a 3/8-ounce Greenfish Tackle Brandon Cobb All Purpose Jig with 4-inch Strike King Rage Bug trailer. Salmo Performance Fishing Lures rounded out the arsenal. A new prototype swimbait was a top choice.
So was a self-designed Salmo Squarebill. Another new bait was the Salmo Rattling Stick, a walking bait designed for long casts with a super deep sounding rattle.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a self-designed Salmo Squarebill. Another new bait was the Salmo Rattling Stick, a walking bait designed for long casts with a super deep sounding rattle.
<b>Brandon Lester (49-0; 6th)</b><br> Brandon Lester’s lure choices included a crankbait and drop shot rig. That choice was a 6-inch X Zone Lures Deception Worm with No. 4 Mustad TitanX Wacky/Neko Rig Hook, and 1/4- or 3/8-ounce drop shot weights. He also used a Strike King 5XD retrofitted with No. 2 Mustad KVD Elite Triple Grip Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Lester (49-0; 6th) Brandon Lester’s lure choices included a crankbait and drop shot rig. That choice was a 6-inch X Zone Lures Deception Worm with No. 4 Mustad TitanX Wacky/Neko Rig Hook, and 1/4- or 3/8-ounce drop shot weights. He also used a Strike King 5XD retrofitted with No. 2 Mustad KVD Elite Triple Grip Hooks.
<b>Chad Pipkens (49-1; 5th)</b><br> Chad Pipkens used deep diving crankbaits and a Damiki DC Series 300 crankbait for active fish. Alternatively, he used soft plastics on 1/4- and 3/8-ounce drop shot jigheads.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chad Pipkens (49-1; 5th) Chad Pipkens used deep diving crankbaits and a Damiki DC Series 300 crankbait for active fish. Alternatively, he used soft plastics on 1/4- and 3/8-ounce drop shot jigheads.
<b>Tyler Berger (51-9; 4th)</b><br> Tyler Berger used a 10-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm on 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook and 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. A 1/4-ounce drop shot jighead with 6-inch Roboworm was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Tyler Berger (51-9; 4th) Tyler Berger used a 10-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm on 5/0 Berkley Fusion19 Hook and 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. A 1/4-ounce drop shot jighead with 6-inch Roboworm was another choice.
<b>Buddy Gross (58-10; 3rd)</b><br> Buddy Gross rotated through a selection of crankbaits, blade baits and swimbaits. Those choices featured a Scottsboro Tackle Co. 5-inch STC Swimbait with 3/8-ounce Owner Flashy Swimmer. A 5-inch Zoom Swimmer with 3/4- or 1-ounce inserted weights were other swimbait choices.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Buddy Gross (58-10; 3rd) Buddy Gross rotated through a selection of crankbaits, blade baits and swimbaits. Those choices featured a Scottsboro Tackle Co. 5-inch STC Swimbait with 3/8-ounce Owner Flashy Swimmer. A 5-inch Zoom Swimmer with 3/4- or 1-ounce inserted weights were other swimbait choices.
A 4-inch Ledge Hog Fishing Ledge Hog was the trick for deeper fish. So was an Azuma Baits Z Boss 22 crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - A 4-inch Ledge Hog Fishing Ledge Hog was the trick for deeper fish. So was an Azuma Baits Z Boss 22 crankbait.
<b>Chris Peters (61-10; 2nd)</b><br> Chris Peters alternated between a crankbait, jig and drop shot rig. That choice was a Trixster Custom Baits Centiminner Worm on No. 2 Owner Cover Shot Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce cylinder weight. A 3/4-ounce custom jig with Trixster Rowdy Crawz was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Chris Peters (61-10; 2nd) Chris Peters alternated between a crankbait, jig and drop shot rig. That choice was a Trixster Custom Baits Centiminner Worm on No. 2 Owner Cover Shot Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce cylinder weight. A 3/4-ounce custom jig with Trixster Rowdy Crawz was another choice.
So was a Strike King 6XD Cranbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Strike King 6XD Cranbait.
<b>John Cox (66-5; 1st)</b><br> John Cox went sight fishing with a weightless and wacky rigged 6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged on 1/0 Berkley Fusion19 Finesse Wide Gap Hook. A 7/16-ounce Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Casting Jig with 3-inch Berkley Havoc Pit Boss Jr. trailer was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford - John Cox (66-5; 1st) John Cox went sight fishing with a weightless and wacky rigged 6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged on 1/0 Berkley Fusion19 Finesse Wide Gap Hook. A 7/16-ounce Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Casting Jig with 3-inch Berkley Havoc Pit Boss Jr. trailer was another choice.