Top lures of Kentucky Lake

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Prespawn, spawn, postspawn and even shad spawn. All were in play at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Kentucky Lake presented by Abu Garcia. The lake’s famous ledges were cold and the shoreline action was hot. <br><br> <i>All captions: Craig Lamb</i>
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Prespawn, spawn, postspawn and even shad spawn. All were in play at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at Kentucky Lake presented by Abu Garcia. The lake’s famous ledges were cold and the shoreline action was hot. All captions: Craig Lamb
Reaction baits for the shad spawn; flipping and pitching rigs for the bass spawn. Check out the lure lineup used by champ Wesley Strader and other top finishers to qualify for Championship Monday.
Photo: James Overstreet - Reaction baits for the shad spawn; flipping and pitching rigs for the bass spawn. Check out the lure lineup used by champ Wesley Strader and other top finishers to qualify for Championship Monday.
Mark Menendez finished 12th using a flipping and pitching rig to reach Championship Monday. A 4-inch Strike King Game Hawg, 4/0 straight shank hook and 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight was the weapon of choice.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Mark Menendez finished 12th using a flipping and pitching rig to reach Championship Monday. A 4-inch Strike King Game Hawg, 4/0 straight shank hook and 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Weight was the weapon of choice.
It was no surprise that flipping and pitching to bedding bass was a key tactic for 11th place finisher Shaw Grigsby. The new 7-inch Strike King Mag Cut-R Worm with 6/0 Lazer Trokar TK 120 MagWorm Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight was a top choice.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - It was no surprise that flipping and pitching to bedding bass was a key tactic for 11th place finisher Shaw Grigsby. The new 7-inch Strike King Mag Cut-R Worm with 6/0 Lazer Trokar TK 120 MagWorm Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight was a top choice.
To keep the worm secure he used a red colored Rapid Fishing Solutions Hook All.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To keep the worm secure he used a red colored Rapid Fishing Solutions Hook All.
A 1/4-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig with a 4-inch Strike King Rage Bug was another choice.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - A 1/4-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig with a 4-inch Strike King Rage Bug was another choice.
A 3.75-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer with 6/0 Lazer Trokar TK120 MagWorm Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight was another top producer.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - A 3.75-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer with 6/0 Lazer Trokar TK120 MagWorm Hook and 1/4-ounce tungsten weight was another top producer.
To finish 10th, Boyd Duckett used a swimbait of his own design that he believed to resemble juvenile carp fed upon by the bass. The choice was the Castaic Boyd Duckett BDShad that sinks horizontally in the water column.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To finish 10th, Boyd Duckett used a swimbait of his own design that he believed to resemble juvenile carp fed upon by the bass. The choice was the Castaic Boyd Duckett BDShad that sinks horizontally in the water column.
Brent Chapman used a spinnerbait, vibrating jig and creature bait to finish ninth. A 3/4-ounce unnamed spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades was a top choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Bass Pro Shops vibrating jig and swimbait trailer. A creature bait with 4/0 hook and 5/16-ounce weight also produced bites.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Brent Chapman used a spinnerbait, vibrating jig and creature bait to finish ninth. A 3/4-ounce unnamed spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades was a top choice. So was a 1/2-ounce Bass Pro Shops vibrating jig and swimbait trailer. A creature bait with 4/0 hook and 5/16-ounce weight also produced bites.
“I used a heavier weight for flipping way, way, back into bushes and trees missed by other anglers,” said eighth-place finisher Greg Hackney. He used 5/8- and 1/2-ounce weights with 5/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hooks. To those Hackney rigged Strike King Rage Bugs in different sizes and colors.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “I used a heavier weight for flipping way, way, back into bushes and trees missed by other anglers,” said eighth-place finisher Greg Hackney. He used 5/8- and 1/2-ounce weights with 5/0 Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Flipping Hooks. To those Hackney rigged Strike King Rage Bugs in different sizes and colors.
Bobby Lane Jr. used a creature bait, jerkbait and swim jig to finish seventh. A 4-inch Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg, 5/0 Lazer Trokar Big Nasty Flippin Hook, and 3/8-ounce 3/8-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight was a top choice. So was a 3/8-ounce 4x4 Bobby Lane Signature Series Jerkbait. A Dual Hardcore Jerkbait produced reaction bites.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Bobby Lane Jr. used a creature bait, jerkbait and swim jig to finish seventh. A 4-inch Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg, 5/0 Lazer Trokar Big Nasty Flippin Hook, and 3/8-ounce 3/8-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Flipping Weight was a top choice. So was a 3/8-ounce 4x4 Bobby Lane Signature Series Jerkbait. A Dual Hardcore Jerkbait produced reaction bites.
To finish sixth, Josh Bertrand relied on two lures for covering the water column. A 4-inch PowerBait Pit Boss, rigged to 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 EWG Hook and 3/8-ounce Bass Pro Shops XPS tungsten weight was a top choice. So was a Berkley Dredger 14.5 crankbait.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To finish sixth, Josh Bertrand relied on two lures for covering the water column. A 4-inch PowerBait Pit Boss, rigged to 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 EWG Hook and 3/8-ounce Bass Pro Shops XPS tungsten weight was a top choice. So was a Berkley Dredger 14.5 crankbait.
“It was crazy, when I reeled it in the shad would try and spawn with it,” said Fred Roumbanis, who finished fifth using a swimbait of his design. The choice was the 6-inch Optimum Boom Boom Rigged Swimbait. The inline hardware kept the head rigid at the nose to impart a panic action. “I pulled the split ring tight, took one of the trebles and poked it into the belly,” he added. Slow rolling the bait did the trick.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “It was crazy, when I reeled it in the shad would try and spawn with it,” said Fred Roumbanis, who finished fifth using a swimbait of his design. The choice was the 6-inch Optimum Boom Boom Rigged Swimbait. The inline hardware kept the head rigid at the nose to impart a panic action. “I pulled the split ring tight, took one of the trebles and poked it into the belly,” he added. Slow rolling the bait did the trick.
To finish fourth, Jason Christie waged battle with spawning bass in thick shoreline cover by flipping and pitching a lure of his design. That was a 4.5-inch Yum Christie Critter with 5/0 Lazer Trokar TK130 MagWorm Hook and 1/2-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To finish fourth, Jason Christie waged battle with spawning bass in thick shoreline cover by flipping and pitching a lure of his design. That was a 4.5-inch Yum Christie Critter with 5/0 Lazer Trokar TK130 MagWorm Hook and 1/2-ounce tungsten weight.
To finish third, Kelley Jaye used this Megabass Ito Vision 110 jerkbait. Replacing the stock No. 5 hooks with No. 4 treble hooks added depth and more control when fighting big bass.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To finish third, Kelley Jaye used this Megabass Ito Vision 110 jerkbait. Replacing the stock No. 5 hooks with No. 4 treble hooks added depth and more control when fighting big bass.
Skeet Reese cranked and jerked his way to Championship Monday to finish second. A Lucky Craft SKT Magnum 105 Mag MR Crankbait was a top choice. “Postspawners were eating big shad so I went with it early in the tournament.” He also used a Lucky Craft LC Silent Squarebill 2.5 crankbait later in the week.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Skeet Reese cranked and jerked his way to Championship Monday to finish second. A Lucky Craft SKT Magnum 105 Mag MR Crankbait was a top choice. “Postspawners were eating big shad so I went with it early in the tournament.” He also used a Lucky Craft LC Silent Squarebill 2.5 crankbait later in the week.
Wesley Strader primarily relied on a PH Customer Lures Crankbait and spinnerbait. “When bounced off the rocks the crankbait triggered bites during the shad spawn.” He also used a 5/8-ounce Wesley Strader Signature Series Bango Blade made by Stan Sloan’s Zorro Baits. “I used No. 3 Colorado and No. 4 Indiana blades to match the shad size,” he added. The lure features .30 wire for added vibration.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Wesley Strader primarily relied on a PH Customer Lures Crankbait and spinnerbait. “When bounced off the rocks the crankbait triggered bites during the shad spawn.” He also used a 5/8-ounce Wesley Strader Signature Series Bango Blade made by Stan Sloan’s Zorro Baits. “I used No. 3 Colorado and No. 4 Indiana blades to match the shad size,” he added. The lure features .30 wire for added vibration.