How-To

Top lures at Lewisville Lake

Posted on
The 2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Opens season came down to the final event on Lake Lewisville. Largemouth were scattered throughout the water column due to the fall transition, making for challenging fishing conditions on the north Texas lake. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Photo: Andy Crawford - The 2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Opens season came down to the final event on Lake Lewisville. Largemouth were scattered throughout the water column due to the fall transition, making for challenging fishing conditions on the north Texas lake. All captions: Craig Lamb
Tommy Williams persevered through it all, catching only three keepers on Championship Saturday, but it was worth it. The Kentucky angler claimed a berth in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. See his winning lures and others used by the top finishers.
Photo: James Overstreet - Tommy Williams persevered through it all, catching only three keepers on Championship Saturday, but it was worth it. The Kentucky angler claimed a berth in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. See his winning lures and others used by the top finishers.
<p><strong>Austin Cranford (12th; 23-6)</strong><br>Austin Cranford used a 1/2-ounce Party Crasher Jig, with a Legendary Nunchuck trailer. For topwater bites he used a Lucky Craft Sammy. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Austin Cranford (12th; 23-6)Austin Cranford used a 1/2-ounce Party Crasher Jig, with a Legendary Nunchuck trailer. For topwater bites he used a Lucky Craft Sammy. Buy it now on Amazon: Lucky Craft Sammy
<p><strong>Keith Combs (11th; 25-9)</strong><br>Keith Combs used a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog, on a Shimano Antares Reel and Shimano Zodias Rod. He also used a Strike King KVD 1.5 Crankbait, on a Shimano Curado DC reel and Shimano Zodias rod. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Keith Combs (11th; 25-9)Keith Combs used a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog, on a Shimano Antares Reel and Shimano Zodias Rod. He also used a Strike King KVD 1.5 Crankbait, on a Shimano Curado DC reel and Shimano Zodias rod. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King KVD Sexy Frog | Strike King KVD 1.5 Crankbait | Shimano Antares Reel | Shimano Zodias Rod
<p><strong>Billy Cline (10th; 26-6)</strong><br>Billy Cline used an unnamed 1.5-model squarebill, and a Rapala DT Series 6 for reaction bites. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Billy Cline (10th; 26-6)Billy Cline used an unnamed 1.5-model squarebill, and a Rapala DT Series 6 for reaction bites. Buy it now on Amazon: Rapala DT Series 6
<p>He also used a 1/2-ounce finesse jig with a Missile Baits Craw Father trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 1/2-ounce finesse jig with a Missile Baits Craw Father trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Missile Baits Craw Father
<p><strong>Shawn Temple (9th; 26-8)</strong><br>Shawn Temple used a Zoom Z Craw Jr. on a 3/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook, with a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. He made a shaky head with a Berkley PowerBait Bottom Hopper on a 3/16-ounce Owner Shakey Ultrahead. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Shawn Temple (9th; 26-8)Shawn Temple used a Zoom Z Craw Jr. on a 3/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook, with a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. He made a shaky head with a Berkley PowerBait Bottom Hopper on a 3/16-ounce Owner Shakey Ultrahead. Buy it now on Amazon: Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook | Berkley PowerBait Bottom Hopper | Owner Shakey Ultrahead
He also used a Brad’s Baits 1.5 crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Brad’s Baits 1.5 crankbait.
<b>Ken Iyobe (8th; 27-5)</b><br> A 5-inch Yamamoto Senko on a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook was a key lure for Ken Iyobe.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Ken Iyobe (8th; 27-5) A 5-inch Yamamoto Senko on a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook was a key lure for Ken Iyobe.
So was a Ten Feet Under Widell More crankbait, and a Shimano Komac crankbait, both made and available in Japan.
Photo: Andy Crawford - So was a Ten Feet Under Widell More crankbait, and a Shimano Komac crankbait, both made and available in Japan.
<p><strong>Blake Whatley (7th; 30-8)</strong><br>Blake Whatley used a 1/2-ounce homemade spinnerbait, and a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait with a single tail grub trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Blake Whatley (7th; 30-8)Blake Whatley used a 1/2-ounce homemade spinnerbait, and a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait with a single tail grub trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait
For a follow up bait, he used a Zoom W.E.C. E-1 crankbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford - For a follow up bait, he used a Zoom W.E.C. E-1 crankbait.
<p><strong>Brandon Dillard (6th; 31-9)</strong><br>Brandon Dillard used a 1/2-ounce War Eagle Heavy Finesse Jig with a Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss. He also used a Yum Magnum Finesse Worm, on a 6/0 Trokar Big Nasty Flipping Hook with a 3/8-ounce Wicked Weights Tungsten Weight. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Dillard (6th; 31-9)Brandon Dillard used a 1/2-ounce War Eagle Heavy Finesse Jig with a Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss. He also used a Yum Magnum Finesse Worm, on a 6/0 Trokar Big Nasty Flipping Hook with a 3/8-ounce Wicked Weights Tungsten Weight. Buy it now on Amazon: War Eagle Heavy Finesse Jig | Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss | Yum Magnum Finesse Worm
<p>Another choice was a 1/2-ounce War Eagle Double Willow Spinnerbait, with a Zoom Split Tail Trailer. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Another choice was a 1/2-ounce War Eagle Double Willow Spinnerbait, with a Zoom Split Tail Trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: War Eagle Double Willow Spinnerbait | Zoom Split Tail
<p><strong>Greg Hackney (5th; 31-11)</strong><br>Greg Hackney used a 3/8-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Fluoro Flipping Jig, with a Strike King Rage Craw trailer. He fished it on a Lew’s Pro TI Speed Spool SLP Series Reel, with 25-pound Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon, with a 7-foot, 6-inch Lew’s Hack Attack Rod. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Greg Hackney (5th; 31-11)Greg Hackney used a 3/8-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Fluoro Flipping Jig, with a Strike King Rage Craw trailer. He fished it on a Lew’s Pro TI Speed Spool SLP Series Reel, with 25-pound Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon, with a 7-foot, 6-inch Lew’s Hack Attack Rod. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King Hack Attack Fluoro Flipping Jig | Strike King Rage Craw | Lews’ Pro TI Speed Spool SLP Series Reel | Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon
<p><strong>Bryan New (4th; 33-5)</strong><br>Bryan New chose a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer with a Zoom Super Fluke trailer. He chose an Abu Garcia Revo 6.2:1 reel on a 7-foot, 2-inch Fitzgerald Rods Frog Rod. A 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle New Square Rubber Jig was another choice. He fished it on a 6-foot, 9-inch Fitzgerald Skipping Special Rod with an Abu Garcia AL-F Low Profile Reel. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - Bryan New (4th; 33-5)Bryan New chose a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer with a Zoom Super Fluke trailer. He chose an Abu Garcia Revo 6.2:1 reel on a 7-foot, 2-inch Fitzgerald Rods Frog Rod. A 1/2-ounce Greenfish Tackle New Square Rubber Jig was another choice. He fished it on a 6-foot, 9-inch Fitzgerald Skipping Special Rod with an Abu Garcia AL-F Low Profile Reel. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer | Zoom Super Fluke | Abu Garcia Revo 6.2:1 | Fitzgerald Rods Frog Rod | Abu Garcia AL-F Low Profile Reel
<p>New also used a Greenfish Tackle Fat G2 Squarebill on an Abu Garcia Revo Winch with a 7-foot Fitzgerald Square Bill Rod. <span><strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - New also used a Greenfish Tackle Fat G2 Squarebill on an Abu Garcia Revo Winch with a 7-foot Fitzgerald Square Bill Rod. Buy it now on Amazon: Abu Garcia Revo Winch
<b>Brian Clark (3rd; 37-11)</b><br> Brian Clark used a Lucky Craft RC 1.5 Series crankbait for reaction bites.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brian Clark (3rd; 37-11) Brian Clark used a Lucky Craft RC 1.5 Series crankbait for reaction bites.
<p>He also used a 5/16-ounce homemade flipping finesse jig with a Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss. Another key bait was a 6-inch Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm, on a 3/0 Trokar Heavy Duty Worm Hook, with a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. <strong>Buy it now on Amazon:</strong> <a href=
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a 5/16-ounce homemade flipping finesse jig with a Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss. Another key bait was a 6-inch Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm, on a 3/0 Trokar Heavy Duty Worm Hook, with a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Berkley PowerBait Pit Boss | Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm | Trokar Heavy Duty Worm Hook
<b>Brandon Hollingshead (2nd; 40-6)</b><br> Brandon Hollingshead used a 3/8-ounce homemade ball head finesse jig, fished on a Lew’s Custom Lite SLP Speed Spool Reel with a Power Tackle Rods 04MH Rod.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Brandon Hollingshead (2nd; 40-6) Brandon Hollingshead used a 3/8-ounce homemade ball head finesse jig, fished on a Lew’s Custom Lite SLP Speed Spool Reel with a Power Tackle Rods 04MH Rod.
He also used a Brad’s Baits Crankbait on a Power Tackle Rods PGC170 Rod, with a Lew’s Speed Spool.
Photo: Andy Crawford - He also used a Brad’s Baits Crankbait on a Power Tackle Rods PGC170 Rod, with a Lew’s Speed Spool.
<b>Tommy Williams (1st; 41-15)</b><br> Tommy Williams used homemade 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits that he called the Tommy Bug, fishing the baits on a 6-foot rod and Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Reel. For windy conditions and murky water, he used a bait with silver and gold Colorado blades. For clearer water he switched to a bait with a silver willowleaf blade. Williams used a chartreuse trailer for the baits.
Photo: Andy Crawford - Tommy Williams (1st; 41-15) Tommy Williams used homemade 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits that he called the Tommy Bug, fishing the baits on a 6-foot rod and Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Reel. For windy conditions and murky water, he used a bait with silver and gold Colorado blades. For clearer water he switched to a bait with a silver willowleaf blade. Williams used a chartreuse trailer for the baits.