The top lures at the Classic

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Prespawn. Spawn. Postspawn. All three phases were in full swing on Lake Conroe. Add a shad spawn, rising temperatures and the world’s 52 best bass fishermen. That sums up fishing conditions at the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. <p><i>All captions: Craig Lamb</i>
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Prespawn. Spawn. Postspawn. All three phases were in full swing on Lake Conroe. Add a shad spawn, rising temperatures and the world’s 52 best bass fishermen. That sums up fishing conditions at the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. All captions: Craig Lamb
Lures used were as varied as the spawn. Carolina rigs fished deep and weightless plastics fished over the beds. A spectacular finish by Jordan Lee on Lake Conroe. Then an emotional trophy presentation inside Minute Maid Park.
Photo: Nate Sims - Lures used were as varied as the spawn. Carolina rigs fished deep and weightless plastics fished over the beds. A spectacular finish by Jordan Lee on Lake Conroe. Then an emotional trophy presentation inside Minute Maid Park.
The finishing touches created one of the most memorable weeks in Classic history. So did the baits. Here is what the top finishers used during Classic XLVII.
Photo: James Overstreet - The finishing touches created one of the most memorable weeks in Classic history. So did the baits. Here is what the top finishers used during Classic XLVII.
Dave Lefebre used a prototype jig he is helping design for Terminator Lures. “It’s lightweight with four pads of silicon, which makes it really bulky,” said the 14th-place finisher. “I fished seawalls but very specific little targets.” Keeping the bait off bottom and shaking it like a drop shot rig produced strikes.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Dave Lefebre used a prototype jig he is helping design for Terminator Lures. “It’s lightweight with four pads of silicon, which makes it really bulky,” said the 14th-place finisher. “I fished seawalls but very specific little targets.” Keeping the bait off bottom and shaking it like a drop shot rig produced strikes.
The profile of a bulky, lighter jig made all the difference. Bulk also slowed rate of fall to prolong strike zone time. For the 5/16-ounce jig he chose root beer and green flake patterns with matching, oversized chunk-style trailer.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The profile of a bulky, lighter jig made all the difference. Bulk also slowed rate of fall to prolong strike zone time. For the 5/16-ounce jig he chose root beer and green flake patterns with matching, oversized chunk-style trailer.
“Fishing a spinnerbait parallel to the seawalls mimicked how and where shad were spawning,” said Edwin Evers. The 11th-place finisher covered a lot of territory and in doing so, used a fast retrieve to trigger strikes.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “Fishing a spinnerbait parallel to the seawalls mimicked how and where shad were spawning,” said Edwin Evers. The 11th-place finisher covered a lot of territory and in doing so, used a fast retrieve to trigger strikes.
Evers matched his lure to mimic the shad spawning along seawalls in the early morning. His choice was a white 1/2- or 3/4-ounce War Eagle Spinnerbait. The lure featured gold and silver tandem willow leaf blades.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Evers matched his lure to mimic the shad spawning along seawalls in the early morning. His choice was a white 1/2- or 3/4-ounce War Eagle Spinnerbait. The lure featured gold and silver tandem willow leaf blades.
Kevin VanDam focused on the shad spawn by doing what he does best in spring. Fish fast and cover water with jerkbaits of his design. The 10th-place finisher focused primarily on a riprap shoreline near the dam. When the shad spawn subsided he continued fishing the jerkbaits along docks and seawalls.
Photo: Steve Bowman - Kevin VanDam focused on the shad spawn by doing what he does best in spring. Fish fast and cover water with jerkbaits of his design. The 10th-place finisher focused primarily on a riprap shoreline near the dam. When the shad spawn subsided he continued fishing the jerkbaits along docks and seawalls.
The choices were a Strike King KVD Deep Jerkbait and KVD jerkbait. He alternated between Crystal Shad and River Shiner patterns.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - The choices were a Strike King KVD Deep Jerkbait and KVD jerkbait. He alternated between Crystal Shad and River Shiner patterns.
Jared Lintner finished ninth on the strength of lightening up his tackle. He used the same lure to rig separate drop shot and weightless wacky rigs. The choice was a 5.8-inch Jackall Flick Shake Worm, Sunburn Melon, rigged to 2/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hooks. He used a 3/16-ounce weight for the drop shot.
Photo: James Overstreet - Jared Lintner finished ninth on the strength of lightening up his tackle. He used the same lure to rig separate drop shot and weightless wacky rigs. The choice was a 5.8-inch Jackall Flick Shake Worm, Sunburn Melon, rigged to 2/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hooks. He used a 3/16-ounce weight for the drop shot.
Bobby Lane Jr. scored an eighth-place finish at Conroe. Lure choices were a 4-inch Berkley Havoc Pit Boss, and a 6.25-inch Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper, both in green pumpkin patterns. For both baits he used 4/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hooks, while alternating between 3/16-, 3/8- and 5/16-ounce Flat Out Tungsten weights.
Photo: James Overstreet - Bobby Lane Jr. scored an eighth-place finish at Conroe. Lure choices were a 4-inch Berkley Havoc Pit Boss, and a 6.25-inch Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper, both in green pumpkin patterns. For both baits he used 4/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hooks, while alternating between 3/16-, 3/8- and 5/16-ounce Flat Out Tungsten weights.
Bradley Roy targeted submerged roadbeds and structure breaks lined with brushpiles for a seventh-place finish.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Bradley Roy targeted submerged roadbeds and structure breaks lined with brushpiles for a seventh-place finish.
Roy’s lure choice was a 3/4-ounce D&L Tackle Football Jig in a Bluegrass Craw pattern. For strike appeal he added a green pumpkin 3.5 inch Cabin Creek Bait Co. Express Craw.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Roy’s lure choice was a 3/4-ounce D&L Tackle Football Jig in a Bluegrass Craw pattern. For strike appeal he added a green pumpkin 3.5 inch Cabin Creek Bait Co. Express Craw.
Michael Iaconelli focused on prespawn and postspawn bass moving along the contours of major migration routes coming out of creek channels. “I fished hard spots on secondary points using bottom baits,” said the sixth-place finisher. Depths ranged from 7 to 25 feet. He made a key discovery along the way. Piles of tires strategically placed by anglers on the point held big bass.
Photo: Jerry Cunningham - Michael Iaconelli focused on prespawn and postspawn bass moving along the contours of major migration routes coming out of creek channels. “I fished hard spots on secondary points using bottom baits,” said the sixth-place finisher. Depths ranged from 7 to 25 feet. He made a key discovery along the way. Piles of tires strategically placed by anglers on the point held big bass.
To catch those Ike used a Carolina Rig. It featured a 1/2-ounce tungsten barrel weight, plastic bead and swivel with a 3/0 VMC Offset Hook. He rigged it to a 12- to 14-inch leader. At the end he added a Berkley Power Bait Lizard, alternating between green pumpkin and red bug colors.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - To catch those Ike used a Carolina Rig. It featured a 1/2-ounce tungsten barrel weight, plastic bead and swivel with a 3/0 VMC Offset Hook. He rigged it to a 12- to 14-inch leader. At the end he added a Berkley Power Bait Lizard, alternating between green pumpkin and red bug colors.
Alternatively, Iaconelli made a shaky head rig with a 3/16-ounce VMC Ike Approved Rugby Jig. The trailer was a Berkley Havoc Bottom, same pattern as the lizard.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Alternatively, Iaconelli made a shaky head rig with a 3/16-ounce VMC Ike Approved Rugby Jig. The trailer was a Berkley Havoc Bottom, same pattern as the lizard.
Ott DeFoe continued his seasonal hot streak with a fifth-place finish, including the rush of catching a largemouth weighing 9-9. To catch it he used a Storm Cover Pop prototype topwater to be introduced later this year. Alternatively, he used a 6.25-inch green pumpkin Bass Pro Shops Fin-Eke Worm, with a VMC Weedless Neko Hook, also to be released this year.
Photo: James Overstreet - Ott DeFoe continued his seasonal hot streak with a fifth-place finish, including the rush of catching a largemouth weighing 9-9. To catch it he used a Storm Cover Pop prototype topwater to be introduced later this year. Alternatively, he used a 6.25-inch green pumpkin Bass Pro Shops Fin-Eke Worm, with a VMC Weedless Neko Hook, also to be released this year.
James Elam scored a fourth-place finish using these baits. Top choice was a white 1/2-ounce Jackall Break Blade with color-matching Jackall Rhythm Wave Swimbait. To bedding bass he cast a weightless 5-inch green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - James Elam scored a fourth-place finish using these baits. Top choice was a white 1/2-ounce Jackall Break Blade with color-matching Jackall Rhythm Wave Swimbait. To bedding bass he cast a weightless 5-inch green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko.
A selection of weightless soft plastics kept Brent Ehrler in contention for the win. The third-place finisher targeted bass spawning on ledges lined by brush in about 1 foot of water. “I used a dead-stick type action to get the bites,” he said.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - A selection of weightless soft plastics kept Brent Ehrler in contention for the win. The third-place finisher targeted bass spawning on ledges lined by brush in about 1 foot of water. “I used a dead-stick type action to get the bites,” he said.
Ehrler made blind casts at the bedding bass. His primary lure choice was a watermelon or green pumpkin Yamamoto D Shad. He rigged it to a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook. The D Shad is a fluke by design but not by action. The amount of salt impregnated into the pliable plastic imparts a more quivering, lifelike action.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Ehrler made blind casts at the bedding bass. His primary lure choice was a watermelon or green pumpkin Yamamoto D Shad. He rigged it to a 3/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap Hook. The D Shad is a fluke by design but not by action. The amount of salt impregnated into the pliable plastic imparts a more quivering, lifelike action.
Steve Kennedy came up with the brilliant idea of using the same lure to swim during the shad spawn and flip or pitch at docks when the bite subsided. “I even caught a lot of my bigger fish on the final retrieve back to the boat to make another flip or pitch,” said the Classic runner-up.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - Steve Kennedy came up with the brilliant idea of using the same lure to swim during the shad spawn and flip or pitch at docks when the bite subsided. “I even caught a lot of my bigger fish on the final retrieve back to the boat to make another flip or pitch,” said the Classic runner-up.
And a pattern was born. During the shad spawn he used a 1/2-ounce white All Terrain Tackle Swim Jig with color matching 2-inch Zoom Super Chunk. Alternatively, he flipped and pitched a 5/8-ounce D&L Tackle Jig with a Super Chunk or 3.5-inch Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - And a pattern was born. During the shad spawn he used a 1/2-ounce white All Terrain Tackle Swim Jig with color matching 2-inch Zoom Super Chunk. Alternatively, he flipped and pitched a 5/8-ounce D&L Tackle Jig with a Super Chunk or 3.5-inch Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw.
“I hooked the seven and a half largemouth and a school of fives and sixes followed it to the boat.” That was no fish story. It was the beginning of a world championship performance by Jordan Lee.
Photo: Garrick Dixon - “I hooked the seven and a half largemouth and a school of fives and sixes followed it to the boat.” That was no fish story. It was the beginning of a world championship performance by Jordan Lee.
A Strike King Pro Model 5XD, Citrus Shad, was the hammer bait. When action slowed the Classic winner used a 1/2-ounce brown football jig. Lee alternated between two Strike King soft plastic trailers. Those were rigged a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail in the Summer Craw pattern, or a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail Space Monkey in the Green Pumpkin pattern.
Photo: A Strike King Pro Model 5XD, Citrus Shad, was the hammer bait. When action slowed the Classic winner used a 1/2-ounce brown football jig. Lee alternated between two Strike King soft plastic trailers. Those were rigged a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail in the Summer Craw pattern, or a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail Space Monkey in the Green Pumpkin pattern. - A Strike King Pro Model 5XD, Citrus Shad, was the hammer bait. When action slowed the Classic winner used a 1/2-ounce brown football jig. Lee alternated between two Strike King soft plastic trailers. Those were rigged a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail in the Summer Craw pattern, or a 4-inch Strike King Rage Tail Space Monkey in the Green Pumpkin pattern.
This combination of lures landed Lee 27 pounds and 4 ounces of Lake Conroe bass on Sunday ... and every bass angler's dream trophy. Congrats, Jordan!
Photo: Garrick Dixon - This combination of lures landed Lee 27 pounds and 4 ounces of Lake Conroe bass on Sunday ... and every bass angler's dream trophy. Congrats, Jordan!