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Largemouth and smallmouth. It can take both to win late summer tournaments on Oneida Lake. This time the bite leaned more toward smallmouth at the season finale Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open.
All captions: Craig Lamb
Photo: James Overstreet
Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams. “I can’t believe I made my dream come true of fishing the Bassmaster Classic,” said winner Grae Buck, who at 30 years old will do just that. Check out his winning lures and those of the top finishers.
Photo: James Overstreet
Bradley Dortch (35-10; 12th)
Bradley Dortch used a 5/8-ounce Jenko Fishing Trapline Rip-Knocker for fishing in the grass, and a 4-inch Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw, on 4/0 straight shank hook, with 1-ounce weight.
Bradley Dortch used a 5/8-ounce Jenko Fishing Trapline Rip-Knocker for fishing in the grass, and a 4-inch Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw, on 4/0 straight shank hook, with 1-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Kyle Welcher (38-13; 11th)
Kyle Welcher skipped docks surrounded by algae blooms using a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 60. Alternatively, he flipped isolated wood in backwater areas with a 4.20 Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, on 5/0 Eagle Claw TK130 Trokar Flippin Hook, with 1/2-ounce weight.
Kyle Welcher skipped docks surrounded by algae blooms using a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Frog 60. Alternatively, he flipped isolated wood in backwater areas with a 4.20 Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver, on 5/0 Eagle Claw TK130 Trokar Flippin Hook, with 1/2-ounce weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Bryan Schmitt (42-3; 10th)
Bryan Schmitt used a 4-inch Missile Baits D Bomb on 5/0 Hayabusa FTP Straight Worm Hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
Bryan Schmitt used a 4-inch Missile Baits D Bomb on 5/0 Hayabusa FTP Straight Worm Hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
Photo: Andy Crawford
A 3.25-inch Missile Baits Ned Bomb on 3/16-ounce Hayabusa Baby Shooting Ball Football Jig was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Kameron Harbin (42-3; 9th)
A 2.25-inch Berkley Bullet Pop 70 was the lure of choice for Kameron Harbin.
A 2.25-inch Berkley Bullet Pop 70 was the lure of choice for Kameron Harbin.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Andy Hribar (43-4; 8th)
Andy Hribar used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer, with 3.3 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait.
Andy Hribar used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer, with 3.3 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Stan Sypeck Jr. (43-4; 7th)
Stan Sypeck Jr. used a Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Fighting Frog on 3/0 hook, with 1- or 1.5-ounce weights. Using the same hook and weight, he used a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver.
Stan Sypeck Jr. used a Big Bite Baits Dean Rojas Fighting Frog on 3/0 hook, with 1- or 1.5-ounce weights. Using the same hook and weight, he used a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Sypeck also used 1/2- or 7/16-ounce homemade jigs and Medlock Jig, with NetBait Paca Craw for trailers.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Alex Wetherell (43-12; 6th)
Alex Wetherell rotated through these lures. A River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90 and Lunker City Grubster on 1/4-ounce Lunker City Pro Lite Jig Head were top choices.
Alex Wetherell rotated through these lures. A River2Sea Whopper Plopper 90 and Lunker City Grubster on 1/4-ounce Lunker City Pro Lite Jig Head were top choices.
Photo: Andy Crawford
So were a Megabass Ito Vision 110 and Lucky Craft Slender Pointer 97.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Ben Nielsen (44-15; 5th)
Ben Nielsen rotated through these three lures. A 4-inch Poor Boy’s Erie Darter, on 1/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hook, with 1/4-ounce drop shot weight was a top choice. So was a 3.3 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, on 1/4-ounce Bite Me Jig Head.
Ben Nielsen rotated through these three lures. A 4-inch Poor Boy’s Erie Darter, on 1/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot Hook, with 1/4-ounce drop shot weight was a top choice. So was a 3.3 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, on 1/4-ounce Bite Me Jig Head.
Photo: Andy Crawford
A Lucky Craft Sammy 85 topwater completed the lineup.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Jamey Caldwell (46-11; 4th)
Jamey Caldwell rotated through these lures by Strike King. A 6-inch Cut-R Worm on 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with 1/4-ounce Tour Grade Tungsten Weight was a top choice. So was a KVD Sexy Dawg with VMC Barbarian Hooks.
Jamey Caldwell rotated through these lures by Strike King. A 6-inch Cut-R Worm on 4/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with 1/4-ounce Tour Grade Tungsten Weight was a top choice. So was a KVD Sexy Dawg with VMC Barbarian Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford
He also used this KVD 300 Jerkbait with VMC Bladed Hybrid Hooks.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Jamie Hartman (47-10; 3rd)
Jamie Hartman used 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Lil’ Creeper Jigs, and a 4-inch Riot Baits Fuzzy Beaver on 2/0 Owner Rig’n Hook, with 1-ounce weight for a Carolina rig.
Jamie Hartman used 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Lil’ Creeper Jigs, and a 4-inch Riot Baits Fuzzy Beaver on 2/0 Owner Rig’n Hook, with 1-ounce weight for a Carolina rig.
Photo: Andy Crawford
He also used a 3/8-ounce vibrating jig with Riot Baits T3 Tattletail for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Dean Silvester (48-1; 2nd)
Dean Silvester alternated between an Evergreen One’s Bug and 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer, with Z-Man Razor Shadz Swimbait for a trailer.
Dean Silvester alternated between an Evergreen One’s Bug and 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer, with Z-Man Razor Shadz Swimbait for a trailer.
Photo: Andy Crawford
Grae Buck (50-10; 1st)
Grae Buck used a 2.75-inch Z-Man Finesse TRD (The Real Deal), on 1/10-ounce Hayabusa Brush Easy featuring a 1/0 hook to make a Ned rig. A 3-inch Cornerstone Baits Shimmy Shot, rigged on Hayabusa DSR132 Drop Shot Hook, with 1/4- or 1/2-ounce tungsten weights was another choice.
Grae Buck used a 2.75-inch Z-Man Finesse TRD (The Real Deal), on 1/10-ounce Hayabusa Brush Easy featuring a 1/0 hook to make a Ned rig. A 3-inch Cornerstone Baits Shimmy Shot, rigged on Hayabusa DSR132 Drop Shot Hook, with 1/4- or 1/2-ounce tungsten weights was another choice.
Photo: Andy Crawford
