Top lures at Santee Cooper 2020

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The fall transition posed a challenge for the sport’s top pros at the Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper brought to you by the United States Marine Corps. But never mind, this derby occurred on the legendary lakes known for producing heavyweight catches, a
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The fall transition posed a challenge for the sport’s top pros at the Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper brought to you by the United States Marine Corps. But never mind, this derby occurred on the legendary lakes known for producing heavyweight catches, and even during the fall slump. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

All captions: Craig Lamb

Photo: Dalton Tumblin

Punch rigs and bladed jigs prevailed for the top finishers, including Brandon Palaniuk, who notched his fifth career Elite Series win, and second of the season. See the baits chosen by Palaniuk and other top finishers in a Championship Sunday battled out
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Punch rigs and bladed jigs prevailed for the top finishers, including Brandon Palaniuk, who notched his fifth career Elite Series win, and second of the season. See the baits chosen by Palaniuk and other top finishers in a Championship Sunday battled out in heavily matted vegetation. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Dalton Tumblin

Derek Hudnall (10th; 50-6)Skipping a wacky-rigged worm beneath cypress tree branches, and allowing the rig to free fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Derek Hudnall.
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Derek Hudnall (10th; 50-6)
Skipping a wacky-rigged worm beneath cypress tree branches, and allowing the rig to free fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Derek Hudnall. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

Hudnall’s primary setup was a Missile Baits The 48 Worm, rigged weightless on a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook
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Hudnall’s primary setup was a Missile Baits The 48 Worm, rigged weightless on a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook

Photo: Andy Crawford

He also used a 1/2-ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig, with a Missile Baits D Bomb trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig
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He also used a 1/2-ounce Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig, with a Missile Baits D Bomb trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Missle Baits D Bomb | Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip Jig

Photo: Andy Crawford

Jeff Gustafson (9th; 53-12)Jeff Gustafson rigged a Z-Man Palmetto BugZ on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with a 1.5-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Weight. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer, with a Z-Man RaZor S
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Jeff Gustafson (9th; 53-12)
Jeff Gustafson rigged a Z-Man Palmetto BugZ on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with a 1.5-ounce Flat Out Tungsten Weight. He also used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Z-Man RaZor ShadZ trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Palmetto BugZ | Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook | Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer | Z-Man RaZor ShadZ

Photo: Andy Crawford

David Mullins (8th; 56-1)David Mullins alternated between a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait, and a 1/2-ounce Nichols Reflex Buzzbait, with a frog-style trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Chatterbait
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David Mullins (8th; 56-1)
David Mullins alternated between a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait, and a 1/2-ounce Nichols Reflex Buzzbait, with a frog-style trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait

Photo: Andy Crawford

Destin DeMarion (7th; 57-6)Destin DeMarion rotated between a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer, with a Berkley soft plastic trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer
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Destin DeMarion (7th; 57-6)
Destin DeMarion rotated between a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Berkley soft plastic trailer. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer

Photo: Andy Crawford

Bill Lowen (6th; 58-7)Bill Lowen rotated between three soft plastic Texas-rig setups. A Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent, on a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook, with 1/4- to 5/16-ounce weights was a top producer. Using the same brand
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Bill Lowen (6th; 58-7)
Bill Lowen rotated between three soft plastic Texas-rig setups. A Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent, on a 4/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook, with 1/4- to 5/16-ounce weights was a top producer. Using the same brand and size hook and weights, he also used a Strike King Rage Bug and Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw, dipping the tails of all baits in chartreuse dye. Using lighter weights allowed the baits to drift with the current, instead of falling vertically to the bottom, and outside the strike zone. Buy it now on Amazon: Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Rodent | Hayabusa FPP Straight Worm Hook | Strike King Rage Bug Zoom | Ultra Vibe Speed Craw

Photo: Andy Crawford

Bernie Schultz (5th; 60-5)A wacky rig skipped beneath the limbs of cypress trees, and allowed to fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Bernie Schultz.
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Bernie Schultz (5th; 60-5)
A wacky rig skipped beneath the limbs of cypress trees, and allowed to fall vertically into the stumps, was a key tactic for Bernie Schultz. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

A key setup was a weightless wacky rig made with a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 2/0 VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook. Key to the setup was the new VMC Crossover Rig, providing multiple rigging options for wacky and Neko style rigging, while also
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A key setup was a weightless wacky rig made with a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged on a 2/0 VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook. Key to the setup was the new VMC Crossover Ring, providing multiple rigging options for wacky and Neko style rigging, while also extending the life of plastics and increasing hook-up percentages. Buy it now on Amazon: Yamamoto Senko | VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook

Photo: Andy Crawford

Another key bait for Schultz was a prototype all-tin buzzbait that he designed for Hildebrandt Lures. Tin is two-thirds the weight of lead by volume, and that allows slower retrieves that keep the bait higher in the water column, prolonging its effectiven
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Another key bait for Schultz was a prototype all-tin buzzbait that he designed for Hildebrandt Lures. Tin is two-thirds the weight of lead by volume, and that allows slower retrieves that keep the bait higher in the water column, prolonging its effectiveness in the strike zone. Schultz rotated between 1/4- and 1/2-ounce sizes. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Andy Crawford

Austin Felix (4th; 60-14)A rotation of docks and offshore cover were the patterns in play for Austin Felix. Shop for lures on Amazon
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Austin Felix (4th; 60-14)
A rotation of docks and offshore cover were the patterns in play for Austin Felix. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Shane Durrance

Felix used a 7-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook, with a 5/16-ounce Swagger Tungsten weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Roboworm Straight Tail Worm Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook
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Felix used a 7-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook, with a 5/16-ounce Swagger Tungsten weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Roboworm Straight Tail Worm | Gamakatsu Superline Ringed EWG Hook

Photo: Andy Crawford

He also rigged a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.8 on a 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher Swimbait Head. Buy it now on Amazon: Keitech FAT Swing Impact
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He also rigged a Keitech FAT Swing Impact 3.8 on a 3/8-ounce All Terrain Tackle Smallie Smasher Swimbait Head. Buy it now on Amazon: Keitech FAT Swing Impact

Photo: Andy Crawford

Cory Johnston (3rd; 61-9)A punch rig pattern was the way to go for Cory Johnston. Shop for lures on Amazon.com
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Cory Johnston (3rd; 61-9)
A punch rig pattern was the way to go for Cory Johnston. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Shane Durrance

Johnston rigged a creature bait to a 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 5/16- to 1.25-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weights. He also used a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook Sp
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Johnston rigged a creature bait to a 4/0 Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, with 5/16- to 1.25-ounce WOO! Tungsten Weights. He also used a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60. Buy it now on Amazon: Gamakatsu Super Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook | Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60

Photo: Andy Crawford

Carl Jocumsen (2nd; 64-2)A midday and on punch session were ideal for Carl Jocumsen to capitalize on his bass using the cover of heavy vegetation to ambush baitfish.
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Carl Jocumsen (2nd; 64-2)
A midday and on punch session were ideal for Carl Jocumsen to capitalize on his bass using the cover of heavy vegetation to ambush baitfish. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Steve Bowman

Jocumsen caught schooling fish on a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait Jackhammer, with a Yamamoto Zacko swimbait trailer. He made a punch rig with a Molix XD Craw rigged on a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, with a WOO! Tungsten 1.25-ounce weight. Buy it now on
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Jocumsen caught schooling fish on a 1/2-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer, with a Yamamoto Zacko swimbait trailer. He made a punch rig with a Molix XD Craw rigged on a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, with a WOO! Tungsten 1.25-ounce weight. Buy it now on Amazon: Z-Man ChatterBait Jackhammer | Yamamoto Zacko | Owner Jungle Flipping Hook

Photo: Andy Crawford

Brandon Palaniuk (1st; 64-2)A punching pattern was a primary tactic used all week by Brandon Palaniuk. On Championship Sunday, he called an audible and moved to a new area, adding a drop shot to the lure lineup. The gutsy move paid off with a
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Brandon Palaniuk (1st; 64-2)
A punching pattern was a primary tactic used all week by Brandon Palaniuk. On Championship Sunday, he called an audible and moved to a new area, adding a drop shot to the lure lineup. The gutsy move paid off with a key 7-pounder. Shop for lures on Amazon.com

Photo: Dalton Tumblin

Palaniuk rigged a 5.5-inch X Zone Lures Mega Swammer on a 1/2-ounce VMC Ike Approved Swimbait Head. He also rigged a 3.5-inch X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw on a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with a 1.25-ounce weight. On Championshi
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Palaniuk rigged a 5.5-inch X Zone Lures Mega Swammer on a 1/2-ounce VMC Ike Approved Swimbait Head. He also rigged a 3.5-inch X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw on a 3/0 VMC Ike Approved Heavy Duty Flippin Hook, with a 1.25-ounce weight. On Championship Sunday he added a drop-shot rigged X Zone Lures Deception Worm to the lineup. Buy it now on Amazon: X Zone Lures Mega Swammer | VMC Ike Approved Swimbait Head | X Zone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw

Photo: Andy Crawford

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