Gear

Top lures at St. Johns River 2024

See the lineup of baits used by the Top 10 pros at the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

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Photography by
Dalton Tumblin
Photography by
Kyle Jessie
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Photography by
Craig Lamb
Photography by
Shane Durrance
Photography by
Tommy Sendek
Arizona
Something special unfolded in this picturesque stretch of water at the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. 
Salt Springs stands out for its natural mineral spring that attracts a plethora of fish and wildlife, and specifically spawning largemouth bass. Here, Canadian Cory fished a flawless tournament after a trio of second-place Elite finishes in his career. 
A four-day total of 93 pounds, 6 ounces gave Johnston a winning margin of 21-2, or the second largest in Elite history. 
All week, Johnston targeted bedding bass using a variety of soft plastics while relying on his electronics and Power-Pole Move trolling motor. 
“People say, ‘When it’s your time, it’s your time.’ This week, I couldn’t do anything wrong.” See the top lures used by the Top 10 anglers and stock up for spring. 
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Logan Latuso (10th; 63-15)
Logan Latusu began his mornings with a bait for the shad spawn, and then transitioned to a flipping pattern in lily pads. 
For the shad spawn, he used a 3/8-ounce Delta Lures Swim Jig, with a Missile Baits Chunky D for a trailer. 
Latuso used this Missile Baits The 48, rigged on a 5/0 Haybusa FPP Straight Heavy Cover Hook with a 1/4-ounce weight. 
Matt Arey (9th; 64-13)
Arey’s patterns focused on flipping pads in the main river with Texas-rigged soft plastics, and Neko rigs for bedding bass. 
A key bait was a Texas-rigged 5-inch Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick, rigged on 3/0 hook with 3/8- or 5/16-ounce Titan Tungsten weights. 
For bed fishing, Arey used a Neko-rigged 5-inch Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick, rigged on a No. 2 weedless wacky hook, with an O ring and nail weight. 
For heavy cover he used a soft plastic craw imitator on a 3/0 hook with a 3/8-ounce Titan Tungsten weight. 
Ray Hanselman (8th; 66-9)
Hanselman chose a topwater walking bait and lipless crankbait for the shad spawn and schooling bass, and then a Carolina rig for later in the day. 
For the shad spawn, he used this 6th Sense Dogma 115.
For a change-up he used a 6th Sense Duke 55 for schooling bass and the shad spawn. 
Hanselman made the Carolina rig with a 6th Sense Bamboosa 5.3 Worm, rigged on a 1/2-ounce 6th Sense Carolina Pre-Rig with a 4/0 Owner Hook. 
Jason Christie (7th; 66-9)
Christie rotated through lures for the early morning shad spawn, and baits for covering water near the shoreline around cypress trees, lily pads and other cover. 
For early morning action, he used this Heddon Zara Spook.
Christie used a personal tournament-winning bait of his design, a 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades.
For flipping heavy cover, he used this YUM Christie Critter, rigged on a 5/0 TK130 Lazer Trokar Flipping Hook with a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight. 
Greg Hackney (6th; 67-15)
Hackney primarily used a spinnerbait designed specifically for shad spawn scenarios. 
That bait was this 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Shad Spawn Spinnerbait. 
The lure features four willowleaf blades, making it appear like a shad spawning in the water.
Click here to buy these lures at Bass Pro Shops.
Chris Johnston (5th; 70-0)
Johnston used a soft plastic stick bait (not pictured) for spawning bass, and a creature bait for flipping and pitching.
Johnston used this 4-inch Nories Lures Front Flapper, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Power Heavy Cover Hook.
Drew Benton (4th; 70-11)
Benton used lures for the shad spawn, and for flipping pads and sight fishing. 
A primary lure was this 3/8-ounce Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig, with a SPRO Pocket Tail 3.5. 
For flipping pads and sight fishing, he used this Nories Front Flapper, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Power Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce Elite Tungsten weight. 
Jacob Foutz (3rd; 71-6)
Foutz rotated between a swimbait and topwater dog-walking action bait for schoolers. 
A primary bait was this 3/16-ounce jighead, with a Strike King Z-Too Soft Jerkbait. 
For surface-feeding schooling bass, he used this Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil. 
Brad Whatley (2nd; 72-4)
Whatley continued his Florida hot streak with a second consecutive Championship Sunday appearance. 
A primary lure was this 1/2-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap.
For flipping and pitching he used this 1/2-ounce Epic Baits Tournament Grade Swimbait, with a 4-inch Bass Assassin Lures Woopah Craw. 
Cory Johnston (1st; 93-6) 
Johnston primarily flipped and pitched soft plastics to lily pads, while using a unique bait rarely before seen in the pressured waters. 
A key bait was this 6th Sense Bongo 3.7.
He rigged it on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens Finesse Heavy Cover Flipping Hook, with a 1/4-ounce 6th Sense Tungsten Weight.
Johnston also used this 6th Sense Fishing Panorama.
He rigged it on a 6/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap hook, with a 5/16-ounce 6th Sense Tungsten weight. 

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