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Top 25 patterns from the Classic

BassGold.com's Jay Kumar digs in on the patterns of the Top 25 finishers in the GEICO Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville.

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<p>Jay Kumar of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic War Room and <a href=
Jay Kumar of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic War Room and BassGold.com interviewed every Classic competitor after every competition day to find out how they were catching ’em. Here are the bass fishing patterns of the Top 25 finishers.
 
“Just bear in mind that each day was like a separate tournament,” said Kumar. “The bite changed significantly every day, but for this I asked the guys for their best pattern.”
25th: Terry Scroggins fished main river grass flats with milfoil and hydrilla. His fish were in 7-8 feet, and the key was just ticking the top of the grass without fouling the bait. He threw a Bomber Deep Flat A (cranapple).
25th: Terry Scroggins fished main river grass flats with milfoil and hydrilla. His fish were in 7-8 feet, and the key was just ticking the top of the grass without fouling the bait. He threw a Bomber Deep Flat A (cranapple).
24th: The B.A.S.S. Nation's Coby Carden fished shallow stumps and grass in the backs of creeks. The fish changed every day, but he ended up figuring out that he couldn't fish shallow enough. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce Stan Sloan spinnerbait (firetiger).
24th: The B.A.S.S. Nation’s Coby Carden fished shallow stumps and grass in the backs of creeks. The fish changed every day, but he ended up figuring out that he couldn’t fish shallow enough. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce Stan Sloan spinnerbait (firetiger).
23rd: Chad Morgenthaler fished a couple spots on a flat in the back of a creek. Key was fishing the thickest isolated milfoil clumps he could find in 3-5 feet. He used an XCalibur XR75 lipless crank (gold/black back).
23rd: Chad Morgenthaler fished a couple spots on a flat in the back of a creek. Key was fishing the thickest isolated milfoil clumps he could find in 3-5 feet. He used an XCalibur XR75 lipless crank (gold/black back).
22nd: Keith Combs fished shallower as the tournament went on, ending up in 2-5 feet about two-thirds back in creeks. Grass was there but stumps were key, and he counted on his Humminbird bow 360 to find them. His main bait was a Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crank (albino craw).
22nd: Keith Combs fished shallower as the tournament went on, ending up in 2-5 feet about two-thirds back in creeks. Grass was there but stumps were key, and he counted on his Humminbird bow 360 to find them. His main bait was a Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crank (albino craw).
21st: Fred Roumbanis fished main river areas with no current, and grass in the backs of pockets. He keyed on fish in 1.5 feet. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce Pepper's Custom Baits Fred's Roumbler swimjig (white) with an Optimum Double Diamond swimbait (white). The right water temp was critical for his bite.
21st: Fred Roumbanis fished main river areas with no current, and grass in the backs of pockets. He keyed on fish in 1.5 feet. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce Pepper’s Custom Baits Fred’s Roumbler swimjig (white) with an Optimum Double Diamond swimbait (white). The right water temp was critical for his bite.
20th: Ish Monroe focused on main lake flats with channels and humps. He fished in 1 foot around laydowns with a swimbait on Day 1, a jig on Day 2, and on Day 3 used a River2Sea Ish Monroe Biggie squarebill crankbait (da heater color).
20th: Ish Monroe focused on main lake flats with channels and humps. He fished in 1 foot around laydowns with a swimbait on Day 1, a jig on Day 2, and on Day 3 used a River2Sea Ish Monroe Biggie squarebill crankbait (da heater color).
19th: On Day 1, David Walker hammered fish on points near spawning flats. Day 2 those fish went away. Day 3 he found his fish in grassy spawning areas in 1.5-3 feet on three baits: a 5/8-ounce Live Target lipless crankbait (white crappie), a 3/8-ounce unnamed swimjig, and a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait (green pumpkin) with a Z-Man Diezel Minnow (pinfish).
19th: On Day 1, David Walker hammered fish on points near spawning flats. Day 2 those fish went away. Day 3 he found his fish in grassy spawning areas in 1.5-3 feet on three baits: a 5/8-ounce Live Target lipless crankbait (white crappie), a 3/8-ounce unnamed swimjig, and a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait (green pumpkin) with a Z-Man Diezel Minnow (pinfish).
18th: Jason Christie threw an XCalibur XR50 lipless crankbait (Rayburn red) on riprap and grass in 3-8 feet in the backs of creeks. Key was fishing dirtier water which warmed faster.
18th: Jason Christie threw an XCalibur XR50 lipless crankbait (Rayburn red) on riprap and grass in 3-8 feet in the backs of creeks. Key was fishing dirtier water which warmed faster.
17th: Dean Rojas fished riprap and grass in 1 to 8 feet in the backs of creeks. He used various crankbaits, but his best was an unnamed squarebill in a perch color. His bite improved with current (pulling water).
17th: Dean Rojas fished riprap and grass in 1 to 8 feet in the backs of creeks. He used various crankbaits, but his best was an unnamed squarebill in a perch color. His bite improved with current (pulling water).
16th: Jonathon VanDam fished the backs of creeks that were nearer to the main river than some other creeks. Keys for him were fishing areas he felt the fish were moving up into, and which had sparse grass. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad (gold sexy shad) fished in 1 to 5 feet.
16th: Jonathon VanDam fished the backs of creeks that were nearer to the main river than some other creeks. Keys for him were fishing areas he felt the fish were moving up into, and which had sparse grass. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad (gold sexy shad) fished in 1 to 5 feet.
15th: Morizo Shimizu fished big coves with grass in 8 to 10 feet. His main bait was an Evergreen Wild Hunch SR crankbait (white/chartreuse), and the retrieve speed was key.
15th: Morizo Shimizu fished big coves with grass in 8 to 10 feet. His main bait was an Evergreen Wild Hunch SR crankbait (white/chartreuse), and the retrieve speed was key.
14th: Believe it or not, Brandon Palaniuk's pattern was to follow the path the tornado took when it ripped through Alabama in 2011. He focused on fallen trees with grass, close to creek channels. His fish were in 1 to 3 feet, and his main bait was a 3/8-ounce Terminator jig with an Uncle Josh Phantom Craw, both black/blue.
14th: Believe it or not, Brandon Palaniuk’s pattern was to follow the path the tornado took when it ripped through Alabama in 2011. He focused on fallen trees with grass, close to creek channels. His fish were in 1 to 3 feet, and his main bait was a 3/8-ounce Terminator jig with an Uncle Josh Phantom Craw, both black/blue.
13th: Aaron Martens fished shallow in the back of a creek. He focused on cleaner areas in grass, and shallow shoals and points. Keys were reeling the bait as slowly as possible and moving around a lot then picking apart areas once he got a bite. His main baits were 1/2- and 3/4-ounce lipless cranks (chartreuse sexy shad and red craw), and a Megabass Flap Slap crankbait (sexy shad).
13th: Aaron Martens fished shallow in the back of a creek. He focused on cleaner areas in grass, and shallow shoals and points. Keys were reeling the bait as slowly as possible and moving around a lot then picking apart areas once he got a bite. His main baits were 1/2- and 3/4-ounce lipless cranks (chartreuse sexy shad and red craw), and a Megabass Flap Slap crankbait (sexy shad).
12th: On Day 2 Bobby Lane fished clay banks in the backs of creeks in 1 1/2 feet. On Day 3 he fished eelgrass in 8 feet in the main river. In both cases he used a Sebile Lipless Seeker crankbait in an orange craw color. With only six to seven bites per day, key for him was patience.
12th: On Day 2 Bobby Lane fished clay banks in the backs of creeks in 1 1/2 feet. On Day 3 he fished eelgrass in 8 feet in the main river. In both cases he used a Sebile Lipless Seeker crankbait in an orange craw color. With only six to seven bites per day, key for him was patience.
11th: Casey Ashley fished in 2 to 3 feet in a shallow spawning bay. His best spot was a roadbed with rock and scattered grass. Keys were covering water and ripping the bait out of the grass. Bait was a Lucky Craft RTO 150 lipless crank (TO craw).
11th: Casey Ashley fished in 2 to 3 feet in a shallow spawning bay. His best spot was a roadbed with rock and scattered grass. Keys were covering water and ripping the bait out of the grass. Bait was a Lucky Craft RTO 150 lipless crank (TO craw).
10th: Bassmaster Weekend Series qualifier Adam Wagner fished the main river and backs of creeks. His top three spots were a grass flat, docks and creek channel bends – all transition areas to spawning bays. Baits for those areas in order were: XCalibur XR50 lipless crank (Rayburn red), 1/2- and 5/8-ounce Stan Sloan Zorro jigs (Missouri craw), Lucky Craft Pointer jerkbait (chartreuse shad).
10th: Bassmaster Weekend Series qualifier Adam Wagner fished the main river and backs of creeks. His top three spots were a grass flat, docks and creek channel bends – all transition areas to spawning bays. Baits for those areas in order were: XCalibur XR50 lipless crank (Rayburn red), 1/2- and 5/8-ounce Stan Sloan Zorro jigs (Missouri craw), Lucky Craft Pointer jerkbait (chartreuse shad).
9th: B.A.S.S. Nation angler Doug Thompson fished secondary grass points the last two days. His fish were in 8 feet on Day 2, and in 1 1/2 feet on Day 3. His main bait was an XCalibur XR50 One Knocker (Rayburn red). One key for him was making multiple casts to a particular spot, enabled by Power-Poles.
9th: B.A.S.S. Nation angler Doug Thompson fished secondary grass points the last two days. His fish were in 8 feet on Day 2, and in 1 1/2 feet on Day 3. His main bait was an XCalibur XR50 One Knocker (Rayburn red). One key for him was making multiple casts to a particular spot, enabled by Power-Poles.
8th: David Kilgore fished any cover
8th: David Kilgore fished any cover “as long as it was in a foot of water” at the back of main lake flats. He used a 1/4-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad (sexy shad), the smaller size needed because he was fishing so shallow. Key for him was never straying from that depth.
7th: Todd Faircloth had a big Day 3, and his best spot was the last bar going into a spawning flat. The bass were in 3 to 7 feet and relating to grass. All of his fish were caught on Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless cranks: a 1/2 ounce in albino craw, and a 3/4-ounce custom-painted in khaki shad. Key for him was paying attention to how the fish moved – he caught them deepest on Day 3.
7th: Todd Faircloth had a big Day 3, and his best spot was the last bar going into a spawning flat. The bass were in 3 to 7 feet and relating to grass. All of his fish were caught on Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless cranks: a 1/2 ounce in albino craw, and a 3/4-ounce custom-painted in khaki shad. Key for him was paying attention to how the fish moved – he caught them deepest on Day 3.
6th: Jordan Lee fished one of the most interesting patterns of the tournament – punching mats of dead grass way back in creeks, in 1 1/2 feet or shallower. He used a Yum Wooly Bug (Okeechobee craw) with a 1 1/2-ounce weight. Key for him was going ultra-shallow,
6th: Jordan Lee fished one of the most interesting patterns of the tournament – punching mats of dead grass way back in creeks, in 1 1/2 feet or shallower. He used a Yum Wooly Bug (Okeechobee craw) with a 1 1/2-ounce weight. Key for him was going ultra-shallow, “where you’d think there wouldn’t be one.”
5th: Randall Tharp fished main lake points and ridges with milfoil and eelgrass. Key depth was 4 to 10 feet. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce XCalibur XR50 lipless crankbait (royal shad), and his main weapon was understanding how staging fish behave on Guntersville.
5th: Randall Tharp fished main lake points and ridges with milfoil and eelgrass. Key depth was 4 to 10 feet. His main bait was a 1/2-ounce XCalibur XR50 lipless crankbait (royal shad), and his main weapon was understanding how staging fish behave on Guntersville.
4th: The first two days Ott DeFoe fished ridges and riprap in 2 to 3 feet. Day 3 he fished main lake ledges and shell bars in 4 to 7 feet. His main bait was a Rapala DT-6 crankbait (pumpkinseed).
4th: The first two days Ott DeFoe fished ridges and riprap in 2 to 3 feet. Day 3 he fished main lake ledges and shell bars in 4 to 7 feet. His main bait was a Rapala DT-6 crankbait (pumpkinseed).
3rd: On the last two days, Edwin Evers focused on grass in the backs of pockets. Bites were in 1 to 4 feet. On Day 2, his best bait was a Megabass Flap Slap crankbait (sexy shad) in 3 to 4 feet. Day 3 he used a Megabass FX Knuckle 60 crank (Bahama milk pearl) and a Vibe Jig (green pumpkin).
3rd: On the last two days, Edwin Evers focused on grass in the backs of pockets. Bites were in 1 to 4 feet. On Day 2, his best bait was a Megabass Flap Slap crankbait (sexy shad) in 3 to 4 feet. Day 3 he used a Megabass FX Knuckle 60 crank (Bahama milk pearl) and a Vibe Jig (green pumpkin).
2nd: Paul Mueller's main river ledges almost got him a Classic win. His fish were in 3 to 7 feet on grass ridges, ledges and other structure. Eelgrass was key. He used a 3/8-ounce ChatterBait Elite (sexy shad) with a 4-inch Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad (glow white silver), and a 3/4-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crank (red).
2nd: Paul Mueller’s main river ledges almost got him a Classic win. His fish were in 3 to 7 feet on grass ridges, ledges and other structure. Eelgrass was key. He used a 3/8-ounce ChatterBait Elite (sexy shad) with a 4-inch Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad (glow white silver), and a 3/4-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crank (red).
1st: Classic champ Randy Howell's fish came on riprap and bridges in the back of two creeks. Keys were grass, current, muddier water and realizing his fish actually went deeper (9-10 feet) later in the day. His main bait the first two days was a Rapala DT-6 crankbait (demon color), and the last day it was a prototype Livingston Pro Series crank (orange craw).
1st: Classic champ Randy Howell’s fish came on riprap and bridges in the back of two creeks. Keys were grass, current, muddier water and realizing his fish actually went deeper (9-10 feet) later in the day. His main bait the first two days was a Rapala DT-6 crankbait (demon color), and the last day it was a prototype Livingston Pro Series crank (orange craw).
<p>All these patterns and many more are on the <a href=
All these patterns and many more are on the BassGold.com patterning app, used by everyone from Bassmaster Elite Series anglers to weekend warriors. Learn more at BassGold.com. B.A.S.S. members can save 15 percent on the one-year subscription price by using code bass14 (case sensitive) when you sign up. Note that BassGold offers a three-day free trial.

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