How-To

Top lures at Tennessee River

Posted on
Just like ice fishing, eh? Canadian Jeff Gustafson came to Tennessee, home of the world record smallmouth, and adopted a common ice fishing tactic to redefine how smallmouth can be caught in the South. <br><br> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Just like ice fishing, eh? Canadian Jeff Gustafson came to Tennessee, home of the world record smallmouth, and adopted a common ice fishing tactic to redefine how smallmouth can be caught in the South.
All captions: Craig Lamb
Gussy never let up, posting a wire-to-wire victory in dominating fashion, as most other anglers targeted early-season transitional largemouth at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River. 
Gussy never let up, posting a wire-to-wire victory in dominating fashion, as most other anglers targeted early-season transitional largemouth at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee River. 
For the second consecutive season, a coveted blue trophy crossed the border into Canada. Last year, it was Chris Johnston, and now Gussy. Could there be others?
For the second consecutive season, a coveted blue trophy crossed the border into Canada. Last year, it was Chris Johnston, and now Gussy. Could there be others?
<b>John Crews (10th; 31-5)</b><br> John Crews combined a crankbait and bladed jig to track down early-stage migration bass.
John Crews (10th; 31-5)
John Crews combined a crankbait and bladed jig to track down early-stage migration bass.
A Spro Little John crankbait was a key bait for Crews.
A Spro Little John crankbait was a key bait for Crews.
So was a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Missile Baits Baby D Bomb trailer.
So was a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a Missile Baits Baby D Bomb trailer.
<b>Brock Mosley (9th; 37-0) </b><br> Brock Mosley intercepted early-season transitional bass with a lipless crankbait.
Brock Mosley (9th; 37-0)
Brock Mosley intercepted early-season transitional bass with a lipless crankbait.
Mosley alternated between 1/4- and 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap. He switched out the stock hooks with No. 4 Vector Tornado Treble Hooks.
Mosley alternated between 1/4- and 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap. He switched out the stock hooks with No. 4 Vector Tornado Treble Hooks.
<b>Hunter Shryock (8th; 37-4) </b><br> Hunter Shryock used a crankbait and jerkbait to catch up with bass on the move.
Hunter Shryock (8th; 37-4)
Hunter Shryock used a crankbait and jerkbait to catch up with bass on the move.
A Berkley Frittside 5 was a key bait for Shryock.
A Berkley Frittside 5 was a key bait for Shryock.
So was a Berkley Cutter 110+ Jerkbait.
So was a Berkley Cutter 110+ Jerkbait.
<b>Greg Hackney (7th; 38-3) </b><br> Greg Hackney took the Bassmaster Elite stage during Championship Sunday for the second consecutive event. He found late-winter bass beginning to move, primarily using a bladed jig to catch them.
Greg Hackney (7th; 38-3)
Greg Hackney took the Bassmaster Elite stage during Championship Sunday for the second consecutive event. He found late-winter bass beginning to move, primarily using a bladed jig to catch them.
Top producers for Hackney were a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Strike King Thunder Cricket, with 3.75- and 4.75-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer for trailers. A slow-rolling tactic produced strikes. He used the nickel blade version for stained water, and the white blade for clearer water.
Top producers for Hackney were a 3/8- and 1/2-ounce Strike King Thunder Cricket, with 3.75- and 4.75-inch Strike King Rage Swimmer for trailers. A slow-rolling tactic produced strikes. He used the nickel blade version for stained water, and the white blade for clearer water.
<b>Jake Whitaker (6th; 41-5) </b><br> “I’ll be the only one in Tellico today.” Jake Whitaker had it all to himself on Championship Sunday, along with a crankbait used for targeting early-stage prespawn transitional bass.
Jake Whitaker (6th; 41-5)
“I’ll be the only one in Tellico today.” Jake Whitaker had it all to himself on Championship Sunday, along with a crankbait used for targeting early-stage prespawn transitional bass.
The Berkley Frittside 5 was the key bait for Whitaker, for prespawn staging bass.
The Berkley Frittside 5 was the key bait for Whitaker, for prespawn staging bass.
Whitaker also used a Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a 4.25-inch Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer.
Whitaker also used a Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a 4.25-inch Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer.
<b>Jason Christie (5th; 48-13) </b><br> Jason Christie combined a spinnerbait with a pair of crankbaits to find migrating bass.
Jason Christie (5th; 48-13)
Jason Christie combined a spinnerbait with a pair of crankbaits to find migrating bass.
A 3/4-ounce BOOYAH Covert Series Spinnerbait with a 4-inch YUM Swim’n Dinger was a key bait for Christie.
A 3/4-ounce BOOYAH Covert Series Spinnerbait with a 4-inch YUM Swim’n Dinger was a key bait for Christie.
So were a Bomber Flat A Crankbait and a Norman Speed N Crankbait.
So were a Bomber Flat A Crankbait and a Norman Speed N Crankbait.
<b>Brandon Card (4th; 48-15) </b><br> Brandon Card used a jig and jerkbait to catch up with staging bass.
Brandon Card (4th; 48-15)
Brandon Card used a jig and jerkbait to catch up with staging bass.
A 5/16-ounce Advantage Baits Wild Card Finesse Jig, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Double Tail Grub, was a key bait for Card.
A 5/16-ounce Advantage Baits Wild Card Finesse Jig, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Double Tail Grub, was a key bait for Card.
Card also used a Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait 110.
Card also used a Yo-Zuri 3DB Jerkbait 110.
<b>John Cox (3rd; 52-10) </b><br> A crankbait and jig did the trick for locating bass for John Cox.
John Cox (3rd; 52-10)
A crankbait and jig did the trick for locating bass for John Cox.
A Berkley Frittside 5 was a key bait for Cox.
A Berkley Frittside 5 was a key bait for Cox.
Cox also used a 3/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig, with a 3-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Meaty Chunk for a trailer.
Cox also used a 3/8-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig, with a 3-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Meaty Chunk for a trailer.
<b>Steve Kennedy (2nd; 55-15) </b><br> Staging bass were the catch for Steve Kennedy, a bladed jig and skirted jig doing the trick on the Tennessee River.
Steve Kennedy (2nd; 55-15)
Staging bass were the catch for Steve Kennedy, a bladed jig and skirted jig doing the trick on the Tennessee River.
A 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Zacko Swimbait, was a key lure for Kennedy.
A 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer, with a 4-inch Yamamoto Zacko Swimbait, was a key lure for Kennedy.
Kennedy also used a 5/8-ounce D&L Tackle Advantage Jig with a 3.5-inch Zoom Super Chunk Jr. for a trailer.
Kennedy also used a 5/8-ounce D&L Tackle Advantage Jig with a 3.5-inch Zoom Super Chunk Jr. for a trailer.
<b>Jeff Gustafson (1st; 63-0)</b><br> Gussy's lure setup proved highly effective at locating and landing Tennessee smallmouth.
Jeff Gustafson (1st; 63-0)
Gussy’s lure setup proved highly effective at locating and landing Tennessee smallmouth.
A 4-inch Z-Man Jerk ShadZ was the key producer for Gussy. He rigged it on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator Swimbait Jig, designed by Bryan Gustafson (not related) and available from Lake of the Woods Sports Headquarters. Clear coated airbrush paint, 3D holographic eyes, textured gill plates and mouth and a universal ribbed bait keeper are features of the jig.
A 4-inch Z-Man Jerk ShadZ was the key producer for Gussy. He rigged it on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator Swimbait Jig, designed by Bryan Gustafson (not related) and available from Lake of the Woods Sports Headquarters. Clear coated airbrush paint, 3D holographic eyes, textured gill plates and mouth and a universal ribbed bait keeper are features of the jig.
The rig worked magic for all four days of the derby, resulting in a sore thumb and a wire-to-wire win for Gussy.
The rig worked magic for all four days of the derby, resulting in a sore thumb and a wire-to-wire win for Gussy.

Related