Top lures at Oneida Lake

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The smallmouth bite, as predicted, was hotter than hot at Oneida Lake, site of the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open #1. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
The smallmouth bite, as predicted, was hotter than hot at Oneida Lake, site of the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open #1.

All captions: Craig Lamb

Jerkbaits accounted for most of the catches, along with heavy bags of smallmouth. The exception was winner Stanley Sypeck. He ignored the smallmouth bite and went fishing for largemouth with a jig. The result was a first-place finish.
Jerkbaits accounted for most of the catches, along with heavy bags of smallmouth. The exception was winner Stanley Sypeck. He ignored the smallmouth bite and went fishing for largemouth with a jig. The result was a first-place finish.
<b>Jason Putnam</b><br> Jason Putman went old school topwater to finish 12th. Triggering a reaction bite with a chugger-style topwater was key. “I’ve fished this bait for more than a decade and it really works.”
Jason Putnam
Jason Putman went old school topwater to finish 12th. Triggering a reaction bite with a chugger-style topwater was key. “I’ve fished this bait for more than a decade and it really works.”
Putnam chose this 5/16-ounce Rebel Super Pop R, Sun Perch, dressed out with light-attracting strands of glitter filament for extra flash.
Putnam chose this 5/16-ounce Rebel Super Pop R, Sun Perch, dressed out with light-attracting strands of glitter filament for extra flash.
<b>John Garrett</b><br> John Garrett fished his second Championship Saturday in as many weeks. This time the Bethel University student athlete finished 11th. Garrett had reason to complain about sore arms.
John Garrett
John Garrett fished his second Championship Saturday in as many weeks. This time the Bethel University student athlete finished 11th. Garrett had reason to complain about sore arms.
All week he put the jerk in this jerkbait, making strong downward pulls to bring bass from inside bottom grass into the strike zone above. He used this Strike King KVD Jerkbait, Sexy Dog, to get the strikes. “I had to work it fast as I could to get them to come up and take it.”
All week he put the jerk in this jerkbait, making strong downward pulls to bring bass from inside bottom grass into the strike zone above. He used this Strike King KVD Jerkbait, Sexy Dog, to get the strikes. “I had to work it fast as I could to get them to come up and take it.”
<b>Kyle Kempers</b><br> It was all about the jerkbaits for Kyle Kempers. He finished 10th using these handfuls of jerkbaits.
Kyle Kempers
It was all about the jerkbaits for Kyle Kempers. He finished 10th using these handfuls of jerkbaits.
A key choice was this Strike King KVD Jerkbait, Clearwater Minnow.
A key choice was this Strike King KVD Jerkbait, Clearwater Minnow.
“I really like this discontinued jerkbait,” he said. That is a 5.5-inch Smithwick Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue. “There was a special run a few years ago and I bought all I could find.”
“I really like this discontinued jerkbait,” he said. That is a 5.5-inch Smithwick Suspending Rattlin’ Rogue. “There was a special run a few years ago and I bought all I could find.”
<b>Josh Douglas</b><br> Josh Douglas fished his second Championship Saturday of the season, this time to finish ninth. He did that using a swimbait of his design and a drop shot rig.
Josh Douglas
Josh Douglas fished his second Championship Saturday of the season, this time to finish ninth. He did that using a swimbait of his design and a drop shot rig.
That is a No. 1 Gamakatsu Gama Drop/Split Shot Hook with a Biovex Kolt Shad Tail, Watermelon Seed. A 3/8-ounce Reins TG Drop Shot Slim Weight completed the rig.
That is a No. 1 Gamakatsu Gama Drop/Split Shot Hook with a Biovex Kolt Shad Tail, Watermelon Seed. A 3/8-ounce Reins TG Drop Shot Slim Weight completed the rig.
Douglas also designed this Outkast Tackle Goldeneye Swimmer Head. A Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, Male Perch, completed the rig.
Douglas also designed this Outkast Tackle Goldeneye Swimmer Head. A Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, Male Perch, completed the rig.
<b>Steve York</b><br> Steve York finished eighth using a drop shot rig, jerkbaits and a noisy topwater.
Steve York
Steve York finished eighth using a drop shot rig, jerkbaits and a noisy topwater.
Here’s the drop shot rig. York used this 4-inch Lure Craft M&M Big D, Mango Magic, with a 1/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hook. He chose a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
Here’s the drop shot rig. York used this 4-inch Lure Craft M&M Big D, Mango Magic, with a 1/0 Eagle Claw TroKar Hook. He chose a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
To cover shallow and mid-range strike zones he used these two jerkbaits. For the midrange he used a Lucky Craft Staysees 90 ver.2, Pearl Ayu. For shallower bites he chose a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait, Sexy French Pearl.
To cover shallow and mid-range strike zones he used these two jerkbaits. For the midrange he used a Lucky Craft Staysees 90 ver.2, Pearl Ayu. For shallower bites he chose a Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait, Sexy French Pearl.
For calm water conditions he used this choice from Boing Lures. The Boing topwater has a unique sound chamber that creates a “boing” sound that is irresistible to bass.
For calm water conditions he used this choice from Boing Lures. The Boing topwater has a unique sound chamber that creates a “boing” sound that is irresistible to bass.
<b>Chad Pipkens</b><br> Michigan pro Chad Pipkens brought his offshore smallmouth fishing skills to Oneida Lake to finish seventh. He did that using a topwater and drop shot rig.
Chad Pipkens
Michigan pro Chad Pipkens brought his offshore smallmouth fishing skills to Oneida Lake to finish seventh. He did that using a topwater and drop shot rig.
For topwater action he chose this Damiki D Pop 70, Real Shad. “It worked best in calm conditions.”
For topwater action he chose this Damiki D Pop 70, Real Shad. “It worked best in calm conditions.”
Around offshore shoals he fished these plastics drop-shot style. Choices were a Poor Boy’s Erie Darter, Green Pumpkin, and a Lunkerhunt Core Strength Limit Worm, Black. For both he used a No. 2 Trokar Drop Shot Hook. Wind speed dictated weight size, from 1/8 to 3/8 ounce.
Around offshore shoals he fished these plastics drop-shot style. Choices were a Poor Boy’s Erie Darter, Green Pumpkin, and a Lunkerhunt Core Strength Limit Worm, Black. For both he used a No. 2 Trokar Drop Shot Hook. Wind speed dictated weight size, from 1/8 to 3/8 ounce.
<b>JT Kenney</b><br> JT Kenney rotated through three lures to finish sixth.
JT Kenney
JT Kenney rotated through three lures to finish sixth.
For smallmouth the choice was a 1/2-ounce Nichols Spinnerbait.
For smallmouth the choice was a 1/2-ounce Nichols Spinnerbait.
For finesse fishing he used a 1/4-ounce jighead with a Gambler Shakey Shad, Cooperfield.
For finesse fishing he used a 1/4-ounce jighead with a Gambler Shakey Shad, Cooperfield.
Also producing bites was this 1/2-ounce Nichols Jig with a 4.25-inch Gambler Stinger for a trailer.
Also producing bites was this 1/2-ounce Nichols Jig with a 4.25-inch Gambler Stinger for a trailer.
<b>Patrick Walters</b><br> Patrick Walkers, a member of the University of South Carolina bass fishing team, used two lures to finish fifth.
Patrick Walters
Patrick Walkers, a member of the University of South Carolina bass fishing team, used two lures to finish fifth.
A top choice was this battle scared Strike King KVD Jerkbait, the KVD 300 model, Clear Ayu.
A top choice was this battle scared Strike King KVD Jerkbait, the KVD 300 model, Clear Ayu.
Another choice was this Texas rigged Yamamoto Senko with 2/0 Gamakatsu Hook and 1/4-ounce weight. He fished the Texas-rigged plastics through offshore vegetation.
Another choice was this Texas rigged Yamamoto Senko with 2/0 Gamakatsu Hook and 1/4-ounce weight. He fished the Texas-rigged plastics through offshore vegetation.
<b>Alex Wetherell</b><br> Alex Wetherell relied on a rotation of coverage lures to finish fourth. Choices included these jerkbaits and a selection of soft plastics.
Alex Wetherell
Alex Wetherell relied on a rotation of coverage lures to finish fourth. Choices included these jerkbaits and a selection of soft plastics.
A top choice was a Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 Jerkbait. TLC pattern.
A top choice was a Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 Jerkbait. TLC pattern.
For bottom fishing he used a 3/8-ounce Lunker City Pro Lite Round Jig Head, with a Lunker City Swimmin’ Ribster, Twisted Iguana pattern. Another choice was this Zoom Speed Craw rigged to a 4/0 hook. He alternated between 1/2- or 3/4-ounce weights.
For bottom fishing he used a 3/8-ounce Lunker City Pro Lite Round Jig Head, with a Lunker City Swimmin’ Ribster, Twisted Iguana pattern. Another choice was this Zoom Speed Craw rigged to a 4/0 hook. He alternated between 1/2- or 3/4-ounce weights.
<b>Glynn Goodwin </b><br> Glynn Goodwin alternated between a pair of soft plastic rigs to finish third.
Glynn Goodwin
Glynn Goodwin alternated between a pair of soft plastic rigs to finish third.
Goodwin chose this 3.5-inch Gene Larew Lures Biffle Bug. He made a Carolina rig using a 3/0 hook and 3/4-ounce weight.
Goodwin chose this 3.5-inch Gene Larew Lures Biffle Bug. He made a Carolina rig using a 3/0 hook and 3/4-ounce weight.
He also used a 4-inch Keitech Easy Shiner Swimbait, Smallmouth Magic, fished on a 1/4-ounce ball head jig.
He also used a 4-inch Keitech Easy Shiner Swimbait, Smallmouth Magic, fished on a 1/4-ounce ball head jig.
<b>Wesley Strader</b><br> Wesley Strader imitates how the bass bit his jerkbait for a second-place finish.
Wesley Strader
Wesley Strader imitates how the bass bit his jerkbait for a second-place finish.
Strader made lots of casts, as you can tell, using these Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbaits, Sexy Ayu pattern. “I caught 99 percent of my bass on them.”
Strader made lots of casts, as you can tell, using these Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbaits, Sexy Ayu pattern. “I caught 99 percent of my bass on them.”
Strader also went old school, fishing over rockpiles, with this Storm Original Wiggle Wart. “The bass were eating crawfish so it made a good choice.”
Strader also went old school, fishing over rockpiles, with this Storm Original Wiggle Wart. “The bass were eating crawfish so it made a good choice.”
<b>Stanley Sypeck</b><br> Winner Stanley Sypeck kept it simple all week, fishing a single lure. Going against the grain he ignored the smallmouth bite. Instead, he dialed into the largemouth to catch a limit each day.
Stanley Sypeck
Winner Stanley Sypeck kept it simple all week, fishing a single lure. Going against the grain he ignored the smallmouth bite. Instead, he dialed into the largemouth to catch a limit each day.
The winning lure was this 7/16-ounce homemade jig. Not pictured, but used was a color matching NetBait Paca Ciunk, Alabama Craw pattern. “I chose the lure to mimic the crawfish forage present throughout the lake.”
The winning lure was this 7/16-ounce homemade jig. Not pictured, but used was a color matching NetBait Paca Ciunk, Alabama Craw pattern. “I chose the lure to mimic the crawfish forage present throughout the lake.”