Elite

AOY contenders show top lures of the season

With the season nearing an end, catch a glimpse of the top baits used throughout the season by the anglers contending for the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

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Dalton Tumblin
During the postponement day, we caught up with the top anglers in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. With the season nearing an end, we wanted to get a glimpse of their top lures throughout the season. What lures did they count on the most? What lures won them tournaments? Up first, we have the AOY leader and Classic Champion Justin Hamner.
Yo-Zuri 3DB 110 Jerkbait
“This Jerkbait is just my go-to confidence bait regardless of where we are in the country. I have caught fish on it at every single tournament this year. The most notable was winning on this bait at the Classic, but also catching the largest bass ever on live at Lake Fork.”
NetBait 4-inch Super Twitch rigged on a jighead
“The Twitch Jr has been my go-to for the whole jighead minnow deal, which has played for me in three of the tournaments this year. The 5 inch Twitch has played a huge role this year, rigging it weightless and using it like a soft jerkbait. This was key for me at the Murray and Wheeler Elites.”
Up next, Trey McKinney, currently sitting in third place in the AOY standings
3/8 ounce Baby Structure jig paired with a Strke King Menace trailer
“You can swim it, drag it, fish it offshore on light line, or fish it shallow on heavier line. It’s the most versatile lure in my boat,” McKinney explains that this lure is always a must have in the boat. No matter what lake he goes to, he knows he can pick this up and get bites.
5 inch Strike King Ocho
When the bite is tough, McKinney turns to the Strike King Ocho. When fishing along the bank or Livescoping in shallow water, he can use the Ocho to trigger a bite. He prefers it rigged with a 1/32 VMC Neko weight.
Strike King Caffeine Shad
“Anytime the bass are targeting shad, I use the Caffine Shad in a sweeping action the way I did at Lake Murray. In other cases, I also like to twitch it around grass and other shallow areas,” McKinney noted that this was one of his key baits for his success at Lake Murray.
Cody Huff, currently sitting in fourth place in the AOY standings.
Rapala OG Tiny. “This is the bait I caught them on at the Classic, Harris Chain, and some of Wheeler. Anytime I needed a bite, this is the crankbait I picked up when I needed one. It’s been my get out of jail bait all season.”
Z-Man Jackhammer
“This has been another get out of jail bait for me when I really need a bite. I like to change the trailers up on this between a Missle Baits Spunk Shad or Chunky D”. Huff noted that this was a key bait for him at the Harris Chain Elite.
3 inch Missle Baits Spunk Shad on a jighead
“Of course, we’ve had a lot of good minnow derby’s this season. When the fish are active and eating on baitfish, a jighead minnow is a must have. I was able to catch them at the St Johns River, Smith Lake, and here at Lake Champlain on this rig. This is the key bait when targeting fish on Live Scope.”
And of course, the little one also approves.
Jacob Foutz, currently sitting in second in the AOY standings.
1/2 ounce Outcast Cage Feider Jig
“This is a bait that I have a lot of confidence in no matter where I’m at. It played a part in a lot of the tournaments this year, including a big role at the Harris Chain Elite.”
Strike King Z Too on a Jighead
“I pretty much matched up the color to the conditions of where we were… but this has helped me all season with bass that are targeting baitfish”

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