Gear

Best baits for trophy bass

Find out which baits Elite Series pros tie on when they are on the hunt for monster-size bass.

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<p>Whenever the Elite Series pros venture to a tournament at a place known for growing giant largemouths, they break out their favorite big bass baits. Some of their lure choices are obviously geared toward the fatties, but others might not be what you’d expect. </p>
Whenever the Elite Series pros venture to a tournament at a place known for growing giant largemouths, they break out their favorite big bass baits. Some of their lure choices are obviously geared toward the fatties, but others might not be what you’d expect. 
J. Todd Tucker slams big largemouths with swimbaits in clear water and a chattering jig in stained water.
J. Todd Tucker slams big largemouths with swimbaits in clear water and a chattering jig in stained water.
When big, prespawn bass suspend 15 feet deep over submerged grass or trees, Tucker picks them off by slow rolling a 6-inch Osprey swimbait on 25-pound Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line.
When big, prespawn bass suspend 15 feet deep over submerged grass or trees, Tucker picks them off by slow rolling a 6-inch Osprey swimbait on 25-pound Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line.
When big bass hug bottom, Tucker gets down to them with a swimbait that sports a large exposed hook and a 1 1/2-ounce internal weight. He lets the swimbait sink to the bottom, reels it up 4 to 5 feet and lets is swim back down on a tight line.
When big bass hug bottom, Tucker gets down to them with a swimbait that sports a large exposed hook and a 1 1/2-ounce internal weight. He lets the swimbait sink to the bottom, reels it up 4 to 5 feet and lets is swim back down on a tight line.
In dirty water, Tucker dupes big bass with a chattering jig he claims is made by Custom Bait & Tackle. He dresses the hook with a Berkley Havoc Pit boss trailer and fishes the bait over heavy vegetation with a long, stout rod and 65-pound Spiderwire braid.
In dirty water, Tucker dupes big bass with a chattering jig he claims is made by Custom Bait & Tackle. He dresses the hook with a Berkley Havoc Pit boss trailer and fishes the bait over heavy vegetation with a long, stout rod and 65-pound Spiderwire braid.
When Chris Zaldain ventures to a trophy bass lake, he goes loaded for bear.
When Chris Zaldain ventures to a trophy bass lake, he goes loaded for bear.

“Big topwater baits always appeal to the biggest bass,” Zaldain says. “The 9-inch MS Slammer wakebait gets unbelievable strikes.
“Big topwater baits always appeal to the biggest bass,” Zaldain says. “The 9-inch MS Slammer wakebait gets unbelievable strikes.” Zaldain fishes the MS Slammer on 20-pound Seaguar Senshi monofilament.
After the spawn, Strike King’s KVD Sexy Frog calls up oversized bass for Zaldain from shallow vegetation or when he skips it under docks and overhanging limbs. The Watermelon Green Pumpkin Back pattern does the trick when bass are feeding on bluegills. Zaldain hits the big ones hard with 60-pound Seaguar Kanzen braid.
After the spawn, Strike King’s KVD Sexy Frog calls up oversized bass for Zaldain from shallow vegetation or when he skips it under docks and overhanging limbs. The Watermelon Green Pumpkin Back pattern does the trick when bass are feeding on bluegills. Zaldain hits the big ones hard with 60-pound Seaguar Kanzen braid.
Flippin’ a 3/4-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Jig dressed with a Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub hauls heavy bass out of dense cover for Zaldain on Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon.
Flippin’ a 3/4-ounce Strike King Hack Attack Jig dressed with a Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Grub hauls heavy bass out of dense cover for Zaldain on Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon.
Greg Vinson sticks to the basics when he’s after big bass.
Greg Vinson sticks to the basics when he’s after big bass.
In shallow cover, Vinson scores big with Netbait’s 3/16-ounce Paca Swim Jig dressed with Netbait’s Kickin’ B. “That combination catches big bass for me all year in my part of the country [Alabama],” Vinson says. “The Kickin’ B has a great action.” Seaguar 50-pound Kanzen braid allows Vinson to horse the big ones oiut of dense cover.
In shallow cover, Vinson scores big with Netbait’s 3/16-ounce Paca Swim Jig dressed with Netbait’s Kickin’ B.

“That combination catches big bass for me all year in my part of the country [Alabama],” Vinson says. “The Kickin’ B has a great action.”

Seaguar 50-pound Kanzen braid allows Vinson to horse the big ones oiut of dense cover.

A 3/4-ounce Netbait Paca Bug Football jig dressed with the original Paca Craw has accounted for many of Vinson’s biggest deep, summertime bass. He fishes it on 15- to 17-pound Seaguar AbrazX Fluorocarbon.
A 3/4-ounce Netbait Paca Bug Football jig dressed with the original Paca Craw has accounted for many of Vinson’s biggest deep, summertime bass. He fishes it on 15- to 17-pound Seaguar AbrazX Fluorocarbon.
During the postspawn and in early fall, a 1-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait is a great alternative to diving crankbaits, Vinson points out. “I slow roll it over offshore structure in the 10- to 14-foot range,” Vinson says. “I can fish the heavy spinnerbait close to the bottom and flutter it over brush and logs.
During the postspawn and in early fall, a 1-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait is a great alternative to diving crankbaits, Vinson points out.

“I slow roll it over offshore structure in the 10- to 14-foot range,” Vinson says. “I can fish the heavy spinnerbait close to the bottom and flutter it over brush and logs.”

Randy Howell’s big bass baits aren’t necessarily big in size.
Randy Howell’s big bass baits aren’t necessarily big in size.
“The Senko is the most versatile bait I fish with,” Howell says. “It catches big bass for me anywhere I go in the country.” Howell dotes on the green pumpkin purple flake color. He Texas rigs the Senko with a 4/0 offset Easy2Hook round bend. For wacky rigging, he opts for a straight shank 2/0 round bend worm hook.
“The Senko is the most versatile bait I fish with,” Howell says. “It catches big bass for me anywhere I go in the country.”

Howell dotes on the green pumpkin purple flake color. He Texas rigs the Senko with a 4/0 offset Easy2Hook round bend. For wacky rigging, he opts for a straight shank 2/0 round bend worm hook.

It’s no secret that suspending jerkbaits catch lunker bass during the cold-water prespawn phase. This is when Howell ties on Livingston Lures’ Stick Master jerkbait. “The Stick Master has minimum wobble, which is great for big fish in cold water,” Howell says. “I fish it on 10-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon.”
It’s no secret that suspending jerkbaits catch lunker bass during the cold-water prespawn phase. This is when Howell ties on Livingston Lures’ Stick Master jerkbait.

“The Stick Master has minimum wobble, which is great for big fish in cold water,” Howell says. “I fish it on 10-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon.”

Howell has been working with Livingston Lures on the Walking Boss, a broken-back topwater bait that will soon be introduced. “The jointed body makes for a lot of sloshing noise,” Howell says.
Howell has been working with Livingston Lures on the Walking Boss, a broken-back topwater bait that will soon be introduced.

“The jointed body makes for a lot of sloshing noise,” Howell says.

John Crews relies on baits that he designed when hunting for mega largemouth bass.
John Crews relies on baits that he designed when hunting for mega largemouth bass.
A Missile Craw in the Super Bug color is Crews’ go-to bait for digging bass out of heavy cover. He Texas rigs the craw with a 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, a 5/16-ounce sinker and 20-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon line.
A Missile Craw in the Super Bug color is Crews’ go-to bait for digging bass out of heavy cover. He Texas rigs the craw with a 3/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin’ Hook, a 5/16-ounce sinker and 20-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon line.
Spro’s deep diving Little John DD gets down 18 feet on 12-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon, Crews claims. He clips it over offshore rockpiles and ledges in the summertime.
Spro’s deep diving Little John DD gets down 18 feet on 12-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon, Crews claims. He clips it over offshore rockpiles and ledges in the summertime.
Missile Baits’ 8.75-inch Tomahawk has the size and action needed to tempt bites from big bass. Crews rigs it on a homemade 3/8-ounce shaky head jig with a large hook and casts it on 14-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon.
Missile Baits’ 8.75-inch Tomahawk has the size and action needed to tempt bites from big bass. Crews rigs it on a homemade 3/8-ounce shaky head jig with a large hook and casts it on 14-pound Vicious Fluorocarbon.

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