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Classic Rewind: Pradco’s winning lures

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The Cordell Hot Spot, Cordell Little O, Bomber 6A and Bomber Fat Free Shad. All are lures that have been around throughout the modern era of bass fishing. The lures also played a role in helping win the Bassmaster Classic over the years.
The Cordell Hot Spot, Cordell Little O, Bomber 6A and Bomber Fat Free Shad. All are lures that have been around throughout the modern era of bass fishing. The lures also played a role in helping win the Bassmaster Classic over the years.
The connection those lures had to the Classic began in 1972 at Percy Priest Lake near Nashville. Don Butler won the Classic on his Small Okie Bug spinnerbait. He won the second Classic with 38 pounds, 11 ounces, and 13 pounds ahead of runner-up Ricky Green.
The connection those lures had to the Classic began in 1972 at Percy Priest Lake near Nashville. Don Butler won the Classic on his Small Okie Bug spinnerbait. He won the second Classic with 38 pounds, 11 ounces, and 13 pounds ahead of runner-up Ricky Green.
A Cordell Hot Spot also played a co-star role in his win at the second Classic. The tournament held in October found the anglers fishing for bass in their fall migrations. Butler’s spinnerbait and the lipless crankbait made the perfect match for fooling the bass.
A Cordell Hot Spot also played a co-star role in his win at the second Classic. The tournament held in October found the anglers fishing for bass in their fall migrations. Butler’s spinnerbait and the lipless crankbait made the perfect match for fooling the bass.
The next year, Rayo Breckenridge won the 1973 Classic held on Clarks Hill Reservoir in South Carolina. The 44-year-old cotton farmer from Arkansas won with 52-8.
The next year, Rayo Breckenridge won the 1973 Classic held on Clarks Hill Reservoir in South Carolina. The 44-year-old cotton farmer from Arkansas won with 52-8.
A Cordell Little O was a winner for Breckenridge, who narrowly beat the hottest angler on the tour at the time, Bill Dance. Ironically, Breckenridge won the tournament in Fishing Creek.
A Cordell Little O was a winner for Breckenridge, who narrowly beat the hottest angler on the tour at the time, Bill Dance. Ironically, Breckenridge won the tournament in Fishing Creek.
A Heddon Baby Hellbender was another top producer for Breckenridge.
A Heddon Baby Hellbender was another top producer for Breckenridge.
Tommy Martin, a guide on Toledo Bend Reservoir, won the 1974 Classic on Wheeler Lake in northern Alabama. His winning weight was 33-7.
Tommy Martin, a guide on Toledo Bend Reservoir, won the 1974 Classic on Wheeler Lake in northern Alabama. His winning weight was 33-7.
Martin’s go-to bait was a Weed Wader Spinnerbait. Equally as valuable to his winning lure lineup was a Rebel Super R. He found success on steep, rocky banks sloping from a few feet to more than 20 feet.
Martin’s go-to bait was a Weed Wader Spinnerbait. Equally as valuable to his winning lure lineup was a Rebel Super R. He found success on steep, rocky banks sloping from a few feet to more than 20 feet.
Stanley Mitchell, a 21-year-old angler from Georgia, out fished the top names in bass fishing at the 1981 Classic held on the Alabama River near Montgomery, the home of B.A.S.S.
Stanley Mitchell, a 21-year-old angler from Georgia, out fished the top names in bass fishing at the 1981 Classic held on the Alabama River near Montgomery, the home of B.A.S.S.
Mitchell won with 35-2 and most notably held off Harold Allen, who finished with 34-3. A Bomber 7A crankbait was the winning lure.
Mitchell won with 35-2 and most notably held off Harold Allen, who finished with 34-3. A Bomber 7A crankbait was the winning lure.
Rick Clunn won his third of four Classics in 1984 on the Arkansas River. The win wasn’t even close. Clunn won with 75-9, while Greg South finished second with 50-1.
Rick Clunn won his third of four Classics in 1984 on the Arkansas River. The win wasn’t even close. Clunn won with 75-9, while Greg South finished second with 50-1.
Clunn focused on an obscure short, deep dropoff near the launch ramp. A key bait was the Bomber 6A and 7A crankbait.
Clunn focused on an obscure short, deep dropoff near the launch ramp. A key bait was the Bomber 6A and 7A crankbait.
Robert Hamilton Jr., won the 1992 Classic on Lake Logan Martin, outside of Birmingham, Ala. While most of the field focused on the lake’s legendary river channel ledges, Hamilton found a better approach.
Robert Hamilton Jr., won the 1992 Classic on Lake Logan Martin, outside of Birmingham, Ala. While most of the field focused on the lake’s legendary river channel ledges, Hamilton found a better approach.
He focused on less noticeable underwater humps and brushpiles in smaller pockets off the main river channel. His main tactic was finding shallow humps bordered by deep water. A Cordell Magnum Super Spot did the trick in locating bass.
He focused on less noticeable underwater humps and brushpiles in smaller pockets off the main river channel. His main tactic was finding shallow humps bordered by deep water. A Cordell Magnum Super Spot did the trick in locating bass.
So did a Bomber 9A Magnum that he used for catching fish from the deeper sides of the humps.
So did a Bomber 9A Magnum that he used for catching fish from the deeper sides of the humps.
Mark Davis won the 1995 Classic on North Carolina’s High Rock Lake with 47-14. He focused on shallow, wooded shorelines with a topwater, and then moved to slightly deeper water as the bass moved out.
Mark Davis won the 1995 Classic on North Carolina’s High Rock Lake with 47-14. He focused on shallow, wooded shorelines with a topwater, and then moved to slightly deeper water as the bass moved out.
For that scenario he used a Bomber Fat Free Shad.
For that scenario he used a Bomber Fat Free Shad.
Rebel Pop R worked best in the early morning, during the low light conditions favored by summertime bass.
Rebel Pop R worked best in the early morning, during the low light conditions favored by summertime bass.
The Classic returned to Lay Lake in 1996, and George Cochran won his second world championship with 31-14.
The Classic returned to Lay Lake in 1996, and George Cochran won his second world championship with 31-14.
A Cordell Little O was a key lure in his win.
A Cordell Little O was a key lure in his win.
Alton Jones won the 2008 Classic on Lake Hartwell with 49-07.
Alton Jones won the 2008 Classic on Lake Hartwell with 49-07.
A key lure was a Cordell CC Spoon, which he fished in 30 feet of water near spawning pockets with heavy submerged timber.
A key lure was a Cordell CC Spoon, which he fished in 30 feet of water near spawning pockets with heavy submerged timber.
Like what you see in the gallery? Enter daily for a chance to win a set of collectible lures like those used in the early years of the Bassmaster Classic, all packed in a vintage Plano 777 tacklebox. <p> <a href=
Like what you see in the gallery? Enter daily for a chance to win a set of collectible lures like those used in the early years of the Bassmaster Classic, all packed in a vintage Plano 777 tacklebox.

Click here to find out more about this sweepstakes and how to enter.

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