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Top techniques of the 2013 Classic

Jay Kumar made it his mission to document the bass fishing patterns of the top 25 anglers in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic ... for posterity, for BassGold and for you!

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<p>What did BassGold founder Jay Kumar, a guy obsessed with bass fishing patterns, do when his 2013 Bassmaster Classic War Room duties were over each day? He interviewed every single Classic angler ... every single day! What did he want to know? The patterns of the top 25 finishers plus a few more tidbits of Classic data.</p>
What did BassGold founder Jay Kumar, a guy obsessed with bass fishing patterns, do when his 2013 Bassmaster Classic War Room duties were over each day? He interviewed every single Classic angler … every single day! What did he want to know? The patterns of the top 25 finishers plus a few more tidbits of Classic data.
Cliff Pace: By now everyone knows Cliff's main weapon last week was a V&M football jig. But what you may not know is that he was the only one of the top five finishers who committed to the jig and the deep bite. Most competitors used jerkbaits and crankbaits, and stayed relatively shallow.
Cliff Pace: By now everyone knows Cliff’s main weapon last week was a V&M football jig. But what you may not know is that he was the only one of the top five finishers who committed to the jig and the deep bite. Most competitors used jerkbaits and crankbaits, and stayed relatively shallow.
<p>Brandon Palaniuk: Brandon's Day Three Storm Wiggle Wart bite is famous now, but here's something unique about what he did: He basically fished the same areas, but changed baits every day. His most effective bait the first day was a jerkbait. Day Two it was a jerkbait and shaky head. Day Three it was that crankbait. The keys to his "do nothing," almost-Classic-winning main lake point will be in BassGold soon.</p>
Brandon Palaniuk: Brandon’s Day Three Storm Wiggle Wart bite is famous now, but here’s something unique about what he did: He basically fished the same areas, but changed baits every day. His most effective bait the first day was a jerkbait. Day Two it was a jerkbait and shaky head. Day Three it was that crankbait. The keys to his “do nothing,” almost-Classic-winning main lake point will be in BassGold soon.
Hank Cherry: Hank fished a Lucky Craft Staycee jerkbait every day, switching from blue on the first two days to chartreuse-shad on Day Three. The first day he only fished a half-dozen spots, but ramped that up to 50 on Day Two and 70 on Day Three. He also found fish about two to three times deeper on Day Three, chasing shad around bluff walls.
Hank Cherry: Hank fished a Lucky Craft Staycee jerkbait every day, switching from blue on the first two days to chartreuse-shad on Day Three. The first day he only fished a half-dozen spots, but ramped that up to 50 on Day Two and 70 on Day Three. He also found fish about two to three times deeper on Day Three, chasing shad around bluff walls.
Mike Iaconelli: Ike fished faster and hit more spots as the tournament went on, switching from the jerkbait he used on the first two days to a Rapala DT6 in blueback herring on the final day. Key for him were main and secondary points with a channel swing and transitional rock. Rock could be different sizes as long as there was a transition from one size to another.
Mike Iaconelli: Ike fished faster and hit more spots as the tournament went on, switching from the jerkbait he used on the first two days to a Rapala DT6 in blueback herring on the final day. Key for him were main and secondary points with a channel swing and transitional rock. Rock could be different sizes as long as there was a transition from one size to another.
<p>Mike McClelland: No surprise that Mike, a well-known jerkbait master, fished a stickbait all three days — a Spro McStick110 in gray ghost. Key for his fish was transitional banks with rock or gravel, and steep drops.</p>
Mike McClelland: No surprise that Mike, a well-known jerkbait master, fished a stickbait all three days — a Spro McStick110 in gray ghost. Key for his fish was transitional banks with rock or gravel, and steep drops.
Tracy Adams: This Open qualifier went old school on an old-school lake. He fished a 7/16-ounce Akins jig in peanut butter/jelly through brush near docks located in creeks and pockets. His fish were in 8 to 15 feet.
Tracy Adams: This Open qualifier went old school on an old-school lake. He fished a 7/16-ounce Akins jig in peanut butter/jelly through brush near docks located in creeks and pockets. His fish were in 8 to 15 feet.
Jason Christie: Don't think there was a single bass fishing fan in the entire world who didn't know that Jason was fishing a new Perfect 10 Smithwick Rogue in chrome/blue back/orange belly. Key for him was fishing some of the steepest banks he could find.
Jason Christie: Don’t think there was a single bass fishing fan in the entire world who didn’t know that Jason was fishing a new Perfect 10 Smithwick Rogue in chrome/blue back/orange belly. Key for him was fishing some of the steepest banks he could find.
<p>Kevin VanDam: KVD fished his own jerkbait — the Strike King KVD Jerkbait — in, of course, sexy shad. He targeted brush on points, some of which had docks. Each day he hit more spots (50 on Day Three), no doubt trying to get limit fish on those last two days.</p>
Kevin VanDam: KVD fished his own jerkbait — the Strike King KVD Jerkbait — in, of course, sexy shad. He targeted brush on points, some of which had docks. Each day he hit more spots (50 on Day Three), no doubt trying to get limit fish on those last two days.
Todd Faircloth: Todd targeted classic prespawn habitat, in this case channel-swing banks with bigger rocks. He was the lone competitor in the top 25 to use a finesse jig: a Strike King Bitsy Bug (brown). He fished it in 10 to 20 feet.
Todd Faircloth: Todd targeted classic prespawn habitat, in this case channel-swing banks with bigger rocks. He was the lone competitor in the top 25 to use a finesse jig: a Strike King Bitsy Bug (brown). He fished it in 10 to 20 feet.
Randy Howell: Randy stayed mostly in the Elk River and liked points and 45-degree banks with chunk rock. His best baits were a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait (Table Rock shad) and a prototype Livingston crankbait in Tennessee shad.
Randy Howell: Randy stayed mostly in the Elk River and liked points and 45-degree banks with chunk rock. His best baits were a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait (Table Rock shad) and a prototype Livingston crankbait in Tennessee shad.
Ott Defoe: Key for Ott was upsizing his bait on Day Three ... which meant fishing a 2 1/2-inch Rapala Shad Rap in brown craw. As that bait indicates, he was fishing rocky banks.
Ott Defoe: Key for Ott was upsizing his bait on Day Three … which meant fishing a 2 1/2-inch Rapala Shad Rap in brown craw. As that bait indicates, he was fishing rocky banks.
Shaw Grigsby: Shaw was in the hunt the whole tournament. The first day he fished a jerkbait, then switched over to a jig on Day Two, then a Strike King Menace grub (green pumpkin/purple/gold) on the final day. He fished main lake and secondary points that had steep drops and brush.
Shaw Grigsby: Shaw was in the hunt the whole tournament. The first day he fished a jerkbait, then switched over to a jig on Day Two, then a Strike King Menace grub (green pumpkin/purple/gold) on the final day. He fished main lake and secondary points that had steep drops and brush.
Greg Hackney: The Hack Attack fished a solid tournament in and near the Elk River using a Strike King 1.5 flat-sided crankbait (brown craw). Key for him was fishing new water every day.
Greg Hackney: The Hack Attack fished a solid tournament in and near the Elk River using a Strike King 1.5 flat-sided crankbait (brown craw). Key for him was fishing new water every day.
Dean Rojas: Dean fished a frog, of course ... just kidding. But he was one of just two competitors to use an unusual color compared to the rest of the Classic field: red. Like second place finisher Brandon Palaniuk, his best bait was a Storm Wiggle Wart crankbait, and his fish were consistently in about 10 feet.
Dean Rojas: Dean fished a frog, of course … just kidding. But he was one of just two competitors to use an unusual color compared to the rest of the Classic field: red. Like second place finisher Brandon Palaniuk, his best bait was a Storm Wiggle Wart crankbait, and his fish were consistently in about 10 feet.
Bobby Lane: Bobby looked for transition banks that had noticeable changes in habitat types. He cranked Berkley Flicker Shads (shad and crawfish) in 5 to 15 feet.
Bobby Lane: Bobby looked for transition banks that had noticeable changes in habitat types. He cranked Berkley Flicker Shads (shad and crawfish) in 5 to 15 feet.
Josh Wagy: Virginia's Josh Wagy was one of four Open qualifiers to finish in the top 25, a great showing by the Open guys. He fished pockets and points with lots of chunk rock or gravel, and used an Eco Pro Tungsten Jig (green pumpkin). Like winner Cliff Pace, he wasn't afraid to fish that jig deep: He got bit in 2 to 22 feet.
Josh Wagy: Virginia’s Josh Wagy was one of four Open qualifiers to finish in the top 25, a great showing by the Open guys. He fished pockets and points with lots of chunk rock or gravel, and used an Eco Pro Tungsten Jig (green pumpkin). Like winner Cliff Pace, he wasn’t afraid to fish that jig deep: He got bit in 2 to 22 feet.
Jonathan Carter: Jonathan was the lone B.A.S.S. Nation angler to finish in the Top 25, aided by a good first two days. On Day Three, his bite went away a bit; but still a heck of a finish. He fished softball-sized rock on sharp drops, and pockets with gradually sloping pea gravel banks. His bait of choice was a Luck-E-Strike RC STX jerkbait in purple green apple, a.k.a. Table Rock shad.
Jonathan Carter: Jonathan was the lone B.A.S.S. Nation angler to finish in the Top 25, aided by a good first two days. On Day Three, his bite went away a bit; but still a heck of a finish. He fished softball-sized rock on sharp drops, and pockets with gradually sloping pea gravel banks. His bait of choice was a Luck-E-Strike RC STX jerkbait in purple green apple, a.k.a. Table Rock shad.
<p>Bill Lowen: Bill was the only Classic competitor who fished a tube — in this case a Tightlines UV Tube in black/red flake. He targeted channel swings at the back of pockets.</p>
Bill Lowen: Bill was the only Classic competitor who fished a tube — in this case a Tightlines UV Tube in black/red flake. He targeted channel swings at the back of pockets.
Ish Monroe: Ish fished brushpiles on points and off docks with two baits: a River2Sea Trophy Minnow (Table Rock shad) and a Missile Baits Fuse craw-worm (green pumpkin). His fish were in 6 feet and shallower.
Ish Monroe: Ish fished brushpiles on points and off docks with two baits: a River2Sea Trophy Minnow (Table Rock shad) and a Missile Baits Fuse craw-worm (green pumpkin). His fish were in 6 feet and shallower.
<p>Marty Robinson: Marty kept it simple, fishing 45-degree banks in creeks. His weapon of choice was a brown Buckeye Mop Jig.</p>
Marty Robinson: Marty kept it simple, fishing 45-degree banks in creeks. His weapon of choice was a brown Buckeye Mop Jig.
Boyd Duckett: After throwing the tacklebox at the fish on Day Two, Boyd narrowed it down (mostly) to a Strike King KVD Jerkbait (chrome/purple back). He was looking for the steepest banks in flat creeks, and found his fish in 4 to 6 feet.
Boyd Duckett: After throwing the tacklebox at the fish on Day Two, Boyd narrowed it down (mostly) to a Strike King KVD Jerkbait (chrome/purple back). He was looking for the steepest banks in flat creeks, and found his fish in 4 to 6 feet.
<p>John Crews: The Crews Missile fished a brown crankbait the first two days, but finished the tournament flipping one of his own baits — a Missile Baits Fuse craw-worm. Like Ish, he also used green pumpkin. He hit about 30 spots a day, and each day his fish got shallower, winding up in 6 feet.</p>
John Crews: The Crews Missile fished a brown crankbait the first two days, but finished the tournament flipping one of his own baits — a Missile Baits Fuse craw-worm. Like Ish, he also used green pumpkin. He hit about 30 spots a day, and each day his fish got shallower, winding up in 6 feet.
<p>Jonathon VanDam: JVD made the cut at his first Classic, a good achievement. He fished classic prespawn areas — bluff walls and gravel points — and favored the same bait as his uncle: a Strike King KVD Jerkbait in sexy shad. He found his fish in 6 to 10 feet.</p>
Jonathon VanDam: JVD made the cut at his first Classic, a good achievement. He fished classic prespawn areas — bluff walls and gravel points — and favored the same bait as his uncle: a Strike King KVD Jerkbait in sexy shad. He found his fish in 6 to 10 feet.
<p>Tommy Biffle: Early in Tommy's career he spent a lot of time on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees fishing a Smithwick Rogue. Or, rather, his team partner, Bud Guthrie, was the guy who invented the suspending Rogue. Everyone was anxious to see if Tommy would put that history to work, but every day of the tournament he said his best bait was a jig with a Gene Larew Biffle Bug in the Sooner Run color, his personal favorite — basically green pumpkin. He said he was getting bit in practice on bluff ends, but in the tournament those fish went away. He ended up finding most of his fish in 6 to 8 feet on flats with nearby channels.</p>
Tommy Biffle: Early in Tommy’s career he spent a lot of time on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees fishing a Smithwick Rogue. Or, rather, his team partner, Bud Guthrie, was the guy who invented the suspending Rogue. Everyone was anxious to see if Tommy would put that history to work, but every day of the tournament he said his best bait was a jig with a Gene Larew Biffle Bug in the Sooner Run color, his personal favorite — basically green pumpkin. He said he was getting bit in practice on bluff ends, but in the tournament those fish went away. He ended up finding most of his fish in 6 to 8 feet on flats with nearby channels.
<p>Edwin Evers: With a new Megabass deal under his belt, no surprise Edwin used one of the most effective jerkbaits ever, the Megabass Vision 110 in the new GP sexy shad color. He jerked it over brushpiles near creek channel swings, and his fish bit in anywhere from 6 to 15 feet.</p>
Edwin Evers: With a new Megabass deal under his belt, no surprise Edwin used one of the most effective jerkbaits ever, the Megabass Vision 110 in the new GP sexy shad color. He jerked it over brushpiles near creek channel swings, and his fish bit in anywhere from 6 to 15 feet.
Speaking of patterns, if you watched the the Lowrance-sponsored War Room feed, you saw us talk about BassGold.com, a web app usable on any device. BassGold is in the process of being redesigned to look and operate a lot slicker, but its core functionality won't change – because it just flat works. At last year's Classic, it predicted the top patterns and weights down to the Red River pools fished, and was just 6 ounces off Chris Lane's winning weight. Then it was 92 percent accurate in predicting 2012 Elite Series patterns and weights. How'd it do at this year's Classic?
Speaking of patterns, if you watched the the Lowrance-sponsored War Room feed, you saw us talk about BassGold.com, a web app usable on any device. BassGold is in the process of being redesigned to look and operate a lot slicker, but its core functionality won’t change – because it just flat works. At last year’s Classic, it predicted the top patterns and weights down to the Red River pools fished, and was just 6 ounces off Chris Lane’s winning weight. Then it was 92 percent accurate in predicting 2012 Elite Series patterns and weights. How’d it do at this year’s Classic?
<p>For the Grand Classic, BassGold predicted anglers would fish the shoreline, main lake points, main lake pockets and "river" (the Elk River); rock, "wood" (brush) and docks; and that the most effective baits would be jerkbaits, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. That's exactly what happened, with the exception of secondary points (encompassed by Grand's creek-like pockets) and spinnerbaits which, while super-effective on Grand, didn't factor in this tournament.</p>
For the Grand Classic, BassGold predicted anglers would fish the shoreline, main lake points, main lake pockets and “river” (the Elk River); rock, “wood” (brush) and docks; and that the most effective baits would be jerkbaits, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. That’s exactly what happened, with the exception of secondary points (encompassed by Grand’s creek-like pockets) and spinnerbaits which, while super-effective on Grand, didn’t factor in this tournament.
<p>Weight-wise, BassGold's data — taken from tournaments — showed that winning and high placing weights should average in the high teens, possibly low 20s, per day. That's exactly what happened. Another Classic nailed by BassGold! <em>(Editor’s note: Check out <a href=
Weight-wise, BassGold’s data — taken from tournaments — showed that winning and high placing weights should average in the high teens, possibly low 20s, per day. That’s exactly what happened. Another Classic nailed by BassGold! (Editor’s note: Check out BassGold.com, a B.A.S.S. partner. Like your depthfinder, the more time you spend with it, the more you’ll get out of it. Save 15 percent on the one-year subscription price by using code BASS132 (case sensitive) when you sign up. Note that BassGold offers a three-day free trial.)

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