Gear

Loughran’s flip, pitch and punch tacklebox

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Photography by
Craig Lamb
Captions by
Craig Lamb
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ed Loughran III, in his 14th year as a touring pro, is a shallow-water specialist with a knack for catching bass by flipping, pitching and punching using soft plastics in heavy vegetation. 
The Bassmaster Elite Series pro’s tacklebox is filled with sizes of weights on the heavy side, as you might expect, although he will use light weight sizes when needed.  
“The key is choosing the right hook and weight for the habitat to maximize the bait’s action,” Loughran said. See how he does that to create your ultimate tacklebox for fishing heavy cover. 
For all around conditions, Loughran favors the Missile Baits D Bomb, Green Pumpkin color. The D Bomb is a bulky, 4-inch creature bait with a unique body designed to displace water resulting in a straight fall, making it ideal for getting unhindered into the strike zone in heavy cover. The body is thinner where the hook point is impaled into the plastic for better hook-up ratios, while the thicker head secures the bait to the hook eye. 
Loughran pairs the D Bomb with a Gamakatsu 5/0 G Power Flip and Punch Tournament Grade Hook, which he says can withstand the rigors of heavy braid needed to complete the package. 
“Depending on water depth, I weight it as light as 1/8 ounce for a slow fall in sparse cover, or up to a 2-ounce weight when it needs to penetrate heavily matted vegetation,” Loughran said. 
Loughran also chooses the D Bomb in Ballistic Bruiser, rigged with the same hook, for another application, as testimony to the bait’s versatility. 
“It’s my go-to for tidal water conditions and stained water,” he said. 
Next in the lineup is the Missile Baits Chunky D Super Bug. The thick 3.5-inch body has a thick craw shape with ribs on the bottom and flanges near the end of its D Bomb-shaped flappers. That design creates a tantalizing thump action throughout the water column. Ideal as a full-size jig trailer, Texas rig or swing-head for dragging on the bottom.
Loughran pairs the Chunky D with a Gamakatsu 3/0 G Power Flip and Punch Tournament Grade Heavy Cover Worm Hook. 
“The Chunky D provides more action than the D Bomb when you need it,” Loughran said. 
Last in the lineup is the Missile Baits D Stroyer June Bug. The 6-inch beaver-style creature bait has a ribbed body fitted with appendages that move water to trigger the predator instinct of the bass. Loughran rigs it with the same 3/0 hook he uses with the Chunky D. 
“It’s a longer, narrower bait with a lot of action, and it actually penetrates heavy grass even with the tails,” Loughran said. “Choose the weight for the thickness of the cover you are trying to penetrate.” 

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