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Top lures at St. Lawrence 2019

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Another smallmouth whack fest unfolded at <em>Bassmaster</em> Magazine’s Top Bass Lake at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Another smallmouth whack fest unfolded at Bassmaster Magazine’s Top Bass Lake at the Berkley Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet.

All captions: Craig Lamb

Micah Frazier hoisted the blue trophy for the first time in Waddington, New York, a town embraced by the fans and the pros. The smallmouth fell for drop shots and even crankbaits, and you can check out the lineup here.
Micah Frazier hoisted the blue trophy for the first time in Waddington, New York, a town embraced by the fans and the pros. The smallmouth fell for drop shots and even crankbaits, and you can check out the lineup here.
<b>Brian Snowden (74-6; 10th) </b><br> Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
Brian Snowden (74-6; 10th)
Brian Snowden relied on a Duo Realis Spinbait 80 during sunny, calm conditions early in the tournament.
During cloudy weather he used a drop shot rig made from a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop, with 2/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook, and 1/2-ounce weight. He also used a 1/4-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig, with 3.5-inch Zoom Beatdown Worm.
During cloudy weather he used a drop shot rig made from a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop, with 2/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hook, and 1/2-ounce weight. He also used a 1/4-ounce Five Fish Lures Ultimate Ned Jig, with 3.5-inch Zoom Beatdown Worm.
<b>Chris Zaldain (78-4; 9th) </b><br> Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. “The biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.” He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
Chris Zaldain (78-4; 9th)
Chris Zaldain began the tournament using a 4-inch hand poured soft plastic goby. “The biggest thing was the 18- to 24-inch leader.” He also used a 4.2-inch Megabass Hazedong Shad Swimbait, Disco Stain. Both baits were fished on 3/8-ounce teardrop-shaped tungsten weights, and No. 1 Trokar Drop Shot Hooks.
<b>Greg DiPalma (81-11; 8th) </b><br> Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lil’ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
Greg DiPalma (81-11; 8th)
Greg DiPalma began the tournament with a 3/8 or 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper Jig. Later in the week he switched to a Riot Baits Lil’ Fuzzy, rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/0 Hayabusa HD Round Bend Hook and 1-ounce tungsten weight.
<b>Ray Hanselman Jr. (81-12; 7th) </b><br> A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. “I burned it as fast as I could against the current,” he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
Ray Hanselman Jr. (81-12; 7th)
A drop shot and crankbait paid off for Ray Hanselman Jr. “I burned it as fast as I could against the current,” he said of the Strike King Pro Model 5XD Crankbait.
He made the drop shot from a 3.5-inch Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell, with No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He fished the rig over current breaks in 28- to 32-feet of water.
He made the drop shot from a 3.5-inch Strike King Drop Shot Half Shell, with No. 1 drop shot hook and 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. He fished the rig over current breaks in 28- to 32-feet of water.
<b>Steve Kennedy (82-5; 6th) </b><br> Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. “In practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didn’t stay on.”
Steve Kennedy (82-5; 6th)
Steve Kennedy used a glide bait to find his fish during practice. To catch them in the tournament he used a one-two punch with a swimbait and marabou hair jig. “In practice almost exclusively, I threw a G-Ratt Baits Sneaky Pete with the hooks removed. I caught a 4-pounder on my first cast and put it away. During the tournament they hit it but didn’t stay on.”
He switched to a 4.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, and using a needle, threaded the line through the body and added an inline 2/0 Gamakatsu Treble Hook. For missed fish he followed up with a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig.
He switched to a 4.8 Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait, and using a needle, threaded the line through the body and added an inline 2/0 Gamakatsu Treble Hook. For missed fish he followed up with a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig.
These good luck charms also came into play for Kennedy. “My next-door neighbor Cloe left me a note with good luck wishes and this rock, and my daughter made this one that she painted with a four-leafed clover.” Kennedy carried the rocks on the cooler lid integrated into his Bass Cat Boat.
These good luck charms also came into play for Kennedy. “My next-door neighbor Cloe left me a note with good luck wishes and this rock, and my daughter made this one that she painted with a four-leafed clover.” Kennedy carried the rocks on the cooler lid integrated into his Bass Cat Boat.
<b>Jay Yelas (83-1; 5th) </b><br> “I caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,” said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
Jay Yelas (83-1; 5th)
“I caught 25 percent of my fish on the Duo Realis Spinbait 80,” said Jay Yelas. The remainder of his fish were caught on a 4-inch Yamamoto Lures Shad Shape Worm, with 1/0 hook and 3/8- or 1/2-ounce Provider Tackle Impact Series Drop Shot Weight.
<b>Keith Combs (84-11; 4th) </b><br> Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
Keith Combs (84-11; 4th)
Keith Combs rotated through a crankbait, jerkbait and tube jig. For that choice he used a 3.5-inch Strike King KVD Pro Model Tube threaded through a 5/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube Jig Head.
Combs also used a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, and Strike King 5XD and 6XD crankbaits.
Combs also used a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, and Strike King 5XD and 6XD crankbaits.
<b>Scott Canterbury (84-11; 3rd) </b><br> Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
Scott Canterbury (84-11; 3rd)
Scott Canterbury mixed it up with drop shot rigs fashioned from this lineup. A 3.5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, Brown Back; a 2.75-inch Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too soft plastic jerkbait.
Other choices were an American Bait Works Co. Set The Hook Stumpy Crush Worm, green pumpkin; and a Set The Hook Drifter, Juvenile Goby. All were rigged with No. 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks and Flat Out Tungsten 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weights, depending on the current.
Other choices were an American Bait Works Co. Set The Hook Stumpy Crush Worm, green pumpkin; and a Set The Hook Drifter, Juvenile Goby. All were rigged with No. 1 or 1/0 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot Hooks and Flat Out Tungsten 3/8- or 1/2-ounce weights, depending on the current.
<b>Chris Johnston (86-11; 2nd) </b><br> Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. “I fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.”
Chris Johnston (86-11; 2nd)
Chris Johnston used a 1/8-ounce marabou hair jig. “I fished it over mossy bottoms, reeling it slowly just above the vegetation.”
For blind casting he chose a Duo Realis Spinbait 80. “I let it sink a couple of feet below the surface and wound it back using a steady retrieve.”
For blind casting he chose a Duo Realis Spinbait 80. “I let it sink a couple of feet below the surface and wound it back using a steady retrieve.”
<b>Micah Frazier (87-4; 1st)</b><br> A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.
Micah Frazier (87-4; 1st)
A Yum Ned Dinger fashioned into a Ned rig with a 1/8-ounce mushroom jighead produced the best for Micah Frazier. Strikes came in current breaks along the main river channel.

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