Top lures at Sabine River

Posted on
The tournament title included a river, along with hundreds of square miles of Texas coastal waters at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by Econo Lodge. Enduring hours long boat runs, dealing with tide fluctuations, and fishing in a crowd was all part of the game. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
The tournament title included a river, along with hundreds of square miles of Texas coastal waters at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River presented by Econo Lodge. Enduring hours long boat runs, dealing with tide fluctuations, and fishing in a crowd was all part of the game.

All captions: Craig Lamb

Make it to Championship Sunday and you earned the badge of survival. Win it all and you claimed the coveted blue trophy. Check out the l ures used by champ Greg Hackney and the top finishers.
Make it to Championship Sunday and you earned the badge of survival. Win it all and you claimed the coveted blue trophy. Check out the l ures used by champ Greg Hackney and the top finishers.
<b>Brock Mosley</b><br> To finish 12th, Brock Mosley used a topwater frog, soft plastics and a spinnerbait.
Brock Mosley
To finish 12th, Brock Mosley used a topwater frog, soft plastics and a spinnerbait.
A 4-inch NetBait Paca Slim rigged to 4/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook, with 1/4-ounce Woo! Tungsten Weight was a top choice.
A 4-inch NetBait Paca Slim rigged to 4/0 Owner All Purpose Worm Hook, with 1/4-ounce Woo! Tungsten Weight was a top choice.
Mosley also used this 3/8-ounce Angler Assets Brock Mosley Mississippi Special Spinnerbait. “The orange kicker blade was key for strikes in the dingy water,” he said. A Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60 was another top pick.
Mosley also used this 3/8-ounce Angler Assets Brock Mosley Mississippi Special Spinnerbait. “The orange kicker blade was key for strikes in the dingy water,” he said. A Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60 was another top pick.
<b>Steve Kennedy</b><br> Steve Kennedy used Texas-rigged soft plastics to finish 11th. He began the tournament using a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged to 3/0 straight shank worm hook and 3/16-ounce weight. Using the same weight and hook size he also used the 3.5-inch Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver 3.50, and 4.2-inch Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver 4.20.
Steve Kennedy
Steve Kennedy used Texas-rigged soft plastics to finish 11th. He began the tournament using a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged to 3/0 straight shank worm hook and 3/16-ounce weight. Using the same weight and hook size he also used the 3.5-inch Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver 3.50, and 4.2-inch Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver 4.20.
<b>Justin Lucas</b><br> To finish 10th, Justin Lucas used a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged to 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Offset Hook.
Justin Lucas
To finish 10th, Justin Lucas used a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General, rigged to 4/0 Berkley Fusion19 Offset Hook.
<b>Shin Fukae</b><br> To finish ninth, Shin Fukae used a Texas rigged worm and topwater frog. A Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60 was the choice. For missed strikes and a follow up bait he chose a 5-inch Yamamoto Swimming Senko. A 3/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook and 3/16-ounce weight completed the rig.
Shin Fukae
To finish ninth, Shin Fukae used a Texas rigged worm and topwater frog. A Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60 was the choice. For missed strikes and a follow up bait he chose a 5-inch Yamamoto Swimming Senko. A 3/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid Worm Hook and 3/16-ounce weight completed the rig.
<b>Skeet Reese</b><br> A spinnerbait, topwater and flipping rig were lures of choice for eighth finisher Skeet Reese. A 4-inch Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss, rigged to 5/16-ounce Trokar Pro-V Head Jig was a key lure.
Skeet Reese
A spinnerbait, topwater and flipping rig were lures of choice for eighth finisher Skeet Reese. A 4-inch Berkley Havoc Skeet’s Pit Boss, rigged to 5/16-ounce Trokar Pro-V Head Jig was a key lure.
<b>Brandon Palaniuk</b><br> “It was a junk fishing pattern from start to finish,” said seventh place finisher Brandon Palaniuk.
Brandon Palaniuk
“It was a junk fishing pattern from start to finish,” said seventh place finisher Brandon Palaniuk.
He began the tournament using a 5/16-ounce Molix FS spinnerbait. “It’s a heavier wire finesse model.” Palaniuk also used a 1/4-ounce Molix Lover Buzz with 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw.
He began the tournament using a 5/16-ounce Molix FS spinnerbait. “It’s a heavier wire finesse model.” Palaniuk also used a 1/4-ounce Molix Lover Buzz with 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw.
This 3-inch Terminator Walking Frog was another choice.
This 3-inch Terminator Walking Frog was another choice.
Palaniuk also used this 1/2-ounce Storm Arashi Cover Pop for topwater action. For deeper fish he used a 2-inch Rapala Balsa Xtreme BX Brat Square Bill Crankbait, designed to run 3-feet deep.
Palaniuk also used this 1/2-ounce Storm Arashi Cover Pop for topwater action. For deeper fish he used a 2-inch Rapala Balsa Xtreme BX Brat Square Bill Crankbait, designed to run 3-feet deep.
<b>John Crews</b><br> “It was a little weird finesse fishing with a drop shot in the river but it worked,” said sixth place finisher John Crews Jr.
John Crews
“It was a little weird finesse fishing with a drop shot in the river but it worked,” said sixth place finisher John Crews Jr.
He made it using a Missile Baits Fuse 4.4, rigged to 1/0 Gamakatsu Offset EWG Hook with 1/16-ounce sinker.
He made it using a Missile Baits Fuse 4.4, rigged to 1/0 Gamakatsu Offset EWG Hook with 1/16-ounce sinker.
Crews also used a 5-inch Missile Baits Baby D Stroyer creature bait, rigged to 3/0 Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce slip sinker.
Crews also used a 5-inch Missile Baits Baby D Stroyer creature bait, rigged to 3/0 Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hook and 1/4-ounce slip sinker.
<b>Jake Whitaker</b><br> “Fishing hard structure in the backs of the river worked best for me,” said fifth place finisher Jake Whitaker. A 6th Sense Crush 50X Squarebill Crankbait produced around deeper laydowns. For shallower water he used a 3/8-ounce TrueSouth Lures V-Twin Buzz featuring double blades. A Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin Frog was another choice.
Jake Whitaker
“Fishing hard structure in the backs of the river worked best for me,” said fifth place finisher Jake Whitaker. A 6th Sense Crush 50X Squarebill Crankbait produced around deeper laydowns. For shallower water he used a 3/8-ounce TrueSouth Lures V-Twin Buzz featuring double blades. A Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin Frog was another choice.
<b>Bradley Roy</b><br> Bradley Roy finished fourth using an unnamed soft plastic fluke, rigged weightless to a 4/0 hook. To cover shallow water he used an unnamed square bill crankbait.
Bradley Roy
Bradley Roy finished fourth using an unnamed soft plastic fluke, rigged weightless to a 4/0 hook. To cover shallow water he used an unnamed square bill crankbait.
<b>Keith Poche</b><br> To finish third Keith Poche won success using this Storm Chug Bug. He also used a wacky rig using an unnamed straight worm, 1/0 drop shot hook and a nail weight.
Keith Poche
To finish third Keith Poche won success using this Storm Chug Bug. He also used a wacky rig using an unnamed straight worm, 1/0 drop shot hook and a nail weight.
<b>Gerald Swindle</b><br> Gerald Swindle used a finesse approach to finish second. He made a drop shot using a 6-inch Zoom Trick Worm. A 1/0 VMC Sureset Drop Shot Hook and 3/16-ounce weight competed the rig. He used the same worm with a 3/16-ounce VMC Stand Up Shakey Head.
Gerald Swindle
Gerald Swindle used a finesse approach to finish second. He made a drop shot using a 6-inch Zoom Trick Worm. A 1/0 VMC Sureset Drop Shot Hook and 3/16-ounce weight competed the rig. He used the same worm with a 3/16-ounce VMC Stand Up Shakey Head.
Swindle came on strong on Championship Sunday and a key bait addition was key. “Bluegill kept hammering the Trick Worm, and I thought if they were up on the surface so would the bass.” His theory was proven with a Storm Arashi Cover Pop, which triggered strikes from his best bass of the week.
Swindle came on strong on Championship Sunday and a key bait addition was key. “Bluegill kept hammering the Trick Worm, and I thought if they were up on the surface so would the bass.” His theory was proven with a Storm Arashi Cover Pop, which triggered strikes from his best bass of the week.
<b>Greg Hackney</b><br> A topwater frog and buzzbait were key lures used by the winner. A Strike King Hack Attack Select ToadBuzz was top choice. “The frog made it more buoyant and I could fish it slower, barely turning the reel handle to keep the bait on top,” he explained. For short strikers he added a trailer hook.
Greg Hackney
A topwater frog and buzzbait were key lures used by the winner. A Strike King Hack Attack Select ToadBuzz was top choice. “The frog made it more buoyant and I could fish it slower, barely turning the reel handle to keep the bait on top,” he explained. For short strikers he added a trailer hook.
A Strike King KVD Sexy Frog was another choice.
A Strike King KVD Sexy Frog was another choice.