Top lures at St. Lawrence River 2020

This edition (July, 2020) of the annual St. Lawrence River swing added Lake Ontario to the playing field at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River. Some fished their strengths, going downriver to the familiar waters near Waddington. Others ventured out into the fertile smallmouth waters of the lake.

All captions: Craig Lamb

When the going got tough, the tough got going. Lake Ontario was mysteriously calm on the first two days. On Saturday and Championship Sunday, the lake showed its teeth. Just getting to work and back was a challenge.

Some of the most smallmouth fertile waters were at the confluence of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Executing in the waves added to the sporting challenge of winning the blue trophy.

Canadian Chris Johnston by international regulations was prohibited from fishing his home waters, which on this stretch of water are the most fertile. That didnât matter. Johnston stayed in the U.S., and became the first Canadian to win a Bassmaster Elite Series title. Check out his winning lure and those of the other top anglers.

Brandon Palaniuk (10th; 66-1)

A finesse approach produced best for Brandon Palaniuk. Top baits included an X Zone Lures 4-inch Slim Slammer, rigged on No. 4 VMC Finesse Neko Hook, with 3/8-ounce VMC Ike Tungsten Drop Shot Weight. Alternatively, he used an X Zone Lures 3-inch Ned Zone on 1/4-ounce Ned Rig.
Buy it now on AmazonVMC Finesse Neko Hook

Brad Whatley (9th; 74-10)

Top producers for Brad Whatley were a drop shot and Ned Rig. To make that, he used a 1/5-ounce Ned head with a cut piece from a Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Senko. A 3.6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on 1/0 Mustad Hook, with 3/8– or 1/4-ounce tungsten weights, were components of the drop shot rig. Buy it now on AmazonGary Yamamoto Baits Senko

Alternatively, Whatley used a Band of Anglers Dartspin.

Clark Wendlandt (8th; 76-11)

Clark Wendlandt had many available options on Lake Ontario, where he enjoyed previous success over the years.

The money bait for Wendlandt was a drop shot. He made it with a Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too Soft Jerkbait, rigged on No. 2 1X Fine Mosquito Select Finesse Hook, with weights of 3/8-, 1/2- and 3/4-ounces.

<h4>Cory Johnston (7th; 80-9)</h4>Cory Johnston had best success on a drop shot rig and Ned rig.

Cory Johnston (7th; 80-9)Cory Johnston had best success on a drop shot rig and Ned rig.

To make it, he used a Z Man Finesse TRD, rigged on 3/8-ounce Woo! Tungsten Ned Head. For the drop shot, he used a 3.6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on No. 2 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Drop Shot Hook, with 3/8-ounce Woo! Tungsten Weight.

Buy it now on AmazonZ Man Finesse TRD

<h4>Taku Ito (6th; 80-10)</h4>
A duo of finesse baits were best bets for Taku Ito.

Taku Ito (6th; 80-10)
A duo of finesse baits were best bets for Taku Ito.

A top choice was an Ecogear Jyukusei Aqua Swim Shrimp, rigged on a 1/2-ounce drop shot rig. So was a 3-inch Berkley Gulp Fry Worm, rigged on a 3/8-ounce drop shot rig.

Micah Frazier (5th; 81-1)

A 3-inch Yum Ned Dinger, rigged on a Swagger Tungsten 1/5-ounce Flanders Ned Head, was the top lure of choice for Micah Frazier.

Chad Morgenthaler (4th; 81-3)

Chad Morgenthaler moved around, fishing the lake, the river and near Clayton.

Morgenthaler used a 3.6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on No. 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook, with 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Drop Shot Weight.

Buy it now on AmazonGamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook

<h4>Brock Mosley (3rd; 84-2)</h4>Largemouth fishing on the St. Lawrence River? Why not? Brock Mosley double dipped with a game plan that focused mostly on largemouth.

Brock Mosley (3rd; 84-2)Largemouth fishing on the St. Lawrence River? Why not? Brock Mosley double dipped with a game plan that focused mostly on largemouth.

Top lures for the latter were a 1/2-ounce Z Man Original Chatterbait, and Scum Frog Trophy Series Frog.

Buy it now on AmazonZ Man Original Chatterbait

Scum Frog Trophy Series Frog

For smallmouth he used a NetBait STH Finesse Series The Drifter Worm, rigged on 2/0 drop shot hook, with 3/8-ounce Woo! Tungsten Drop Shot Weight.

Paul Mueller (2nd; 95-14)

The Garmin Panoptix LiveScope was a key player for Paul Muellerâs second place finish. After finding fish, he backed off to prevent the shadow of his boat from spooking them.

A key setup for Mueller was a 3.6-inch Berkley PowerBait Maxscent Flat Worm. He rigged it to a 1/0 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook, with 3/8-ounce Do-It Molds drop shot weight.

Buy it now on AmazonGamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook

Chris Johnston (1st; 97-8)

Chris Johnston was shut out of his favorite Canadian waters, but thatâs didnât matter at all. He capitalized on the American side, fishing the entrance to the St. Lawrence River at Lake Ontario.

A primary setup for Johnston was a 3.6-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm, rigged on No. 4 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW Drop Shot Hook, with 3/8-ounce weight.