Top lures of the James River

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Australia, Japan and the U.S. Anglers from all three nations competed on a Championship Saturday at the James River. <p> <em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>
Australia, Japan and the U.S. Anglers from all three nations competed on a Championship Saturday at the James River.

All captions: Craig Lamb

A Virginian and veteran pro won on his home water at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open. Here are the lures used by winner Rick Morris and the top anglers.
A Virginian and veteran pro won on his home water at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open. Here are the lures used by winner Rick Morris and the top anglers.
<b>Matt Madlener</b><br> To finish 12th, Matt Madlener used these rib-style worms made by Dragin Baits. He made a weighted wacky rig of the 3.5-inch worms using a No. 1 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Hook and 3/16-ounce weight.
Matt Madlener
To finish 12th, Matt Madlener used these rib-style worms made by Dragin Baits. He made a weighted wacky rig of the 3.5-inch worms using a No. 1 Gamakatsu Straight Shank Hook and 3/16-ounce weight.
“This jig was the perfect size and color for imitating the small crabs the bass were eating.” This is a 3/16-ounce TightRope Fishing Jig made by the company in Chicago. Madlener added a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Chunk for strike appeal.
“This jig was the perfect size and color for imitating the small crabs the bass were eating.” This is a 3/16-ounce TightRope Fishing Jig made by the company in Chicago. Madlener added a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Chunk for strike appeal.
<b>Cody Pike</b><br> Cody Pike chose two baits to cover the water column from top to bottom. In doing so, the Virginia angler finished 11th on the James River.
Cody Pike
Cody Pike chose two baits to cover the water column from top to bottom. In doing so, the Virginia angler finished 11th on the James River.
Pike chose this 3/8-ounce buzzbait. He replaced the white skirt with a 4.25-inch black Zoom Horny Toad for a trailer.
Pike chose this 3/8-ounce buzzbait. He replaced the white skirt with a 4.25-inch black Zoom Horny Toad for a trailer.
He also used a Mud Puppy Custom Lures Ring Worm that is hand poured and injected. He rigged that to a 2/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
He also used a Mud Puppy Custom Lures Ring Worm that is hand poured and injected. He rigged that to a 2/0 hook and 1/4-ounce weight.
<b>Jake Whitaker</b><br> Jake Whitaker won the 2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship using one of these lures. He used both on the James River to finish 10th.
Jake Whitaker
Jake Whitaker won the 2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship using one of these lures. He used both on the James River to finish 10th.
This is the Booyah Boss Pop, Flashy Momma, which he used to trigger reaction strikes in early morning. He added a feather trailer for strike appeal.
This is the Booyah Boss Pop, Flashy Momma, which he used to trigger reaction strikes in early morning. He added a feather trailer for strike appeal.
“This is my go-to bait.” That is a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, black, that he also used to win the collegiate event. Whitaker fishes for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
“This is my go-to bait.” That is a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, black, that he also used to win the collegiate event. Whitaker fishes for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
<b>Seiji Kato</b><br> Seiji Kato, co-founder of Jackall Lures, used this self-designed Jackal Kaera Frog, White. The unique, flat-sided body produces a seductive walking action, and pushes more water than other frogs for an increased attraction.
Seiji Kato
Seiji Kato, co-founder of Jackall Lures, used this self-designed Jackal Kaera Frog, White. The unique, flat-sided body produces a seductive walking action, and pushes more water than other frogs for an increased attraction.
Kato also used this Jackall minnow bait for reaction strikes.
Kato also used this Jackall minnow bait for reaction strikes.
For a slower approach he used this finesse worm with a small hook and 1/16-ounce weight.
For a slower approach he used this finesse worm with a small hook and 1/16-ounce weight.
<b>Cameron Smith</b><br> To finish eighth, Cameron Smith used a drop shot rig and bladed jig.
Cameron Smith
To finish eighth, Cameron Smith used a drop shot rig and bladed jig.
This is a 1/2-ounce homemade bladed jig with a Yamamoto Single Tail Grub.
This is a 1/2-ounce homemade bladed jig with a Yamamoto Single Tail Grub.
To make the drop shot he used a 4.25-inch Zoom Finesse Worm, rigged to a 2/0 Ichikawa Fishing TG1 Anemone Hook. A 1/4-ounce cylinder weight completed the rig.
To make the drop shot he used a 4.25-inch Zoom Finesse Worm, rigged to a 2/0 Ichikawa Fishing TG1 Anemone Hook. A 1/4-ounce cylinder weight completed the rig.
<b>Carl Jocumsen</b><br> Australian Carl Jocumsen chose a crankbait and football jig to finish seventh.
Carl Jocumsen
Australian Carl Jocumsen chose a crankbait and football jig to finish seventh.
“I like the wide side-by-side action of this crankbait.” It is an Italian-designed Molix Custom Sculpo, with a Balance Emersion System that provides natural bouncy and precise weighing. “It’s a deeper diver than most models and ran totally weedless.”
“I like the wide side-by-side action of this crankbait.” It is an Italian-designed Molix Custom Sculpo, with a Balance Emersion System that provides natural bouncy and precise weighing. “It’s a deeper diver than most models and ran totally weedless.”
Jocumsen also used this 3/8-ounce Molix Tungsten Football Jig. “It’s a finesse style jig with a mushroom head that never got stuck in cypress knees.” He added a Strike King Rage Bug trailer.
Jocumsen also used this 3/8-ounce Molix Tungsten Football Jig. “It’s a finesse style jig with a mushroom head that never got stuck in cypress knees.” He added a Strike King Rage Bug trailer.
<b>Pete Gluszek</b><br> Pete Gluszek kept it simple using a flipping approach to finish sixth.
Pete Gluszek
Pete Gluszek kept it simple using a flipping approach to finish sixth.
A key lure was this 1/2-ounce tungsten jig with blue trailer. “I keyed on wood, such as laydown trees and duck blinds.” Creeks located off the main river channel produced best for the New Jersey pro.
A key lure was this 1/2-ounce tungsten jig with blue trailer. “I keyed on wood, such as laydown trees and duck blinds.” Creeks located off the main river channel produced best for the New Jersey pro.
<b>Greg Dipalma</b><br> To finish fifth, Greg Dipalma focused on shallow cover, including cypress trees, using a jig and drop shot rig.
Greg Dipalma
To finish fifth, Greg Dipalma focused on shallow cover, including cypress trees, using a jig and drop shot rig.
He used this 3/8-ounce Riot Baits Minima Jig, Blue Steel, which is one of the smallest flipping jigs available. For a trailer he used a Riot Baits The Tantrum, Blue Sapphire.
He used this 3/8-ounce Riot Baits Minima Jig, Blue Steel, which is one of the smallest flipping jigs available. For a trailer he used a Riot Baits The Tantrum, Blue Sapphire.
“I use a longer leader around cypress trees to keep the worm off the bottom longer.” He used this Zoom Trick Worm on a 2/0 Owner Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
“I use a longer leader around cypress trees to keep the worm off the bottom longer.” He used this Zoom Trick Worm on a 2/0 Owner Worm Hook and 3/8-ounce weight.
<b>Garrett Paquette</b><br> “I chose these baits because they offered a different profile and look the fish rarely see,” said fourth-place finisher Garrett Paquette. One choice was the new Teckel USA Sprinker Frog, which has a subtle buzzbait action.
Garrett Paquette
“I chose these baits because they offered a different profile and look the fish rarely see,” said fourth-place finisher Garrett Paquette. One choice was the new Teckel USA Sprinker Frog, which has a subtle buzzbait action.
Another obscure choice was this Nemesis Baits Bullet Craw. Paquette rigged that to a 4/0 Lazer Trokar TK 130 Flipping Hook, and a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight.
Another obscure choice was this Nemesis Baits Bullet Craw. Paquette rigged that to a 4/0 Lazer Trokar TK 130 Flipping Hook, and a 5/16-ounce tungsten weight.
<b>Shin Fukae</b><br> Shin Fukae finished third using a jig of his design and a topwater frog.
Shin Fukae
Shin Fukae finished third using a jig of his design and a topwater frog.
This is a 5/16 ounce Green Fish Tackle Chibi Jig, a compact combination of a flipping finesse jig, with recessed line tie and 3/0 Gamakatsu Hook. “I have wanted a jig like this for two years, and it works well for finesse and flipping.”
This is a 5/16 ounce Green Fish Tackle Chibi Jig, a compact combination of a flipping finesse jig, with recessed line tie and 3/0 Gamakatsu Hook. “I have wanted a jig like this for two years, and it works well for finesse and flipping.”
Fukae also used a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, black. He upgraded to longer white tentacles that added an enticing swimming action to the frog.
Fukae also used a Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60, black. He upgraded to longer white tentacles that added an enticing swimming action to the frog.
<b>Jeff Hamilton</b><br> Jeff Hamilton finished second using an old school topwater popper and bladed jig.
Jeff Hamilton
Jeff Hamilton finished second using an old school topwater popper and bladed jig.
To cover water he used this 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait. “Most of my Day 2 weight and a 7-pounder came it.”
To cover water he used this 1/2-ounce Z-Man Chatterbait. “Most of my Day 2 weight and a 7-pounder came it.”
“When these went out of production I bought all I could find, because the action is so unique.” This old school lure is a Rebel Zell Pop, designed by veteran pro Zell Rowland.
“When these went out of production I bought all I could find, because the action is so unique.” This old school lure is a Rebel Zell Pop, designed by veteran pro Zell Rowland.
<b>Rick Morris</b><br> Another old school approach worked for winner Rick Morris. At left is a Ditto Lures Gatortail worm; in the other hand is a Riverside Lures Ringworm. Both soft plastics were popular in the 1980s and 90s, respectively.
Rick Morris
Another old school approach worked for winner Rick Morris. At left is a Ditto Lures Gatortail worm; in the other hand is a Riverside Lures Ringworm. Both soft plastics were popular in the 1980s and 90s, respectively.
“The bass fed on crabs and the profile and color of this jig matched the food.” He used this 1/2-ounce War Eagle Jig, with a Strike King Rage Tail Craw.
“The bass fed on crabs and the profile and color of this jig matched the food.” He used this 1/2-ounce War Eagle Jig, with a Strike King Rage Tail Craw.
Shad were another food source. He chose this 3/4-ounce War Eagle Spinnerbait with tandem gold and silver willowleaf blades and white skirt. An old school split-tail spinnerbait trailer was added for strike appeal. “I fished the corners of duck blinds using the spinnerbait.”
Shad were another food source. He chose this 3/4-ounce War Eagle Spinnerbait with tandem gold and silver willowleaf blades and white skirt. An old school split-tail spinnerbait trailer was added for strike appeal. “I fished the corners of duck blinds using the spinnerbait.”
Morris rigged the worms to 2/0 hooks and 1/8-ounce weights.
Morris rigged the worms to 2/0 hooks and 1/8-ounce weights.