TW_Staff
10-20-2008, 01:52 PM
Sean Hoernke, Norman FLW Tour (NC), April 24–27
Sean Hoernke outfoxed the competition by targeting ultra-shallow bedding fish. The fish were so shallow, he'd often cast on the bank, then drag his worm off. He also swam a jig for fish suspended under cover in the spawning areas.
Jig gear: 7' heavy-action Setyr CLS 184 rod, Shimano Chronarch casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SHCSF50), 20-pound P-Line CXX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PLCXCC), 1/4-ounce Hoern Toad Tackle jig (white), Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed craw (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZSDC) (white).
The jig is a flipping-style, but he swam it. "I catch a lot of fish on swim-jigs when fishing docks in the South, but I do a lot better with a full-bodied jig like this," he noted.
Shakey gear: 7'2" medium-heavy Setyr DSF rod, Daiwa Capricorn 2500 spinning reel, 10-pound unnamed braid with 8-pound SunLine Shooter (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SLSHF) leader, 1/16-ounce Hoern Toad Tackle Porky's Revenge jighead (black), 7" Zoom Trick worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZTW) (watermelon/candy).
Wacky gear: Same rod and reel as shakey gear, 2/0 Nogales Mosquito hook (from Japan), 4" Zoom Finesse worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZFW) (watermelon/candy).Kenyon Hill, Clarks Hill Elite Series (SC/GA), May 1–4
Kenyon Hill did the now-familiar point-hop at Clarks where he'd pull up, make several casts, then move to the next point. He threw a variety of baits, and was able to catch some key fish in the afternoons.
Carolina-rig gear: 7'6" medium-heavy American Rodsmiths Mag Strike rod, Abu Garcia Revo STX-HS casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) (7:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) main line, 3' of 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) leader, 3/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten Denny Brauer Flippin' weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTFW) (black), Tru-Tungsten Peter T Force bead (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTPFB) , 3/0 Eagle Claw worm hook, Zoom Ol' Monster worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZOM) (watermelon-red).
Swimbait gear: same rod, Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel (6.3:1 ratio), 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) line, Sebile Magic Swimmer (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SMS) jointed swimbait (Tennessee shad).
He changed the hooks on the Sebile to size 2 Gamakatsu trebles (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=GETBK). "It comes with 4s on it, but I wanted something a little bigger because the fish just seemed to be bigger than what I'd usually try to handle with a size 4 hook. I'm glad I made the change because I just barely hooked my two biggest fish on the last day."
Topwater gear: 7' medium-heavy American Rodsmiths Mag Strike rod, same reel as his Carolina-rig, 30-pound Spiderwire Ultracast braided line (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SWUI), Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=CPP) (chrome).Mark Pack, Beaver FLW Tour (AR), May 15–18
The FLW Tour visited an extremely high and muddy Beaver for this edition of the Wal-Mart Open, and Mark pack cashed in on the flood. He power-fished a flooded gravel parking lot in the mornings, then the riprap that would normally be the park/water boundary in low water during the afternoons.
Crankbait gear: 7'6" medium-heavy All Pro Bill Lowen Series Blaster cranking rod (graphite), Shimano Chronarch MG (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SHCSF50) casting reel, 12-pound P-Line mono, Lucky Craft R.C. 2.5 crankbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LCRCBDS) (Table Rock shad).
Swim-jig gear: 7' medium-heavy All Pro rod, same reel, 55-pound Daiwa Samurai braid (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=DSB), 20-pound Gamma Edge fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=GEF) leader, 1/4-ounce homemade finesse jig (brown/orange), 5" Lake Fork Tackle Hyper worm (watermelon/red).Fred Roumbanis, Murray Elite Series (SC), May 15–18
Fred Roumbanis abandoned the blueback herring that just about everyone else in the 109-angler field was obsessed with and got onto a bedding-bluegill bite way up the Little Saluda River. He caught most of his fish on a topwater frog – a bait he mastered while cutting his tournament-angling teeth at the California Delta – and a wakebait that he designed.
Frog gear: 7'3" heavy-action American Eagle Roumbastic frog stick, Abu Garcia Revo STX casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) (7.4:1 ratio), 50-pound Power Pro braided line (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PPSL), Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect Frog (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SPPF) (Fred's frog).
Wakebait gear: 7'4" medium-action American Eagle Roumbastic swimbait rod, same reel (6.4:1 ratio), 15-pound P-Line CXX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PLCXM) (moss green), Ima Lures Roumba (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=IRC) (perch).Jeremy Starks, Wheeler Elite Series (AL), June 5–8
Jeremy Starks struck gold at Wheeler when he found a ditch that was lightly fished and loaded with fish. He guarded it and carefully managed his fish for 4 days to win. He caught most of his fish in 7 1/2 to 8 feet of water, but some as shallow as 4 feet. He was throwing a worm (and occasionally a jig) across the ditch and dragging it over the shell.
Worm gear: 7'3" medium-heavy E21 Carrot Stix rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=E21CLTX), Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel, 17-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC), 1/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten Worm weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTCBW) (junebug), 4/0 Owner XXX-strong hook, 10" Berkley Power worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BPW10) (plum).Kevin VanDam, Kentucky Lake Elite Series (KY/TN), June 12–15
For this Kentucky Lake go-round, Kevin VanDam pinpointed about a dozen schools of ledge-fish during practice and was judicious about how he exploited them during the tournament. He had fresh water to work each day, and his stockpile of locations proved to be just enough to get him through the event. He threw a cranks, plus a jig and spoon.
Crankbait gear: 7'10" medium-heavy Quantum KVD signature series cranking rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSSCR), Quantum Energy 750 casting reel (5:1 ratio), 14-pound Bass Pro Shops XPS fluorocarbon line, Strike King Series 5 or Series 6 crankbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKPMCB) (sexy shad).
Spoon gear: 7'4" heavy-action Quantum PT rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSCR), Quantum Burner casting reel (7:1 ratio), 20-pound XPS fluorocarbon, No. 5 Strike King Sexy Spoon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKSXS) (sexy shad).
Jig gear: Same rod and reel as spoon, 17-pound XPS fluorocarbon, 3/4-ounce Strike King football-head jig (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKTFJ) (brown/purple), Strike King Rage Craw (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKRCR) trailer (green-pumpkin).David Dudley, Ft. Loudoun–Tellico FLW Tour (TN), June 19–22
Like Starks at Wheeler, David Dudley played some defense and focused on fish management. He caught most of his fish from a single, deep ledge up the river. He employed a crank, worm and jig.
Crankbait gear: 7'11" heavy-action Fenwick Elite Tech Flippin' Stik (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=FETC) , Abu Garcia Revo (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRP) casting reel, 10- and 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) , unnamed custom-painted deep-diving cranks.
He rigged his 10" Berkley Power worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BPW10) (green-pumpkin) on a 5/0 hook with a 1/4-ounce weight. Dudley fished an unnamed 1/2-ounce jig (PBJ) tipped with a Berkley Chigger Chunk (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PBCCH) (green-pumpkin).
Sean Hoernke outfoxed the competition by targeting ultra-shallow bedding fish. The fish were so shallow, he'd often cast on the bank, then drag his worm off. He also swam a jig for fish suspended under cover in the spawning areas.
Jig gear: 7' heavy-action Setyr CLS 184 rod, Shimano Chronarch casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SHCSF50), 20-pound P-Line CXX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PLCXCC), 1/4-ounce Hoern Toad Tackle jig (white), Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed craw (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZSDC) (white).
The jig is a flipping-style, but he swam it. "I catch a lot of fish on swim-jigs when fishing docks in the South, but I do a lot better with a full-bodied jig like this," he noted.
Shakey gear: 7'2" medium-heavy Setyr DSF rod, Daiwa Capricorn 2500 spinning reel, 10-pound unnamed braid with 8-pound SunLine Shooter (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SLSHF) leader, 1/16-ounce Hoern Toad Tackle Porky's Revenge jighead (black), 7" Zoom Trick worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZTW) (watermelon/candy).
Wacky gear: Same rod and reel as shakey gear, 2/0 Nogales Mosquito hook (from Japan), 4" Zoom Finesse worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZFW) (watermelon/candy).Kenyon Hill, Clarks Hill Elite Series (SC/GA), May 1–4
Kenyon Hill did the now-familiar point-hop at Clarks where he'd pull up, make several casts, then move to the next point. He threw a variety of baits, and was able to catch some key fish in the afternoons.
Carolina-rig gear: 7'6" medium-heavy American Rodsmiths Mag Strike rod, Abu Garcia Revo STX-HS casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) (7:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) main line, 3' of 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) leader, 3/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten Denny Brauer Flippin' weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTFW) (black), Tru-Tungsten Peter T Force bead (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTPFB) , 3/0 Eagle Claw worm hook, Zoom Ol' Monster worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZOM) (watermelon-red).
Swimbait gear: same rod, Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel (6.3:1 ratio), 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) line, Sebile Magic Swimmer (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SMS) jointed swimbait (Tennessee shad).
He changed the hooks on the Sebile to size 2 Gamakatsu trebles (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=GETBK). "It comes with 4s on it, but I wanted something a little bigger because the fish just seemed to be bigger than what I'd usually try to handle with a size 4 hook. I'm glad I made the change because I just barely hooked my two biggest fish on the last day."
Topwater gear: 7' medium-heavy American Rodsmiths Mag Strike rod, same reel as his Carolina-rig, 30-pound Spiderwire Ultracast braided line (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SWUI), Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=CPP) (chrome).Mark Pack, Beaver FLW Tour (AR), May 15–18
The FLW Tour visited an extremely high and muddy Beaver for this edition of the Wal-Mart Open, and Mark pack cashed in on the flood. He power-fished a flooded gravel parking lot in the mornings, then the riprap that would normally be the park/water boundary in low water during the afternoons.
Crankbait gear: 7'6" medium-heavy All Pro Bill Lowen Series Blaster cranking rod (graphite), Shimano Chronarch MG (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SHCSF50) casting reel, 12-pound P-Line mono, Lucky Craft R.C. 2.5 crankbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LCRCBDS) (Table Rock shad).
Swim-jig gear: 7' medium-heavy All Pro rod, same reel, 55-pound Daiwa Samurai braid (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=DSB), 20-pound Gamma Edge fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=GEF) leader, 1/4-ounce homemade finesse jig (brown/orange), 5" Lake Fork Tackle Hyper worm (watermelon/red).Fred Roumbanis, Murray Elite Series (SC), May 15–18
Fred Roumbanis abandoned the blueback herring that just about everyone else in the 109-angler field was obsessed with and got onto a bedding-bluegill bite way up the Little Saluda River. He caught most of his fish on a topwater frog – a bait he mastered while cutting his tournament-angling teeth at the California Delta – and a wakebait that he designed.
Frog gear: 7'3" heavy-action American Eagle Roumbastic frog stick, Abu Garcia Revo STX casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) (7.4:1 ratio), 50-pound Power Pro braided line (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PPSL), Snag Proof Bobby's Perfect Frog (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SPPF) (Fred's frog).
Wakebait gear: 7'4" medium-action American Eagle Roumbastic swimbait rod, same reel (6.4:1 ratio), 15-pound P-Line CXX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PLCXM) (moss green), Ima Lures Roumba (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=IRC) (perch).Jeremy Starks, Wheeler Elite Series (AL), June 5–8
Jeremy Starks struck gold at Wheeler when he found a ditch that was lightly fished and loaded with fish. He guarded it and carefully managed his fish for 4 days to win. He caught most of his fish in 7 1/2 to 8 feet of water, but some as shallow as 4 feet. He was throwing a worm (and occasionally a jig) across the ditch and dragging it over the shell.
Worm gear: 7'3" medium-heavy E21 Carrot Stix rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=E21CLTX), Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel, 17-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC), 1/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten Worm weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTCBW) (junebug), 4/0 Owner XXX-strong hook, 10" Berkley Power worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BPW10) (plum).Kevin VanDam, Kentucky Lake Elite Series (KY/TN), June 12–15
For this Kentucky Lake go-round, Kevin VanDam pinpointed about a dozen schools of ledge-fish during practice and was judicious about how he exploited them during the tournament. He had fresh water to work each day, and his stockpile of locations proved to be just enough to get him through the event. He threw a cranks, plus a jig and spoon.
Crankbait gear: 7'10" medium-heavy Quantum KVD signature series cranking rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSSCR), Quantum Energy 750 casting reel (5:1 ratio), 14-pound Bass Pro Shops XPS fluorocarbon line, Strike King Series 5 or Series 6 crankbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKPMCB) (sexy shad).
Spoon gear: 7'4" heavy-action Quantum PT rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSCR), Quantum Burner casting reel (7:1 ratio), 20-pound XPS fluorocarbon, No. 5 Strike King Sexy Spoon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKSXS) (sexy shad).
Jig gear: Same rod and reel as spoon, 17-pound XPS fluorocarbon, 3/4-ounce Strike King football-head jig (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKTFJ) (brown/purple), Strike King Rage Craw (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKRCR) trailer (green-pumpkin).David Dudley, Ft. Loudoun–Tellico FLW Tour (TN), June 19–22
Like Starks at Wheeler, David Dudley played some defense and focused on fish management. He caught most of his fish from a single, deep ledge up the river. He employed a crank, worm and jig.
Crankbait gear: 7'11" heavy-action Fenwick Elite Tech Flippin' Stik (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=FETC) , Abu Garcia Revo (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRP) casting reel, 10- and 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) , unnamed custom-painted deep-diving cranks.
He rigged his 10" Berkley Power worm (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BPW10) (green-pumpkin) on a 5/0 hook with a 1/4-ounce weight. Dudley fished an unnamed 1/2-ounce jig (PBJ) tipped with a Berkley Chigger Chunk (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PBCCH) (green-pumpkin).