Tackle That’s Trending

SOFT-PLASTIC BAITS WERE players for more Top 10 anglers than any other type of lure at the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Florida’s Harris Chain. However, they were not the primary baits for every angler who fished with them. As conditions changed over the four-day event, most of the pros made adjustments to stay in touch with bass that were in prespawn, postspawn and spawning phases.

Here’s the nitty-gritty on the baits that five Top 10 Elite anglers used to sack their bass.

Buddy Gross, Tennessee (1st; 77-11)

Gross hammered the bass with a 5/8-ounce Spro Aruku Shad lipless crankbait during the first two competition days.

“The 5/8-ounce size has a faster fall than most other 1-ounce lipless crankbaits,” Gross said.

The fast sink rate sparked reaction strikes when Gross yo-yoed the Aruku Shad over a 6-foot-deep, hard-bottom breakline that was devoid of grass.

To ensure solid hookups and withstand heavyweight bass, Gross