Clint Knight Wins Bassmaster Open Kentucky/Barkley Lake

Kentucky Lake local Tristan McCormick rotated a plethora of baits as he ran many offshore spots. He had several Strike King 6XD and 8XD crankbaits rigged and ready. When fishing wood, he caught many key fish on a 17mm Hideup Coike. If they didn't want the Coike, McCormick would follow up with a brand new Strike King Winged Minnow in the 7-inch size that he and Todd Castledine designed.

Schroeder focused on a couple of offshore schools to clinch a third-place finish. For his minnow setup, Schroeder used a Tacklemax minnow, which he helped design and that will be released soon. He also rotated a 7-inch Sakamata Shad. He also triggered strikes with a Tacklemax Football Jig with a twin-tail trailer on the back.

McAusland focused on three large presentations to entice some big bites. The first one was the 6-inch Yamamoto Hinge Minnow on a 1/8-ounce Treeshaker Tackle Dream Stroller. Next was a Hags Prickly Pear on a 1/0 BKK Spear 21 Treble Hook. For a large presentation, McAusland used a Clutch Baby Boss glidebait.

Former Elite Series angler Garrett Paquette focused on two presentations to round out the top five. His main bait was a 17mm Hideup Coike rigged on a #2 Gamataksu Magic Eye treble hook and a 1/8-ounce nail weight. He threw it primarily around brushpiles and creek ledges. His other option was the Big Bite Baits 5-inch Rollerama in GPAC Money, his signature color. He rigged the Rollerama on a 1/16-ounce Gamakatsu Horizon Head. He would pick up the minnow when he saw a brushpile or stump with fry around it. He would get bit when he shook the minnow super hard through the fry.

A jerkbait and minnow combo did all the damage for Lindsay. He caught the majority of his fish on a 5.25-inch Rapala Crush City Freeloader. When a fish wouldn't commit to the minnow, Lindsay picked up a Megabass 110+2 in Elegy Bone color.

York focused on fishing large presentations for offshore schools out on Kentucky Lake's many ledges and hard spots. For reaction bites, York used a 6th Sense 300 DD crankbait in Blue-Treuse Shad color. A 6th Sense Flutter Spoon was also a key bait. For a slower presentation, York used a 7-inch 6th Sense Shindo on a ball-head jig.

Robertson primarily relied on two baits to lock up eighth on his home waters. He did a bunch of his damage in Lake Barkley on these baits and flipping bushes up shallow. The new Berkley Maxscent Meaba was a top choice for Robertson. He also rolled a Berkley Power Swimmer with a 3/4-ounce jighead.

Nielsen rotated two key baits to lead after Day 1 and lock up a solid Top 10 on a rainy Kentucky Lake. A dark colored sea urchin-style bait on a spinning rod was one tactic. A Megabass Vision 110+1 also provided some key bites. Nielsen paired the jerkbait with 8-pound line to get the bait as deep as possible.

Parker relied on two primary presentations for a Top 10 finish at Kentucky Lake. The first was an urchin-style bait paired on a 6th Sense Lux 7-foot, 2-inch MH rod. His second offering consisted of a black 6th Sense Glitch rigged on a drop-shot rig.