Chad Pipken's Pattern, Baits & Gear
Tour-level neophyte Chad Pipkens of Michigan, this year's Bassmaster Northern Opens points champion, was the only Top-5 finisher who spent his days on Lake Erie. He plied the big lake's north shore and lost some quality bites each day, but put enough big bronzebacks in the boat to stay near the top of the leaderboard throughout the event.
"The only day that was different was the first day," he said. "I had over 20 pounds at 9 o'clock and I caught a bunch after that. "The fish were in mostly 18 to 22 feet (of water) and they weren't right on the structure. They were off to the side in little patches of gravel." He caught one good fish on a Lucky Craft crankbait on day 1, but a dropshot setup accounted for all the rest.
Dropshot gear: 7' light-action Powell spinning rod, Abu Garcia Revo Premier spinning reel, 8-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon line, unnamed 3/8- or 1/2-ounce round dropshot weight, 1/0 Gamakatsu splitshot/dropshot hook, Poor Boys Baits Erie Darter (smoke/purple).
Main factor: "I didn't wait for any fish - I moved around a lot. I hit some places two or three times a day."
Performance edge: "My Ranger boat for getting me out there and back. Also, a 52-inch trolling-motor shaft makes a difference for staying in the right position under the conditions we had."
