Justin Lucas' Pattern, Baits & Gear
His big sack on day 2 came from the grass in Mattawoman Creek after he'd wisely abandoned his day-1 area. He was crowded out of the Mattawoman locale by a local tournament on day 3, so he spent the final 2 days in a small bay just off the main channel that saw relatively light pressure during the event. "I don't even know the name of the area," he said. "It's just a 1/2- to 3/4-mile stretch (of grass). I know it got fished, but a lot of people overlooked it." He got most of his fish pitching a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss and picked up a few on a swimjig and a soft stickbait.
Flipping gear: 7'6" medium-heavy Powell 765 CB rod, Abu Garcia Revo SX casting reel (7.1:1 ratio), 30- or 50-pound Spiderwire Ultracast braid (main line), 15-, 17- or 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon leader (2'), unnamed 1/4- or 3/8-ounce weight, 4/0 straight-shank Owner hook, Berkley Havoc Pit Boss (Okeechobee craw).
Swimjig gear: Same rod and reel, 15-pound Trilene 100%, 1/4-ounce 4x4 swimjig (Okeechobee craw), Berkley Havoc Grass Pig trailer (green-pumpkin).
He shortened the Grass Pig by cutting off part of the head and also dipped the tail in chartreuse dye.
Main factor: "It was definitely on day 2 when I left the area I'd fished on day 1 and went and found new water."
Performance edge: "That Powell rod. It's not real stiff and it has a parabolic action. I had four of them and I could use them to throw anything I wanted."
