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Randy Howell's Pattern, Baits & Gear

Randy Howell has been to Oneida Lake enough in his career that he was sure he had enough fish to run to if he got in a pinch no matter the conditions. He even paid the lake a visit before it went off limits just to get a feel for how it was fishing this summer. Things were coming together according to plan as he seized the lead after day 2 thanks to a good topwater bite during the first 2 days. Over the final 2 days, he had to go deeper and caught his key fish on a swimbait and flipping a 1-ounce jig. Three of his five keepers on day 3 came off the outside edge of a grass line. ÒI did that a lot and got it down to knowing that it was going to be three or four things that were going to work,Ó he said. But he couldnÕt manage to find one last keeper on the final day that wouldÕve kept him ahead of Duckett. He had a solid 14-04, including a 4 1/2-pound largemouth and 4-pound smallie, but just couldnÕt entice one more bite. ÒI did all I could do,Ó he said. ÒI wish IÕd have found out how to catch a limit before I started flipping. Any sized keeper was all I needed and thatÕs what gets me. ÒIÕm happy about the decisions I made all week. I thought theyÕd play out right and it had a lot to do with the fishery from being here so many times now and learning what I need to know about it. I always said I wasnÕt going to let that happen to me again and to not catch a limit and thatÕs whatÕs going to haunt me here now.Ó

Topwater gear: 7Õ2Ó Daiwa Steez Fle-X-Lite casting rod, Daiwa Zillion Type-R casting reel, 70-pound Daiwa Samurai braided line, 3Ó Rebel Pop-R (bone).

He also caught fish on a Heddon Super Spook (chrome).

Swimbait gear: Same rod and reel as topwater, 16-pound Gamma fluorocarbon line, 1/2-ounce Do-It Molds swimbait jighead, 4Ó NetBait BK Swimmer (albino and pearl).

Jig gear: 7Õ4Ó extra-heavy Daiwa Steez casting rod, same reel, 1-ounce Lunker Lure Triple Rattleback Monster Grass jig (green-pumpkin/blue), Kinami Baits Psycho Dad trailer (black/red flake).

Jerkbait gear: 7Õ medium-action Daiwa Steez Fle-X-Lite casting rod, Daiwa Steez Ultra Magnesium casting reel (7.1:1 ratio), 10-pound Gamma fluorocarbon line, Molix Finder-Jerk 110 (shiny shad).

Main factor: ÒSpending lots of time on the lake learning and marking places over the years. My Lowrance HDS-10 is how I was able to find so many spots.Ó

Performance edge: ÒMy Triton and Mercury held up all week even with all the running around I was doing.Ó

Oneida Lake Patterns 2-5 Bassfan 9/4/12 (Todd Ceisner)

Rebel Pop-R Topwater Popper
10 Colors
Rebel Pop-R Topwater Popper
$7.99
4.2
5 Reviews
Heddon Super Spook Walking Bait
22 Colors
Heddon Super Spook Walking Bait
$7.97 - $8.99
5.0
2 Reviews
Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line
Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line
$20.95 - $289.95
5.0
2 Reviews
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