Paul Mueller's Pattern, Baits & Gear

Paul Mueller had no problem getting kicker bites, but some of the supporting fish he was forced to bring to the scale were miniscule. Deep cranking was his primary program and throwing a dropshot served as his secondary approach. "I could only generate a few big bites each day," he said. "Every day I'd have a couple of giants, but then I'd have to go and catch some smaller ones just to get a limit." He took a scouting trip to the lake last November, but found only a shallow bite and an absence of grass, so he derived little of value from the excursion. Upon his return, he found all of his spots with his Garmin LakeVu HD mapping. He pulled the majority of his fish from 15 to 23 feet of water. He lost only one fish all week, and it was a big one that came toward the surface along with an even larger specimen, both attached to his Strike King 10XD. "I had a 7 1/2-pounder and one that was 6-and-change hooked at the same time on day 2," he said. "The 6-and-change came off and I was able to grab the 7 1/2. The one that came off had straightened out the treble hook. Other than that, it was a clean week, so I can't complain." He said he has a bunch of 10XDs at home in Connecticut, but didn't have the right colors with him when he arrived for the event. "It had to be something that looked like a white or yellow bass. I started out catching fish at 15 feet, but as practice progressed they went deeper each day. I ended up buying a bunch (of 10XDs) at a tackle shop." His dropshot gear was stouter than usual. "They were bigger, meaner, stronger fish than normal and they were coming out of heavier cover."

Cranking gear: 8' medium-action Dobyns Champion Paul Mueller Signature Series glass rod, Lew's BB1 Pro casting reel (5:1 ratio), 14-pound Gamma Edge flurocarbon line, Strike King 10XD crankbait (citrus shad or spatterback).

Dropshot gear: 7' medium-heavy Dobyns Champion spinning rod, Team Lew's Pro Speed Spin 3000 reel, 15-pound Gamma Torque braided line, 10-pound Gamma Edge fluorocarbon leader (10-12') 4/0 Gamakatsu worm hook with modified keeper, Reins Bubbling Shaker (margarita mutilator), 3/8-ounce Do-It Molds cylindrical dropshot weight.

Main factor: "On the last day, it was keeping an open mind and knowing I was around some big fish."

Performance edge: "Without the Garmin map, I could not have found the place where I caught the three big ones (on day 4). I would've finished in 12th place, for sure."

Toledo Bend Patterns 2-5 BassFan 5/18/16 (John Johnson)

20 Colors

Reins Bubbling Shaker Worm

$6.99 - $10.99

5.0

1 Review

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Gamakatsu Offset Round Bend Worm Hooks Black

$4.59 - $17.49

1.0

1 Review

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Strike King 10XD Crankbait

$16.99 $18.99*

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5 Options

Do-it Sinker Mold

$65.99

Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon Line

$20.95 - $289.95

5.0

2 Reviews

Gamma Torque High Performance 100% Spectra Braid

$17.99 - $45.99

Dobyns Champion XP Glass Crankbait Casting Rods

$259.99 - $269.99

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Dobyns Champion XP Spinning Rods

$259.99 - $289.99

4.8

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