Russ Lane's Pattern, Baits & Gear
Cranking gear: 7' medium-action CastAway Skeleton prototype glass or Skeleton composite rod, Shimano Curado casting reel (7:1 ratio), 12- or 13-pound Sunline Super FC Sniper fluorocarbon line, Spro Fat Papa 70 (mellow yellow or sneaky blue).
Worm gear: 7'6" CastAway Skeleton flipping and pitching rod, same reel, 22-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon line, 1/2- or 3/4-ounce homemade swing-hook football jig with 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, 10" Big Bite Baits Kriet Tail Worm (blue fleck).
Jig gear: Same rod, reel and line as worm, 5/8-ounce Buckeye Lures Mop Jig (PB&J), Big Bite Baits Real Deal Craw or Kriet Tail Worm trailer (green-pumpkin).
Main factor: "I'd just say having the mindset to try to find a big school of fish instead of just fishing shallow."
Performance edge: "No doubt it was my Phoenix/Yamaha rig. The lake was so rough from the wind and there's timber everywhere Ð the boating conditions were rough, but my boat handled them all perfectly."
TTBC 2-5 Patterns Bassfan 5/14/14 (John Johnson)
