Top 10 Baits from Lake Havasu
What got it done in the desert
From first to 10th, a wide array of baits played in the Costa FLW Series event on Havasu. Predominantly prespawn, the pros employed everything from finesse to deep-diving crankbaits.
Levy’s winning co-angler pattern
1. Earning his second FLW Series win at Havasu, Joe Uribe Jr. threw a custom 7-inch swimbait on a swim jig (similar to what is pictured) and a Ned rig with a cut-down 4-inch Yamamoto Senko.
2. Second-place pro Mike Nichelini caught his fish on an umbrella rig with Keitech Swing Impact FAT swimbaits and Strike King Rage Swimmers, a Lucky Craft LV 500 lipless crankbait and a Lucky Craft Pointer 100DD.
3. Jason Hickey, who placed third, fished a 5/16-ounce white spinnerbait with double willow leaf blades, a Strike King KVD 1.5 and a Lucky Craft KJ Flat 1.5.
4. Cranking was key for Roy Hawk and the local stick caught his fish on a Duo Realis G-87 20A in the morning dawn color and a Duo Realis G-Fix Vibration 68 in ghost minnow.
5. Day-two leader Marty Lawrence caught his fish on Keitech Swing Impact FAT swimbaits ranging from the 2.8- to 4.8-inch sizes. His top colors were Tennessee shad, Houdini and smallmouth magic.
6. Sixth-place finisher Gary Collins used a Megabass Ito Vision 110+1 in pearl white and a 1/8-ounce SPRO Phat Fly hair jig in bluegill.
7. Moving up from tenth to seventh, California pro Justin Kerr used an Evergreen Jack Hammer vibrating swim jig with a Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper trailer.
8. Focusing on mats and pencil tules, Robert Lee says he caught his fish by flipping a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver with a punch skirt and a 3/4-ounce weight and a Texas-rigged knockoff Zoom Brush Hog or a Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket.
9. Ninth-place pro Mark Williams caught his fish by cranking a Duo Realis G-87 20A and others as well as swimming a 1/2-ounce white Revenge Swim Jig with a 3.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT trailer.
10. Arizona pro Johnny Johnson fished a white Persuader spinnerbait with double willow leaf blades, a drop-shot with a 4.5-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm (Aaron’s magic) and a 1/4-ounce weight and a weightless Yamamoto Senko.