McMahan uses Big Baits for Big Bass

9/22/2014

"I was fishing grass edges with a Buckeye Mop Jig, and as the sun came up I flipped scattered grass edges with a 1¼-ounce Strike King Lures Hack Attack jig," said McMahan, who earned his second win of the year in the Choo Choo Division. "I also threw a 6-inch Bull Shad swimbait, and that was what most of my kicker bites came on. I had a few areas that I was fishing with just the Bull Shad, but I threw it everywhere I went with the jigs, too."

McMahan said that besides fishing the Bull Shad around his grass edges he also threw it around deep bridges.

"One of the big keys was getting a low boat draw," said McMahan. "I know at least three of my competitors that hoped to start at the same place I did, but they all respected that I was there and stayed off my water.

"The first day I caught nine or 10 keepers, but the second day was a lot tougher," McMahan continued. "I only culled one time, and I think I caught seven keepers total. My big fish on the second day, a 6-pounder, ate the Bull Shad about 4 feet away from the boat. I never even turned the reel handle to flip it in the boat.

"It’s awesome to win," finished McMahan. "I’m sure winning two BFL events in the same division in a season doesn’t happen all the time. I’m really proud of it. I’ve always wanted one of those trophies, and to get two of them is really special."

McMahan said that he used a 5/8-ounce Buckeye Lures Mop Jig with Gene Larew Rattlin’ Crawler as the trailer, the Strike King Hack Attack Jig and the Slow Sinking model of the Bull Shad. He also credited his Duckett 320 Casting Reel as key to boating many of the fish he caught flipping.

Rounding out the top 10 pros were:

2nd: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-13, $2,434


3rd: Bruce Neal, Lancaster, Ohio, 10 bass, 32-12, $1,623


4th: Jonathan Henry, Grant, Ala., 10 bass, 29-13, $1,136


5th: Willie Staten, Albertville, Ala., nine bass, 29-10, $974 + $300 Evinrude Bonus


6th: Jeff Ragsdale, Helena, Ala., seven bass, 29-1, $893


7th: Marshall Deakins, Dunlap, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-2, $811


8th: Douglas Webster, Pinson, Ala., eight bass, 25-6, $730


9th: John Polly, Nauvoo, Ala., six bass, 24-7, $649


10th: Blake Hall, Hartselle, Ala., nine bass, 22-14, $568