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So, why haven’t we seen someone win a major national event with a 7- to 10-inch hard bait? The reasons are several, I think.
First, you have a pretty large portion of the field, even today, who doesn’t own them. Right or wrong, they’re convinced that they’re not viable tournament tools. Instead of spending $50 or $100 or even $400 for one, and a multiple of that for a selection, they’ll stick with lures that they know win tournaments.
Among those who own them, some may be afraid to use them. They’re not eager to throw that $400 custom- made beast into a field of deep flooded timber when a jig or weedless swimbait comes through much cleaner.
Even among those with the wallet and the cojones to justify throwing them in the thick stuff, there’s a percentage that haven’t spent enough time exploring the big baits’ intricacies to be able to capitalize when the window opens. With the increasing tournament popularity of soft versions like the Keitech Fat Swing Impact and its ilk, that bites into the time that they might experiment, too.
Furthermore, their window is likely pretty narrow. To make it your primary tool over the course of four days, a perfect storm of conditions must be in play. You need a relatively clear body of water, with a population of solid fish, and likely a forage base that includes larger specimens
Velvick on stage at Clear Lake 2010 Credit: Jody Only
The 2010 Clear Lake Elite Series champ, Byron Velvick Credit B.A.S.S.
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