weight on day one. On days two and three, he changed over to a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm to weather the pressure of other competitors, and it worked like a charm.
“ I really believe it was that subtle bait change that made a difference,” says Jenkel of his second day.“ I came up into The Glaize [ the area around Grand Glaize Recreation Area where the tournament was based ] at the end of the day and pulled up onto some docks and culled out with a 3- pounder, and it was all on that bait.”
That change to a worm proved to be critical. While others fishing his area stumbled as the fishing pressure built, Jenkel just kept catching them.
PHOTO BY MATT PACE
PreSeNtatIoN KeYS
A Magnum Trick Worm is a pretty subtle bait on its own, but Jenkel worked to get the most out of it by fishing with extra care. If you had watched him fishing, you’ d have noticed two key things: the accuracy of his presentations and the slow speed of his retrieve.
Pitching and skipping around the docks, Jenkel only rarely hit a float or dinged off a pontoon. During the retrieve, he slowly lifted and dragged his bait over each bit of brush. The fish had ample time to make a decision and often enough that they decided to bite.
PHOTO BY MATT PACE coNdItIoNS fishery type: large reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains air temperature: low 50s to mid-70s Water temperature: mid-70s Wind: light on day one after a passing thunderstorm; strong on day two; light and variable on the final day Water clarity: stained up the lake; 3 to 4 feet of visibility down the lake moon Phase: first quarter
Jenkel’ s winning bait arsenal( shown left) included a Lunker Lure Limit Series Jig with a Strike King Rage Bug trailer( both green pumpkin), a Texas-rigged Zoom Magnum Trick Worm( red bug and watermelon candy) and a Texas-rigged Gambler Flipp’ n Tube( green pumpkin and blue).
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toP fIve
1. duKe JeNKeL PINcKNeYvILLe, ILL. Total Weight: 52-05( 15 fish) Winnings: $ 35,815
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2. marK tucKer KIrKWood, mo. Total Weight: 51-04( 15 fish) Winnings: $ 14,078
3. dIoN HIbdoN SuNrISe beacH, mo. Total Weight: 51-01( 15 fish) Winnings: $ 10,745
4. duStIN evaNS eadS, teNN. Total Weight: 48-13( 15 fish) Winnings: $ 9,054
5. marcuS SYKora oSaGe beacH, mo. Total Weight: 48-06( 15 fish) Winnings: $ 8,058 co-aNGLer cHamP brad HoStetLer Jr. fraNKLIN, INd. total Weight: 37-10( 14 fish) Winning Program: Through three days on Lake of the Ozarks, Hostetler made the right adjustments each day and ended up in first thanks to a big 14-pound, 15-ounce bag on day two that earned him the win via tiebreaker over Scott Parsons. They each caught 37- 10 in three days, with the tie settled by heaviest two-day weight coming into the final day.
The first day, Hostetler ended up fishing shallow around laydowns and caught his fish on a buzzbait, a tube and a homemade jig. The second day, he found himself fishing deep with a Zoom Ol’ Monster worm. On the third day, fishing behind Brian Maloney around docks, Hostetler says the worm and a Zoom Brush Hog did the trick.
PHOTO BY MATT PACE
december 2016 I fLWfISHING. com 117