So far, in his four seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series, North Carolina pro Shane LeHew has qualified for the Bassmaster Classic four times. This year's event on the Tennessee River out of Knoxville, Tennessee, will give him another great shot to win the title after emerging as a threat anywhere the tour goes. He's familiar with the fishery and it's not too far from his home, so he has a plan that includes fishing his strengths with crankbaits, vibrating jigs, and jigs.
These were his thoughts as he prepared for practice and he thinks it's the best way to contend for the title.
The Bassmaster Classic Venue
The Elite Series fished this exact venue for a regular season event just two years ago. That tournament was held in February and although it will be similar, LeHew hopes the fishing is even better than it was then.
"I made the day three cut (he finished 41st), but I didn't figure it out," he said. "I caught some fish, but I think it will be much different this time of year. Based on the event's timing, the water should be about 8 degrees warmer and that's a big deal this time of year and the fishing should be even better."
When he fished there last, crankbaits were a big part of his arsenal and he thinks they will be a big factor again this year. He hopes to use that as part of his plan and that the pattern will continue to develop throughout the event.
"If you look at past Classics, the one who wins is usually the guy who figures something out during the tournament," he said. "The weather forecast shows conditions changing throughout practice and the tournament, and you will have to continue to adjust to do well. I think crankbaits will be a big factor, but some other baits should come into play, like a jig and vibrating jig."
Cranking at the Classic
During his last visit, the Berkley Frittside 5 and Square Bull were his top crankbaits, fished shallow and he sees them being top producers again this time around.
"That was my primary deal last time for largemouth, but I think smallmouth will be a factor in this event and if they are shallow, a crankbait is a great way to target them," he said. "We do a lot of shallow cranking this time of year back home on Lake Norman and the two places set up fairly similar except they are spotted bass on Norman. These crankbaits will definitely be part of my rotation."
For shallow crankbaits, he's partial to his signature series Abu Garcia Pro Series 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy rod. He pairs it with a 6.8:1 Abu Garcia Zenon X reel spooled with 10-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon.
"The rod has the perfect action for those smaller crankbaits and casts them extremely well," he said. "The reel helps with that, too. It's lightweight and can cast those baits a long way."
Jigs and Vibrating Jigs
The vibrating jig has become a staple in bass fishing and LeHew says there's no reason to think it won't be a factor at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic. His vibrating jig of choice is the Berkley Slobberknocker.
"I'll have that ready to fish anywhere with some stained water," he said. "There are also a lot of docks and woods and depending on the water levels, they could really come into play."
LeHew likes to fish these baits on a 7-foot, 3-inch, medium heavy Abu Garcia Pro Series Hank Cherry Bladed Jig rod. He pairs it with a 6.7:1 Revo Abu Garcia STX reel spooled with 15 or 17-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon line.
"The rod has the perfect action for fishing a Slobberknocker," he said. "I really like the new design of the STX, and all the new Revo reels, because they have bigger handles. That makes it even better for fishing moving baits because you have more control and grip."
LeHew plans to mix it up for jigs and target just about anything he sees in the water. "A jig is so versatile and at the Classic, I'll be fishing it around channel swing banks, bluff walls, and docks," he said.
The rod he likes for all his standard sized jigs from ¼ to ½-ounce is his design in the Pro Series. It's a 7-foot, 1-inch medium heavy designed for skipping jigs, but he likes it for more than just that.
"It's a good all-around jig rod," he began. "It has the perfect length and sensitivity. We spent a lot of time working on the Pro Series and it took several months to get everything perfect."
Looking ahead toward the Bassmaster Classic, Shane LeHew's simple approach includes some of his favorite confidence techniques. The fishery sets up well with what he likes to do and after several close calls, he's due for a win with Bassmaster and it might as well be at the biggest event of the year.
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