Covering the water column top to bottom, the third of our four regions launches on the final day of the first weekend.

Little John Region – Round Two

Jig & Pig (1) vs. Dropshot (9)
Honorary Captains: Sidney Moncrief & Rick Barry

Matchup: A compact, cold water lure that shines around heavy cover takes on a slim profiled, less intrusive bait. The dropshot often does it work on more wide open broad structure areas as the business end suspends off of the bottom.
Result: Generally speaking, the jig & pig is going to get the attention of some larger fish and sets up better for most of the water I fish. I would be wise to give the dropshot more of a workout on some clearer strip mines but no winner this time around.

Whopper Plopper (5) vs. Shad Rap (4)
Honorary Captains: Billy “The Whopper” Paultz & Donald “Slick” Watts

Matchup: The Whopper Plopper represents a loud topwater presentation that provides the option of bait models that run to gaudy, muskie sized plugs. The Shad Rap on the other hand is a sleek, rather silent plug that stealthily gets the job done in cold water when other lures can’t steal a bite.
Result: If I’m going to root for a topwater noisemaker, I’m still fonder of a buzzer or walking bait than this entertainingly named prop bait. And while the Shad Rap is kind of a seasonal niche bait, it fills an important role in getting those tough cold water bites. Victory to the Shad Rap.

Ned Rig (11) vs. KVD Squarebill (3)
Honorary Captains: Ernie DiGregorio & Phil Jackson

Matchup: The Ned Rig doesn’t look like much and doesn’t do much in terms of action. But it does catch some tough to tempt bass. The Squarebill on the other hand wobbles, rattles and gets the attention of the bass as it bangs around their home.
Result: No matter if the Squarebill was endorsed by some random, rambling blogger as opposed to perhaps the best bass angler of all-time, it’s a winner. Today it is endorsed again by the blogger and moves on to the Sweet Sixteen.

Mann’s Augertail (10) vs. Booyah Buzzbait (2)
Honorary Captains: Manny Leaks/Calvin Murphy & Garfield Heard/Jerry West

Matchup: I just learned that Mann’s actually still makes the Augeratail model, had no idea. Probably would use my old ones first though to see if the sleek offering is still a bass attractor. Still a couple more months before the buzzbait hits the water but seems it is always worth the wait.

Result: Cinderella stories are great for a tourney but they eventually meet their match in most instances. Today is the day for the nostalgia of the Mann’s Augeratail to lose the magic to an explosive and addictive topwater beast.

One more second round bracket to go as we head for the Sweet Sixteen. Talk to you later. Troy