Common Lures - MLF Pro Tournament Breakdown

Common is a relative ranking of lure type popularity based on observations from viewing MLF tournaments as broken down as follows: 

  • Common: Observed frequent use by multiple pro anglers at multiple tournaments. 
  • Less Common: Observed usage by few anglers at a few tournaments.
  • Not Common: Observed infrequent usage by a small number of anglers at a few tournaments.

When watching MLF Pro tournaments: 

  • Lure Research: The most common lure type is listed for each tournament. Should you be looking to learn more about a particular lure type, select that tournament. 
  • Recommendation: Watch at least One Day per Tournament: Every lake has several unique factors.
  • Watch Lake Breakdown: Learn the lake as each lake is broken down by one of the pros.
  • 2023 – Day 1 and 2 – Most Lure Details: Typically there are more discussions on lure types and lake breakdowns. There is no day 1 or day 2 coverage in 2024.
  • Day 5 and 6 – More Drama: High drama with big money on the line.
  • Watch Pro Wrap Up – Lure Breakdowns:  Each day 10 pros share how they were successful often providing details on lure type, soft plastic used, color, weight, rod details and line details. 

 Acute Angler has no affiliation with the MLF

Why Watch MLF?

  • Knowledge: Gain insights from the pros.
  • Enhanced Confidence: Experienced anglers gain additional confidence by refining their techniques as done by the pros.
  • Fun: When not on the water, the next best way to have fun is to watch the pros. 
Stage 7 Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River Aug 1-6, 2023
  • Less Common Lure Types: Hard Jerkbait, Ned Rig, Soft Swimbait, Wacky Rig and Lipped Crankbait
  • Notables: High lure visibility, Challenging to find offshore smallmouth, a rare trailering event where the anglers had an hour to travel to any public ramp and many areas that look like Florida fishing resulting in a lot of largemouth fishing. 
  • Largemouth: Quantity 
  • Smallmouth: Size
  • Quick Links: Day 1 and Day 2 has the most discussions on lures and lake attributes.  Day 3 and Day 4 gets to the top 40 pros. Day 5 gets to the top 10 and Day 6 is the championship round.  
  • Pro Wrap Up – Lure Breakdowns: Day One xx:xx, Day Two  xx:xx, Day Three  xx:xx, Day Four  xx:xx, Day Five  xx:xx and Day 6  xx:xx. 
Saginaw Bay from Navionics
Stage 6: Lake St.Clair Michigan Jun 24-29, 2023
  • Less Common Lure Types: Lipped Crankbait, Texas Rig Lure, Carolina Rig, Hair Jig, Soft Swimbait, Spybait, Glide Bait, Hard Jerkbait, Ned Rig, Spinnerbait, Jighead Minnow.
  • Notables: Challenging to find offshore smallmouth, a rare trailering event where the anglers had an hour to travel to any public ramp and many areas that look like Florida fishing resulting in a lot of largemouth fishing.
  • Largemouth: Not common.
  • Smallmouth: Both Quantity and Size
  • Quick Links: Day 1 and Day 2 have most discussions on lures and lake attributes.  Day 3 and Day 4 gets to the top 40 pros. Day 5 gets to the top 10 and Day 6 is the championship round.  
  • Pro Wrap Up – Lure Breakdowns: Day One xx:xx, Day Two  xx:xx, Day Three  xx:xx, Day Four  xx:xx, Day Five  xx:xx and Day 6  xx:xx.
Lake St Clair from Navionics
Stage 5: Cayuga Lake, NY - Jun 6-11, 2023
  • Less Common Lure Types:  Bladed Jig, Neko Rig, Hair Jig, Wake Bait, Shaky Head, Hard Jerkbait, Soft Swimbait, Frog Lure, Hair Jig, Swim Jig (skipped).
  • Notables: Smoky conditions, use of flogger, pre-spawn and spawn, deep lake, cold water, high lure visibility. The tournament started with largemouth being the most targeted species and switching to smallmouth. 
  • Largemouth: More/bigger on first 2 days.
  • Smallmouth: More/bigger on the last 2 days.
  • Quick Links: Day 1 and Day 2 have  most discussions on lures and lake attributes.  Day 3 and Day 4 gets to the top 40 pros. Day 5 gets to the top 10 and Day 6 is the championship round.  
  • Pro Wrap Up – Lure Breakdowns: Day One xx:xx, Day Two  xx:xx, Day Three  xx:xx, Day Four  xx:xx, Day Five  xx:xx and Day 6  xx:xx. 
Cayuga Lake from Navionics
Stage 4: Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala. May 16 - 21, 2023
Lake Guntersville Image from Navionics
Heavy Hitters Caney Creek Reservoir and Bussey Brake, APr 24 to 29
  • Less Common Lure Types: Hard Jerkbait, Shaky Head, Swim Jig, Hair Jig, Flipping Jig, Neko Rig, Wacky Rig, Spinnerbait, Frog Lure and Buzzbait.
  • MLF Article:  
  • Lake Breakdown: 
  • Notables: 
  • Largemouth: 
  • Smallmouth: 
  • Quick Links: Day 1 and Day 2 have  most discussions on lures and lake attributes.  Day 3 and Day 4 gets to the top 40 pros. Day 5 gets to the top 10 and Day 6 is the championship round.  
  • Pro Wrap Up – Lure Breakdowns: Day One xx:xx, Day Two  xx:xx, Day Three  xx:xx, Day Four  xx:xx, Day Five  xx:xx and Day 6  xx:xx. 
Caney Creek from Navionics
Stage 3: Lake Murray, South Carolina April 2 to 7 2023
Lake Murray from Navionics
Stage 2: Douglas Lake & CHEROKEE LAKE, Tennessee Mar 18 to 23 2023
Douglas Lake from Navionics
Cherokee Lake from Navionics
Redcrest 2023 Lake Norman, North Carolina Mar 8 to 12 2023
Lake Norman from Navionics
Stage 1: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Florida Feb 13 -18 2023
Kissimmee Chain from Navionics
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