Because smallmouth bass exist in waters ranging from shallow and fast-moving ... but also because they get more tuned into aquatic insect hatches and frequently rise to bugs floating on the surface.

The biggest punch? An 8-pound, 7-ounce monster that earned him the Berkley Big Bass honors for the day. His weapon of choice? A Rapala CrushCity Bronco Bug is a bait he helped design. It’s built ...