OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – YUM pro Jimmy Mason of Rogersville, Ala. placed 15th in the Bassmaster Southern Tour opener on Lake Okeechobee Jan. 26-28 in a performance anchored by a 21-pound, 13-ounce first-day catch.
Mason used a few different patterns, but his go-to lure for quality bass during the tournament was a black blue shadow YUM Wooly Bug. Not surprisingly, Mason flipped the Wooly Bug, which many anglers are already dubbing the ultimate flippin’ bait and which some are speculating will be the winning fishing lure at the Bassmaster Classic.
A creature bait with realistic craw claws and a beavertail, the Wooly Bug has a tapered nose and sleek profile that allow it to punch through thick cover exceptionally well. At the same time, a thick mid-section and ribbed body create a bulky appearance that attracts 
heavyweight bass. The Wooly Bug also contains Live Prey Technology (LPT), which simulates the release of live baitfish enzymes, and is fortified with salt.
Jimmy Mason
Mason, who guides on the Tennessee River when he is not on the road competing, has "made the money" in more than half the BASS tournaments he has entered. He also is a past ABA National Champion and Angler of the Year and three-time ABA Northwest Alabama Angler of the year. This year, Mason is fishing both the BASS Southern Tour and the FLW Series.
While Mason did most of his damage at Okeechobee with a flippin' stick in his hand, he's equally comfortable with a spinning rod, jiggling shaky-head worms, or with a crankin' rod rigged with a Sun Perch Bomber Flat A.
YUM & the Big O
YUM baits producing big on Lake Okeechobee should be no surprise to anyone. In 2004, Tim Horton used a YUM Vibra King Tube to bring 65 pounds, 14 ounces to the scales at a Bassmaster Open event. Horton’s catch, which included the biggest fish of the tournament, stands as the heaviest winning bag ever in a BASS event on Lake Okeechobee.