Entry 59-2
Kevin VanDam - Lures That Got Me To The Classic
The Tube
Editor's Note: Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, never has missed a Bassmaster Classic since beginning his professional bass-fishing career. He hopes to repeat his 2001 Classic win in New Orleans at the 2003 Classic, the 13th Classic in which he has participated. This week VanDam will tell us about the lures that have gotten him to the classic, how he’s fished them, and how they’ve helped him return to the biggest bass- fishing tournament in the world, the Bassmaster Classic.
VanDam: I like the KVD Pro Model Tube from Strike King, which is a 3-1/2-inch tube, and the color I prefer is black neon. Black neon is a productive spring color, and you can fish it through all the phases of the spawn, especially in stained water. Anytime I’m pitching and flipping and the bass aren’t biting aggressively, I’ll be fishing the tube.
I caught a lot of bass at Toledo Bend using the tube when I was pitching the bait to shallow stumps along the edges of creek channels. I also pitched the KVD Pro Model Tube to bushes that were visible above the water. I fished the tube rigged Texas-style with a No. 3 Mustad tube bait hook and a 3/16-ounce slip sinker. Anytime I’m in a flipping or pitching situation in the spring of the year, I’ll usually rely on the tube jig.
Contents:
- Part 1: Lures That Helped Me
- Part 2: The Tube
- Part 3: Spinning Toward The Classic
- Part 4: Cranking For The Classic
- Part 5: Jigging His Way To The Classic
