Entry 117-4

Kevin VanDam - How, When, and Where to Fish Heavy Tackle

Go Heavy on Top

Editor's Note: Thirty-six-year-old Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the BASS Angler-of-the-Year winner for 1992, 1996 and 1999, as well as the 2001 Bassmaster Classic winner, has all-time BASS winnings totaling more than $1,400,000. "I define heavy tackle as when I am fishing 20-pound-test line or larger," VanDam says. "I look for water and weather conditions that will allow me to fish that heavy line." This week, he'll tell us how, when and where to fish heavy tackle.

"I like to use heavy monofilament line when fishing top-water lures," VanDam says. "I like to spray my line with a line treatment to help it float better and higher in the water. When I'm fishing a top-water lure, the lightest line I will use will be 14 pounds. I will fish all the way up to 25-pound-test line, depending on how much cover and vegetation is in the area where I will be fishing those top-water baits.

"Let's say I'm fishing for largemouth around lily pads or thick, thick grass. Under these conditions, I will take the hooks off my Spit-N-King and upsize them to a No.4 treble hook. I'll use a smaller split ring on the nose of the bait so that the heavier hook doesn't cause the Spit-N-King to sink deeper into the water. Now, if I'm fishing for smallmouth, I may take the hook off the Spit-N-King and use smaller, finer-diameter hooks so that I can work the bait a little faster on the surface than I will work it if I'm fishing for largemouth. Even though the water is clearer most of the time when you are fishing for smallmouth, I am going to be moving the bait so quickly that the smallmouth are not going to be able to see the line.

"I also like smaller hooks because they penetrate the tissue of the smallmouth's mouth better than the larger-diameter hooks do. Rarely do you catch a smallmouth inside the mouth. Most of the time you are going to catch the smallmouth on the cheek or on the side of the mouth. So, you need those keen little hooks to penetrate the tissue better. Just remember when you are fishing top-water bait, use heavier monofilament line than you normally think of fishing. Most anglers fish top-water lures on 8-, 10- or 12-pound-test line. But you should start fishing 14-pound test and go all the way up to 20-pound test."




 

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