Entry 117-5

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.

"One of the key factors to remember when you are fishing tidal waters is that more than likely, you are going to be fishing in a barnacle environment," VanDam comments. "You are also more than likely going to be fishing in a spoil area where there are a lot of rocks, shells, iron, and steel and grass. Pilings and bulkheads will also have rusty bolts and rusty nails holding them together, and these are the types of places where bass like to live. Usually the water will be stained because the tide moves the water back and forth, and agitates the water. All these conditions make fishing with heavy line a necessity.

"My two favorite lures in tidal areas are the Denny Brauer Tube that I use with a flipping technique and the Pro-Model Spinnerbait. Tidal waters are very fertile and have a wide variety of forage for the bass to eat. In tidal waters, bass will not only have shad and bluegills to feed on, but they will also have crabs, shrimp and saltwater baitfish to eat. So, the tube and the spinnerbait imitate many of the different baitfish on which the bass feed. Depending on the amount of current that I'm having to fish and how thick the cover is, I will choose one of these two lures. And I will be using really heavy line-from 20-pound-test up to 65-pound-test line. Under these conditions, I'm in a really hostile environment for line. Barnacles, shells and rusty metal will eat line up, and if you don't use heavy line in these conditions, you will break off more bass than you catch."

Contents:

• Part 1: Muddy Water
• Part 2: Heavy Tackle for Thick Vegetation
• Part 3: Big Tree Tops
• Part 4: Go Heavy on Top
• Part 5: Heavy Line for Tidal Waters