Entry 324-4
Strike King’s Kevin VanDam’s Keys to Consistency
Editor’s Note: The race for the 2009 Angler-of-the-Year (AOY) title has ended, and Kevin VanDam has been crowned the winner. Before the first event took place at Lake Jordan on September 13, to name the AOY winner, VanDam was 1-point ahead of 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, in the race for the AOY title. We caught up with Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, when he was en route to fish the two tournaments in Alabama that would determine who would win the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year title and talked to him after the tournaments. VanDam told us his plans of how he would fish to win his second-consecutive AOY title and shared his proven keys to bass-fishing consistency.
Part 4: Know Your Strengths and Your Weaknesses
Question: Kevin, you won the 2008 Angler-of-the-Year title and knew you had a good chance to win in 2009. What has made you fish consistently for so long?
VanDam: To be really consistent, you have to be observant. You have to look for subtle changes in the weather, the water and the water color, as well as where and how the bait’s positioned. When any of the conditions change, you have to change quickly, so your fishing style matches the conditions. From experience, I’ve learned to be extremely conscious of the fishing conditions around me, and I try to observe those subtle changes that other people may miss. I’ve learned that even hour to hour, fishing conditions can change. If you’re not watching for those changes, you can’t keep up with the bass.
Question: What’s the second thing that’s made you such a consistent fisherman?
VanDam: I’ve learned my strengths and my weaknesses as a fisherman, and I’ve tried to learn to capitalize on both. I know the baits and the tactics in which I have the most confidence, and I try not to make a pattern or a technique I’m not confident with work. So, I’ve learned to fish the lures and the techniques that I have the most confidence I can do well using. 
This doesn’t mean I’ll always win because there’s always somebody who may be better using a particular technique or lure. But if I feel good about the tactics and the lures I’m fishing, I’ll usually do well in a tournament or when I’m just out fishing.
In the past, I’ve believed that versatility is really important, including fishing a lot of different lures in various ways. I still believe being versatile is important, but knowing a technique – a way to fish and being confident in that tactic – are two-different concepts. Over the years, I’ve been able to expand the group of fishing tactics in which I’ve built a lot of faith. This has helped me to fish with self-assurance, whether I’m drop-shotting or fishing a finesse worm, which aren’t my strong tactics. I prefer to throw a buzzbait, a spinner bait or a deep-diving crankbait. Over the years, I also have built my trust in finesse baits. I’ve learned that you’ll catch more bass fishing to your strengths.
Question: Let’s get gut honest. What are your strengths and your weaknesses?
VanDam: I like fast-moving baits, such as spinner baits, jerkbaits, crankbaits or top-water lures. I prefer power baits because they fit my nature.These baits give me a lot of confidence, anytime I’m fishing them. I like them because when I’m fishing a big body of water, I can fish a lot of water, put together a pattern, make a number of stops and generally catch a lot of bass with these tactics. One of my weaknesses is fishing in a small, confined area and fishing really slowly with a Carolina rig, a shaky-head worm or any other type of finesse bait.
