Entry 363-4

Up and Running Again at BASS Tournaments with Kevin VanDam

Part 4: Day 3 of the Fort Gibson Lake BASS Tournament with Kevin VanDam

Question: Kevin, what did you decide to do on the third day of the tournament?

VanDam: I decided to run the same water and fish the same lures I’d fished with on the two previous days. I didn’t catch but four bass on the third day of the tournament, and I ended up catching a total of 18 pounds of bass. With 18 pounds in the boat, I knew I’d make the final-12 cut and would be able to fish on the last day. After I had the 18 pounds in the boat, I started running new water and looking for better places to fish on the final day of competition. I would need to have a big day on the final day to beat Tommy Biffle. Tommy was pretty consistent every day, and he was catching more bass than me.

Question: Did you have as much spectator pressure in Oklahoma as you had at Kentucky Lake?

VanDam: Yes, I did. There were a ton of spectators there, but they were extremely courteous. They didn’t fish behind me or any of the other competitors. These were the best spectators I’ve ever had around me fishing. They stayed a good distance away from me and my boat. The local fishermen knew the lake really well, and they enjoyed watching all the competitors fish their lake. All the spectators had binoculars, so they stayed a good distance from us and were still able to see the lures and the techniques we used to catch the bass. The spectators in Oklahoma were a breath of fresh air. They were some of the nicest spectators we’ve ever had anywhere.

Question: Kevin, what did you have tied-on each of the rods lying on your deck that you’d be fishing when you pulled-up on a spot?

VanDam: I had a 1/2-ounce Red Eye Shad, a Series 4 crankbait, a Series 5 crankbait, a King Shad, a Rage Thumper Worm and a Football Jig.

Question: In what order did you fish those lures?

VanDam: First, I’d throw a crankbait, and which crankbait I threw would depend on the water depth I was fishing. Second, I’d throw a Football Jig and then the worm last. That rotation seemed to produce the most bass for me. In some tournaments, you have to depend on a wide variety of lures, and in other tournaments, you’ll have one key lure and a couple of back-up lures. In this tournament, because of the different water depths at which I was catching bass, I used two- or three-different crankbaits, including the Red Eye Shad, and backed them up with bottom-bouncing baits, like the Football Jig and the Rage Thumper Worm.

Question: In what place were you going into the last day?

VanDam: I was in third place.

Next: Kevin VanDam's Final Day of the Fort Gibson Lake Bass-Fishing Tournament

Contents:

• Part 1: Change of Bass-Fishing Plans to Oklahoma's Fort Gibson Lake with Kevin VanDam
• Part 2: Practicing on the First Day of the Fort Gibson Lake Bass-Fishing Tournament with Kevin VanDam
• Part 3: Kevin VanDam Continues to Mix-Up His Bass Fishing on Fort Gibson Lake
• Part 4: Day 3 of the Fort Gibson Lake BASS Tournament with Kevin VanDam
• Part 5: Kevin VanDam's Final Day of the Fort Gibson Lake Bass-Fishing Tournament