KVD on Fishing Lipless Crankbaits

Did you hear that Kevin VanDam (KVD) won the 2010 Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake, Alabama using Strike King’s Red Eye Shad, a lipless crankbaits?

How to Fish the Lipless Crankbaits …

In this short video, Kevin VanDam discusses the characteristics and describes how to fish the Red Eye Shad under a variety of conditions …

Great video isn’t it!

KVD provided a number of pointers on how to fish the red eye shad more effectively including:

• Use different sizes of the red eye shad to cover different depth ranges
• Vary the retrieve using yo-yo, stop n go, sweep-stop approaches
• Keep the bait in contact with bottom cover such as stumps & grass beds
• Use a few different baitcasting combos rigged with different line weights (helps with depth control)
• Vary the speed of retrieve to help trigger strikes …

I hope you found this post and video helpful … Please leave comments below with any questions or suggestions you have 

Tight lines and full livewells …

Fishing the Spot Within the Spot

Did you ever have a day on the water when noticing how a subtle change in cover seemed to make a huge difference in catching bass?

I know I have!

It sometimes amazes me how sometimes the even a subtle difference results in a tremendous change in either the quantity or quality of bass brought over the gunwale …

I remember one time fishing South Watupa Pond in southeastern Massachusetts when my partner and I were working a shoreline with numerous overhanging trees.

As we worked along skipping baits (un-weighted, Texas-rigged, black Fliptail lizards) under the branches, we were catching a keeper bass (12’-13” range) here and there until we came upon a willow tree.  When skipping the plastic lizards under the willow branches, however, we quickly boated four bass all over 14.5”, a substantial difference.

Better yet, the willow tree pattern continued for the rest of the outing and even produced our best fish of the day, a 3.75 pound smallmouth. This was definitely a total surprise since most of the fish coming from the tree rows were largemouths!

Big Fish Tip for Schooling Bass

When you encounter bass busting schools of baitfish on top you can throw a variety of lures (jigs, tubes, topwaters, crankbaits) into the action and strikes are often fast and furious.  Many times the bass working the bait on the surface are the smaller (12” – 14”) one…

It’s always nice to catch bass but sometimes a bigger fish would be a nice addition don’t you think?.

Many anglers fail to realize the larger fish are often sitting below the surface feeding activity waiting to “slurp-up” any stunned or injured bait falling beneath the main school.

Though it can be difficult to get a bait through the smaller bass feeding on top, switching to heavier lures and targeting the edge of the surface activity will often get the baits to the deeper and larger opportunistic bass!

Great baits to consider for penetrating through the smaller schooling bass is a lipless crankbait or blade baits.

Be sure and give it a shot the next time you hit the water to fish for schooling bass!

Fixing Common Drop Shot Mistakes

Ever since it's introduction years ago, the drop shot rig has been a go-to finesse fishing solution for tough conditions. 

Although tying the rig is fairly straight forward, there are a few common mistakes newbie drop shot anglers often make when setting up the drop shot.

Take a moment to watch this short video as MLF bass pro Brent Ehler identifies these common drop shot rig mistakes and how to fix them...

Sweeping for Bass?

A few days ago I saw a “Tweet” telling about a new bass fishing technique called the “Sweeping Method“.  Initially I though it would describe a hook-setting method, so I dismissed it since I already posted an article describing sweep hook-setting several months ago.

Today, however, I came across the video on YouTube and after watching the video found that my initial interpretation was wrong!

As a matter of fact, the sweeping technique has absolutely nothing to do with hook-sets; it’s actually a method of presentation …

Modeled after some of the oldest presentation methods known to man, namely jigger-poling and doodling, this fixed line retrieve allows a stealthy bass angler to work in close to shallow cover with complete control of the lure …

Interested in learning more?

Then take a moment and watch this bass fishing tactic video below to see how this kayaking fisherman uses the Sweeping Method to his greatest advantage …

One concern I had watching him work the sweeping method using a buzzbait on such a short line pertains to a high potential for broken rods …

I think using a graphite-fiberglass composite rod (like an Ugly Stik) and baitcasting reel spooled with braided line and a slightly loosened drag should help minimize that issue …

What do you think?