Few people on this planet know more about northern smallmouth bass than Kevin VanDam. The bronze aquatic torpedoes are just different. Their patterns, preferences, and nomadic nature require a special learning curve VanDam has been perfecting his entire career.

VanDam’s Smallmouth Smorgasbord

With nearly $7 million in tournament earnings that includes 28 pro-level wins, it’s safe to say VanDam has a proven track record. When KVD talks, you’d be wise to listen.

The Team Toyota pro suspects he spends 70% of his time targeting smallmouth versus their large-mouthed relatives when fun-fishing around his home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Following Stage 5 of the Bass Pro Tour we caught up with KVD to talk smallmouth bass and get a glimpse into one of the greatest minds bass fishing has ever known.

Two tips for Northern smallies

We wanted to quiz VanDam on what his current favorite baits or techniques for bronze-backs were, but the greatest tournament angler of all time couldn’t help but divulge two crucial tips he pays attention to before every smallmouth trip; use a long rod and invest in quality sunglasses.
“Using a longer-than-usual rod helps a ton for northern smallmouth,” VanDam explained. “The water is typically ultra-clear up here, so long casts are extremely important. Light line and a long rod will help you get your bait as away from the boat as possible, and assists with moving a lot of line on your hook set when you get a fish to eat.”

VanDam pointed out he practically never uses a rod shorter than 7-feet long when targeting clear-water smallies. He designed his new signature series of Lew’s rods with this in mind, including the 7-foot 4-inch KVD Lew’s spinning rod VanDam trusts for nearly every finesse fishing application.

Owning and wearing a good pair of polarized sunglasses was KVD’s next suggestion that’ll help you catch more fish whether you are stalking the bank or covering an offshore flat in a bass boat.

“Electronics are important for showing me what’s underwater, but to me a good pair of sunglasses is absolutely critical,” VanDam said. “Smallmouth love transitions or changes in bottom composition. I’m constantly looking for those things when I’m smallmouth fishing. Oakley’s Shallow Water Prizm is hands-down my favorite lens color for northern waters.”

Whether he is enjoying time on the water his boys Jackson and Nicholas or in the middle of high-stress MLF competition, VanDam’s eyes are always scanning the water. Looking for indications like transitions, irregularities, individual pieces of cover, or smallmouth themselves. KVD catches a pile of smallmouth each year thanks to the clues he discovers using nothing but his eyes.

VanDam’s smallmouth staples

The tips KVD provided above will give you a couple steps in the right direction to consistently catching smallmouth, but throwing the right baits helps even more. VanDam graciously offered six northern smallmouth staples he has rigged and at the ready whenever he launches his Nitro boat.

3 power-fishing preferences

½-ounce Strike King KVD Burner Spinnerbait
Strike King KVD Jerkbait (300 series)
Strike King KVD Jerkbait Deep (300 series)

It’s no secret KVD loves to move fast and power fish. Fortunately, VanDam has found that to be the best way to locate smallmouth. The pace VanDam keeps during competition would make a toddler on a sugar-high sleepy, but there is undoubtedly a method to his madness.

If restricted to three choices, these lures are what VanDam would bet the house on for smallmouth in northern waters.

“I always start by power fishing if I’m targeting smallmouths,” VanDam said. “Even if I don’t catch the fish on a jerkbait or spinnerbait, oftentimes they’ll show themselves. Smallmouth are notorious for following baits up to the boat, but I’m OK with that. I can always go back and finesse them if I need to. Power fishing not only catches me a lot of smallies, it helps me find a lot of fish, too.”

3 finesse frontrunners

3/8-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tube jig with a KVD Pro-Model Tube
Dropshot: Strike King KVD Dream Shot with 3/8 – ½-ounce weight
1/8-ounce Ned Rig with a Strike King Ned Ocho

When the conditions call for it or he simply can’t get fish to react to more aggressive offerings, VanDam has found great success with these three lures / presentations. Relying on these finesse techniques to “cleanup” areas where he has located finicky smallmouth.

“I absolutely never go smallmouth fishing without a tube and a dropshot tied on,” VanDam admitted. “While I’d prefer to catch them power fishing, it’s impossible to deny to effectiveness of those three lures. Whether I’m trying to coax more bites from an area, dropping down to a fish that chased my bait to the boat, or the scenario calls for a more subtle presentation I lean on these three lures.”

The post KVD’s Smallmouth Smorgasbord appeared first on Bass365.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2020 (Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.) Major League Fishing (MLF) Pro Cliff Pace won Covercraft Stage Five presented by Abu Garcia Group B Qualifying Round to advance directly to the Championship, joining Group A winner Justin Lucas in one of ten spots. With half the field eliminated, 38 anglers begin Tuesday’s Knockout Round at zero weight to compete over the remaining eight spots in Wednesday’s Championship Round. The 2020 Bass Pro Tour Seasons Points Championship may come down to Tuesday’s Knockout Round with Jordan Lee, Jacob Wheeler, and Ott DeFoe all battling to advance. Competition resumes Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. CT on MLFNOW!

MLF Pro Stephen Browning caught the Berkley Big Bass of the Day and hung on to 20th place to advance to Tuesday’s Knockout Round. Photo credit: Phoenix Moore/Major League Fishing

40-year-old Pace caught 107 pounds, nine ounces to climb from seventh place after Day One (Saturday) and win with a two-day total of 174 pounds on 58 bass. Pace advances directly into Wednesday’s Championship Round joining Justin Lucas who won Group A Qualifying Round on Sunday. The HIGH-SEAS Pro said it wasn’t easy this week and he’s grateful for a day off (Tuesday).

“I’m one happy man!” said Pace shortly after MLF Official Mike David confirmed his victory on SCORETRACKER®. “I’m tickled to death to have won today because everything here is such a variable. You don’t know what Mother Nature is going to do and everything can fall out of place. A win today means that I don’t have to compete tomorrow and maybe capitalize on a great event in Wisconsin on Wednesday.”

Pace caught nearly all 58 bass over two days with a wacky worm in clear water – both 20, 25-feet deep and shallow. His told fans that a consistent, long cast was a key to his victory. A Mississippi-resident, Pace won the final Stage of the 2019 Bass Pro Tour in Neenah, Wisconsin last July

Keith Poche started out slow with zero scorable catches in the first three hours of competition and ultimately ended the day with 53 pounds and a two-day total of 165 pounds, 11 ounces. Jordan Lee and Mike Iaconelli led the field at different points in the day before ultimately being out paced by Pace as well.

Stephen Browning caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day weighing in at five pounds, one ounce. His two-day total of 82 pounds, 10 ounces was enough to maintain a 20^th place finish and secure a spot in Tuesday’s Knockout Round. After finishing Day One in the top 20, Britt Myers and Adrian Avena fell below the Elimination Line in 21^st and 26^th places respectively making room for Matt Lee and Ish Monroe to advance. After only scoring 12 pounds, 13 ounces on Day One (Saturday), Jared Lintner made the biggest gain of the day by scoring an additional 119 pounds, five ounces to finish in sixth with a two-day total of 132 pounds, two ounces.

The Top Ten of Qualifying Group B finished as follows:

20 anglers fell below the Elimination Line ending their respective 2020 Bass Pro Tour seasons, including Chris Lane, Zack Birge, and Brent Ehrler who had all won Qualifying Rounds in previous 2020 Bass Pro Tour stops. For complete results, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com, Bass Pro Tour, Results.

The competition continues Tuesday when the 38 qualifiers take to the water for the Covercraft Stage Five presented by Abu Garcia Knockout Round, including current Season Points contenders Jordan Lee (276), Jacob Wheeler (267), Ott DeFoe (264), and Jeff Sprague (249).  Each angler earns Points (80-1) awarded by finishing place (1-80) at each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour. The Pro with the most points at the end of the season earns the title of “Bass Pro Tour Points Champion.” With Fletcher Shryock and Michael Neal eliminated and the remaining four battling out for one of eight spots remaining in Wednesday’s Championship Round, Tuesday’s competition may be the most consequential of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season.

Pending no weather delays, the Knockout Round begins at Sawyer Park Boat Launch, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., 6:15 a.m. CT when the field reports to pick-up their MLF Official and camera operators before trailering to the ramp of his choice. With lines in at 8:00 a.m. CT, the competition consists of three, 150-minute periods.

Fans can catch all the action every day of competition (July 10-15) on MLFNOW! livestream on MajorLeagueFishing.com or download the MLF App for your Apple or GooglePlay device or on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).

About the Bass Pro Tour:

The Bass Pro Tour began in 2019 and features 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including Kevin VanDam, Edwin Evers, Aaron Martens, Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee, and Skeet Reese. Each stage includes six days of competition using the Major League Fishing, catch-weigh-and-immediately-release format, where every bass over a variable minimum weight, which is two pounds on Lake Fork for Stage Three, toward a cumulative weight total for the day.  Variable minimum weights are determined by fishery, akin to a golf course handicap. The field of 80 anglers is divided into two groups of 40 (Groups A and B) to compete on days one through four for the Qualifying Round. The winners of each Group earn an automatic berth the Championship Round. The anglers finishing in places 2-20 from each group in the Qualifying Round (40 total) advance to the Knockout Round on day five (Tuesday), which determines who will compete on that final day, the Championship Round (Wednesday), for the Stage title and $100,000.

Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour has the following payout schedule: 1^st $100,000; 2^nd $42,000; 3^rd $30,000; 4^th $24,000; 5^th$18,000; 6^th $16,800; 7^th $15,600; 8^th $14,400; 9^th $13,200; 10^th $12,000; 11^th – 40^th $6,000; Big Bass Daily $1,000; Big Bass Overall $1,000.

In addition to the economic impact for the host community, Destination Sturgeon Bay / Door County, Major League Fishing showcases the region through their award-winning, live and linear programming. Each Stage of the Bass Pro Tour is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and majorleaguefishing.com, totaling more than 325 hours of original programming. Fans can follow the fast-paced nature of the MLF format as it unfolds on the live leaderboard through “SCORETRACKER® updates.”

Highlights from each Stage of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour air on Discovery Network beginning in July 2020 and Sportsman Channel in early 2021. Covercraft Stage Five presented by Abu Garcia will premiere as two, two-hour episodes on Discovery Channel October 3 and 4, 7 – 9 a.m. ET/PT.

“MLF offers the strongest broadcast presence in the industry to fans and sponsors,” said Jim Wilburn, President and CEO of Major League Fishing. “And with these lakes planned for this coming Bass Pro Tour, we know 2020 will be our best year yet as we continue to capture a broad audience of both longtime fishing fans and those new to the sport, thanks to our fast-paced, fan-friendly format,”

About Major League Fishing   
Founded in 2011, Major League Fishing (MLF) brings the high-intensity sport of competitive bass fishing into America’s living rooms on Outdoor Channel, Discovery, CBS, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel, and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). The Bass Pro Tour consists of eight events and a championship streamed live on www.MajorLeagueFishing.com and MOTV.

In late 2019 MLF acquired FLW, which expands their portfolio to include the world’s largest grassroots fishing organization, including the strongest five-fish format professional bass fishing tour, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, as well as the Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine, and Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI, and High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing.

The post Pace Passes Poche to Win Auto-Berth to Friday’s Championship: appeared first on Bass365.com.