Kevin Van Dam Forums

Michigan is heating up

2013-05-05T09:35:14Z

Haven’t been on in a while. Been getting the boat ready for the upcoming season and finally reached the “OVER” my wife has at the bottom of my honey do list. But did take the boat out for a test run and all is good. Also spent an hour seeing if the big crappie have come up from the depths yet. They are just now coming up, the water temp was in the mid 50’s. Lake St. Clair and Erie are on fire right now, the big smallies are everywhere. Heading out there next week. Saw the “Hook&Look;” Kim and Danny Stricker” out on my lake but didn’t get a chance to chat with them. They didn’t stay long and I know why. For some reason our water is stained this Spring which makes under water photography kind of difficult. How are the other Michigan anglers doing?

Lure modifications of the pros

2013-03-23T03:17:31Z

I’ve always heard that the pros do not simply open a lure package and fish it stock out of the box. I hear they make “mods” to it prior to fishing so as to give them an edge over the other 100 guys fishing the same lure. I recently purchased a lure allegedly modified by a pro outside of bull shoals.

I bought a beat up old Bagley Balsa B2 in black/gold that had sharpie coloring in where the black back paint had failed, a red belly hook and the line tie had been forcefully bent down to the point of cracking the epoxy clear coat. It’s nearly impossible to keep the beat up old thing running true but, man, is that thing a fish catcher.

I’ve heard of pros bending down the line tie on nose-tied square bills so as to achieve a “harder” action. All of this seem to confirm the story that it was an ex tournament lure.

This has got me thinking, what mods have you heard or seen the tournament or pro anglers do to their lures to get an edge?

I’ve heard of changing the sound profile of a bait to make it silent by drilling a hole into the ballast chamber and inserting epoxy to quiet the knocker rattle.

Rattle canning lures to get a custom paint pattern on the water.

Adding weight to a lure to make it suspend or rise slower.

In the pre creature bait days I remember hearing about guys making creature baits with a lighter and a fist full of soft plastic parts. Heck, I made my own creature baits as a kid but never caught anything.

Also, general lure modification thread.

Senkos, ochos, yum dingers

2013-03-21T18:32:24Z

Is there a big difference between these baits? I just buy whatever is in the bargain bin. I’m definitely rigging them wacky with a circle hook this year. Just curious to what you guys think.

What a crankbait!

2012-10-19T17:34:24Z

New from Strike King

http://www.wired2fish.com/strike-king-introduces-the-10xd-officially-p17401

500

2013-04-12T11:06:00Z

Hey guys, excited to let everyone know I got my first boat that i fully paid for myself. I got a bass tracker pro team 175 TF. The boat is a 2012 model but the motor is a 2013 60hp fourstroke mercury. Anyways, for buying the boat bass pro sent me a $500 gift card. So… if you guys had a $500 gift card to bass pro what would be some of the things you would buy. Like the must haves of fishing. I don’t use rubber baits like worms, lizards, etc. much. Just tell me the best baits, rods, etc that you would definitely have to have in your tackle box. Thanks guys.

Strike King ” Shell Cracker”

2013-04-03T22:48:32Z

has anyone fished with the new “Shell Cracker” lure??? if so how do you rig it???do you fish it on it’s “side” or do you fish iton straight up and down???how do you work it???

thanks

Zoom fluke

2007-08-23T19:19:37Z

Does anyone fish/like the fluke style of baits? I have a box full of them but rarely ever use them just don’t have the confidence to use them I guess. What methods do you use and your favorite retrieves? The most success I have had with them came when a smallie off the bed a couple of years ago, I try using them but when I don’t get bit after 15-20 min. I put it down and go with something else. Thanks for the advice.

KVD Dream Shots are my new best friend on the water!

2013-03-11T20:29:47Z

Man oh man, Strike King/KVD really hit the jackpot with these little boogers! I just recently bought 8 packs of these guys. Already in the pre-spawn we are slaying the largemouth here in CO. 1 ft of snow on ground and a Dream Shot on a drop shot or Texas rig have been very successful. Even though there is snow on the ground it’s 60 degrees out!! Very odd conditions to fish in but when in dought..figure it out…aka..use a dream shot!! Killer bait, fantastic action, easily the most killer finesse tactic bait on the market!!

Spinnerbaits

2013-03-06T00:07:20Z

I am new to the boards and have always had trouble catching fish on a spinnerbait. Just wondering when the best conditions are to use one? What is the best way to fish one? Any advice will be helpful. Thanks

Kvd Finesse Worms Rigging

2013-02-27T13:45:46Z

I would like to know what hook size I need to rig a 7 inch kvd finesse. I would prefer Mustad ultra point hooks. Thanks in advance!