Bassmaster Live just showed Kevin VanDam landing an 8-pounder on a Strike King 10XD. While unhooking the bass he buried one of the magnum sized trebles deep inside his palm. KVD proceeded to unhook a cull bass from the stringer and place the big bass in the livewell, bad hand and all.
Next, he summoned help nearby from B.A.S.S. photographer Garrick Dixon, who did the yanking honors with the braided line to free the hook from VanDam’s palm.
All in a day’s work, right Garrick?
After all the drama settled down we learn that KVD switched from the crankbait, to a hair jig and now back to the big crankbait.
VanDam explained that his spot features a sloping bottom and he’s looking for irregularities that attract bass and bait. In his area that would be a clay bottom broken up by rock, a mussel bed or wood.
“The worst thing you can do is let the boat get off spot like I just did,” he said of the injury down time.
“On humps like I’m fishing you need to stay right on the line and make a perfect, long cast.”
“When you get on line you are on those bass.”
What he means is where the path, or line, of his lure will cross the strike zone. In his case that is those bottom irregularities.
The strategy is working. KVD is back in the lead.