Story
K VD
BY TYLER BRINKS
Photos Jody Only
VanDam on the California Delta Photo: Jody Only
on West Coast Fishing, Fishermen and Tackle Trends
K
evin VanDam is recognized as the best
bass angler in the world. His tournament
records and promotional abilities speak
for themselves and he needs no intro- duction. His years of experience at the top level of
bass fishing have taken him all over the country.
The varied tournament schedule allows him to fish
the best bodies of waters, at the best times of year.
With as much as many places he has fished, the
west ranks high on his list.
VanDam has fished in the western states several
times and has a deep respect for the quality of fisheries,
the anglers who come from the region and the product
innovations that have been born in the region.
WEST COAST FISHING
VanDam has traveled west several times and has fished the California Delta, Clear Lake as well as desert
lakes Havasu and Mead. “I would have never had the chance to fish out there if it was not for Bassmaster tournaments,” said VanDam. “I enjoyed each of the places I went to.”
THE DESERT LAKES
Fishing in the desert is a unique experience for someone from the Midwest. VanDam recalls fishing Mead and likes the fact that it allows for anglers to run patterns across different areas of the lake. “Mead is really special to me and is also a good fishery,” he said.
2015 was VanDam’s first trip to Lake Havasu and he thoroughly enjoyed it. “Visually, it is stunning and it also has pretty good fishing,” said VanDam.
Besides the bass fishing, he was almost as excited about the giant redear sunfish that swim in the lake. “Back home, I love bluegill fishing; so during our practice, I fished for some of them with a dropshot,”
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