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How Each Bass Fish Pro Angler Is Ramping Up for Tournament Season

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For the last three months, all Major League Fishing (MLF) tournaments shut down due to the coronavirus. That has left all pro anglers’ home during an ordinarily busy season.

The good news is the tournament season is starting back up on June 10, 2020.

Here is a snapshot of how four pros have been spending their time.

 

Pro Angler Kevin VanDam

 

Kevin has spent much of the last two months fishing with his family and focusing on ways to reduce hunger, especially with school-aged children.

“I’m an outdoors person by nature, and that’s the one safe place you can actually spend time. I’m never [usually] home this time of year. I’ve fished with my boys quite a bit. Nationally, fishing license sales are at an all-time high,” VanDam, a Michigan native, shared with WOOD-TV.

Kevin, fellow angler Boyd Duckett, and NASCAR driver Martin Truex, Jr. helped raise $30,000 to support the ALL IN Challenge to provide food for those in need.

To learn more about how Kevin has been using his time off, click this video: https://www.woodtv.com/sports/pro-fisherman-vandam-social-distances-outdoors/

 

Pro Angler Greg Hackney

 

With all the rain we’ve had over the last two months, Greg has been working on catching bass in muddy waters.

“Whether you’re fishing in dirty or clear water, a largemouth is a sight-oriented feeder. He’ll only be as deep as the light is penetrating…within 10 inches of the surface,” Hackney told the Louisiana Sportsman.

He reminds all sportsmen to be persistent when the waters are cloudy. He often uses a spinnerbait or a half-ounce jig during these times.

He has spent much time on the Mississippi River, tagging many of his social media entries #quarantine.

 

Pro Angler Edwin Evers

 

“I’d never trade this time that I’ve had at home. The month of April, we’re never home. I’ll always remember this. It’s a bad, bad thing that’s going on [COVID-19], but man, I sure have enjoyed my time here at the house and with my family,” Evers shared with Tulsa station News on 6.

He’s noticed many people fishing to fill up their free time.

 

Pro Angler Alton Jones, Jr.

 

“It’s about never stop practicing. In every event, I’ve noticed it more that you have had to develop something [new] every day,” Jones shared with BassFan.com.

During this time, he’s studied the fishing techniques of Jacob Wheeler and Edwin Evers via their YouTube channels and the Outdoor channel.

“I notice in all my best finishes…they came up with on-the-fly adjustments. I have to speed up my game. Personally, the break has not been super difficult. It’s been nice to spend time at home. Usually, at this time of year, we hardly know where home is,” Jones continued.

 

Sarasota Quality Products Wishes All Fishermen the Best with Their Tournaments

Your boat is more than a hobby. It’s an expression of who you are. And you want to keep it secure. We understand. We’ve been helping boaters keep their boats safe and achieve greater peace of mind for 35+ years.  Let us know how we can help you.

When Should You Change Baits?

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change baits, Sarasota Quality Products, Bass Fishing, fishing lures

 

Entering a multi-day bass fishing tournament can be exhilarating and stressful, especially if the fish are initially biting, and then suddenly, they stop. Many are tempted to pull up anchor and try somewhere else. While this may be a useful measure, there might be something that works better: changing lures.

Here are great tips about what has worked for others, including pro angler Mike Iaconelli from his interview in Bass Angler Magazine.

 

DO Prepare.

Iaconnelli uses his downtime to study the information about his next tournament’s topography. He studies maps, weather, and any bass fishing reports he can get his hands on for that area. He reviews past weather and water conditions during that time of year.

He also cleans out his boat, inside and out. Organizing his rods, tackle, and lures saves much time when he’s on the water.

DON’T Bring All Your Lures.

Lures come in a multitude of types, colors, and sizes.

Most fishers have over one hundred different types of lures, but it’s ineffective to bring them all with you. First, you won’t have space. Second, you’ll waste time sifting through them. Third, with too many choices, you could spend valuable time vacillating about which one is the best.

Instead, decide on a set number of lures you will bring and stick to that number. Make sure they’re easily accessible from the hatch.

DO Buy “Clean” Lures.

Iaconnelli recommends using lures you know will not snag or require multiple casts to get into tight spots as this is also a time burner.

DON’T Fish Too Long with the Same Lure.

Before the tournament starts, make an agreement with yourself how long you will continue to fish with the same lure. You will need to keep track of the time you reeled in each keeper. If it’s been (x minutes or hours) since your last one, it’s time to change lures.

DO Make Subtle Changes.

Perhaps you change the color or add a rattle if you are staying in the same spot, and the weather hasn’t changed.

 

DO Remember Fishing Patterns Change as the Weather Changes.

Did it rain hard last night? If so, the water levels may be high, and bass are sensitive to these changes. Wind, heat, sun, and clouds all affect your fishing chances. You’ll need to have a variety of baits on your boat, including jigs, soft plastics, and spinnerbaits.

 

Sarasota Quality Products Has Many Products to Enhance Your Fishing Experience

We have an online catalog that’s available to you 24/7. We offer excellent service, satisfaction guaranteed, secure checkout, and privacy protection with every order. Don’t see what you want? Please feel free to contact us directly at 440-899-9820 between 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

How High Lake Water Levels Affect Bass Fishing

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high lake water levels, bass fishing, Sarasota Quality Products

The waters of the Great Lakes, and many other waterways, are at an all-time high. Forecasters state they may continue to rise, due to storms, large amounts of precipitation, and the fact that few lakes froze over this year.

For the Great Lakes Region, Lake Erie will receive the most significant water increase. It’s an overflow basin from Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. The Great Lakes themselves represent 84 percent of North America’s surface freshwater, which ultimately impacts the water levels of all-natural, inland lakes in North America.

In what ways will this affect the upcoming fishing season? It turns out bass are particularly sensitive to water level changes. They tend to disperse and congregate in grassy, shallower areas when the waters rise. As water levels continue to increase, they move closer to the water’s edge, making it more challenging for anglers to catch them.

Challenging, but not impossible, as long as you keep in mind the following tips when you go out on your excursions!

 

Five High Lake Water Tactics You Can Use

 

As the saying goes, it’s best to make lemonade out of lemons. You can still fish, but the approach may be radically different from past tactics. Bass fishing experts agree on the following:

 

  1. Read your local fishing report or contact a local fishing expert to garner the best advice before you head out on your trip.
  2. Consider fishing from or near the banks.
    Rising water also increases the water’s current, which pushes bass straight to the bank. Since bass is not tall fish, they will migrate to the shallowest cover available.
  3. Find an eddy.
    Bass aren’t built to fight a current all day long, which will get stronger as river waters rise. Eddies usually have no or little current, yet they are close enough to the river’s aqua system to capture any baitfish that washes toward them.
  4. Stay clear of muddy water.
    With high waters, storms, and precipitation, most lake water will remain murky for a period. Under these conditions, bass will migrate to clearer waters, even if it’s in the deepest part of the lake.
  5. Use spinnerbaits.
    Colorful vibrating jigs, bulky plastics, and loud rattling cranks always work best in high waters, where bass can more clearly see them.

 

Sarasota Quality Products Wishes All Fishermen the Best this Season

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Kevin VanDam: Key Captain Video Testimonial

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In the world of professional bass fishing, Kevin VanDam is at the pinnacle and arguably the best in the world. KVD has 4 Bassmaster Classic wins and 7 Angler of the Year titles to his name.

In this video, Kevin VanDam talks about how the Key Captain makes his life easier, and helps him save the time and hassle of locking and unlocking all the compartments on his boat.

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