AC Insider, Vance McCullough, gets the chance to talk with LOTS of anglers and he’s been sitting on LOTS of short, sweet, and simple fishing tips from some of the best in the business.  We’re going to start dropping some of these on Fridays so that you too can become a better angler!  We’re kicking it off with one of the greatest of all time, Strike King Pro Kevin VanDam.

Bass fishing’s all-time leading money winner, Kevin VanDam recently fished his final regular season tournament. After a career that included numerous championship titles and Anger of the Year Awards, VanDam reflects on a technique that helped him amass well over $7,000,000 in winnings – cranking.

“When cranking, in almost every situation, the most important thing is to make sure you’ve got the right bait for the depth zone that you’re fishing so you can hit the bottom or the cover.

“Ninety percent of the time, it’s the bottom. Whether it grass, gravel, rocks, a crankbait is most effective when it deflects. You want to make sure that you’re hitting something with it.

If you can’t, then it’s all about stopping and starting it. Erratic movements, out of any bait, are what trigger bass. With a crankbait, stopping and starting it and speed reeling it on the bottom as it’s deflecting is that trigger.”

VanDam is known for his ability to manage a tournament clock as much as his understanding of fish behavior. A crankbait suits his fast-paced style. “The reason I love it so much is it’s one of the most efficient lures for a specific depth zone.

“I use line size to help control the running depth. If you need the bait to run a little shallower, use heavier line. If you want it to run deeper, go with lighter line.

“The most important thing is understanding the depth it runs and making sure you’re in contact with something.”