For Kevin VanDam, crankbaits are among the most efficient tools to find and catch big pre-spawn bass as they prepare to move up. See his top picks for pre-spawn crankbaits and stay tuned for part II where KVD covers his ideal cranking rod/reel setup.
Most anglers are not thinking a lot about cranking in the different phases of the spawn. For Kevin Vandam, a crankbait is something that he uses through all phases of the spawn, especially during the pre-spawn and the post-spawn. A crankbait can be dynamite during the pre-spawn period. This is one of the most efficient tools to find and catch big bass that are just staging and getting ready to move up.
KVD uses specific crankbaits for colder water scenarios. He uses baits with a tighter action, more vibration, and more rattles. The bass really focus with their lateral line to feed during the cold-water period. Baits like the Red Eyed Shad, the Chick Magnet, and the KVD 1.5 Flatside are perfect baits for this period.
As the water warms up, KVD uses baits that have more thumping action and a wider wobble. The KVD 1.5, the KVD 1.5 Deep, and other standard crankbaits with more thumping action are ideal for when the water temperature creeps up again.
Crankbaits are efficient at covering several types of cover and getting down to the bottom. This time of the year, the bait should be hitting the bottom, hitting the cover, and getting down into the grass. The erratic action, vibration, and noise of these crankbaits are efficient at triggering big fish to bite. Crankbaits have become so specialized that there is a perfect bait for every type of zone and cover that could be faced.
Some crankbaits fish efficiently all the way from 2 feet of water to 10 feet of water. The Chick Magnet is a flat sided bait designed to have a lively action. It has a hard thumping action that gives off a lot of pressure waves. The Chick Magnet is a great early season crankbait when the fish are really focused on using their lateral line. The fish find this bait and bite it when they do not hit standard style crankbaits. This crankbait is great up to the 5 or 6 feet zone.
The Red Eyed Shad is a mainstay pre-spawn bait for KVD. There are different versions of this bait, including the Tungsten Two-tap, the standard Red Eyed Shad with loud BBs, and the silent model. The Red Eyed Shad has flat sides and it sinks. This crankbait can be yo-yoed, ripped out of grass, or fished like a jig. This bait is super versatile and has a tight action. During that colder water period during in the pre-spawn, it just catches fish in all parts of the country.
A specialty bait for KVD is the Hybrid Hunter, designed for fishing shallow grass. The Hybrid Hunter has a combination of features found in a squarebill and a Red Eyed shad. It has a loud rattle with an L-shaped bill that can be reeled right down into thick hydrilla and back out. The Hybrid Hunter is quite different than a red-eye shad or a chick magnet, but it is also a great cold-water bait. The flat sides are dynamite in shallow grassy areas. This bait already has a legendary following in just the brief time that it has been on the market.
Another crankbait KVD uses in the early pre-spawn is a deeper crankbait. The KVD 1.5 Flatside is designed as a cold-water crankbait. It has a tight action, flat sides and no rattles. This is the perfect stealth mode, early season crankbait.
The KVD 1.5 Deep Squarebill is the way to go for more thump, noise, and pressure waves. This crankbait has a wider action that really deflects off cover well. Fish this bait around timber, rock, wood, and grass up to 8 or 9 feet deep.
One of KVD’s favorite baits this time of the year is the 3XD crankbait because it runs almost 12 feet deep. This bait has a small profile and a tight action. This is a versatile bait that catches a ton of fish. If the bank is a little deeper or the water is a little clearer, use the 3XD to get extra depth during the pre-spawn.
There are many lure options that can be effective during the pre-spawn, but cranking is so efficient. Each crankbait is designed for a specific depth zone to trigger the most bites.
During the pre-spawn, fish are really focused on crawfish. KVD focuses on using red crawfish and dark brim colors because that is the primary forage this time of the year. The water clarity is another factor that determines which color to use. Use natural colors, like Phantom Watermelon Red Craw in crystal-clear bodies of water, like Table Rock Lake. Use brighter colors in dirty water. Black Back Chartreuse is one of KVD’s best springtime colors in muddy water.
