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The first half of the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series tour is in the bag. Now it’s time to turn north to cooler climates and waters made legendary by big waves and big ‘Bronzebacks’.
Who better to tell us what to expect than Michigan native and current Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year points leader Kevin VanDam?
VanDam was kind enough to take time during a brief break at home over the 4th of July Holiday to provide insight to three big lakes that are sure to test the endurance of both angler and equipment.
VanDam’s views on Champlain, Erie and Oneida:
Lake Champlain, (July 12-15), a massive inland reservoir in Vermont, bordered by New York to the west and Canada to the north, and a bear for big waves if the wind blows north or south.
Smallmouth or Largemouth: “Champlain’s water levels are high right now, so there will be a lot of Largemouth in the shallow vegetation. Largemouth almost always beat smallmouth, but there are so many Smallmouth in Champlain it’s darn tough for guys like me not to fish for them.”
Big Waves? “There’s no question they can get big. It’s a big, long, deep body of water, and if the wind blows from the north or south, big waves are going to have a big impact on strategy and catches.”
If you could only take two rods: “A flipping stick with a tube or a Strike King Zero for the Largemouth, and a spinning rod with either a jerkbait or watermelon tube
stuffed with a 3/16 – 3/8 oz. weight.”
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Lake Erie, (July 19-22), the shallowest of the Great Lakes, but among the worst any bass angler might ever face in terms of big waves.
Smallmouth or Largemouth: “If you’re on Erie, you better be fishing for Smallmouth.”
Big Waves? “It could be slick calm one day, and 5’ – 10’ footers the next. It’s a freshwater ocean. There’s a 90% chance that it will be rough at least one of the days we are there.”
If you could only take two rods: “Pack two spinning rods, spool up each with 8-pound fluorocarbon line, tie a tube to one and a Strike King Wild Shiner jerkbait to the other.”
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Oneida Lake, (July 26-29), Oneida is located in upstate New York near Syracuse, and will host the Bassmaster Memorial.
Smallmouth or Largemouth: “Oneida has a good population of both, the largemouth are bigger, but harder to catch, while the Smallies are plentiful, but much smaller.” (Note: Tommy Biffle won this event last year by pitching soft plastics at ultra-shallow
largemouths.)
Big Waves? “Oneida has enough islands and bays, that there is always a patch of protected water. It doesn’t get nearly as rough as Champlain or Erie.”
If you could only take two rods: “Again, pack your soft plastic tubes, ¼ & 3/8 ounce weights for stuffing inside them, and some Strike King Zeros for the Largemouth.”
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