The VanDams See Red in Late Winter and Early Spring

Jonathon shows off the red crankbaits he and Kevin use.
Photo by Garrick Dixon

I'm speaking, of course, about Kevin and his nephew, Jonathon, who believe that red crawfish crankbaits are the ticket to successful late-winter/early-spring bass fishing.

"As we fish around the country," said Kevin, "we discover that specific colors are must-haves on some lakes. Oftentimes, that is due to the color of forage, or the lake has a unique water clarity.

"It's no secret that any crawfish colors are good choices in late winter and early spring, but it amazes me how universal red has become," noted Kevin. "It's not just a dirty or clear-water thing, or a Texas/Louisiana thing; we're also discovering it's a good color during the early prespawn period just about everywhere."

There is a right and wrong way to fish the red baits this time of year. Continued Kevin, "It's critical to make sure your bait is bouncing along the bottom to emulate crawfish. After that, you need to dial in the action. For example, erratic square bills often work better in warmer, stained water, while tighter actions perform better in colder, cleaner water.

"These are the kinds of things that make our sport so intriguing, even though we're often left with questions as to why fish do what they do at times. But this much you should know--red crankbaits are players during the early season and also are worth trying when fishing lakes with red clay bottoms.

"The more we fish, the more we learn, and that's why it's all about the attitude."