Shad Imitators: KVD's Favorite Fall Baits

According to this 33-year touring professional, fall is the season that's all about bass keying in on the baitfish you find in major creek arms.

Said VanDam, "That pattern is talked about constantly, and it's true, but not every quality bass follows bait to the back of a creek. There's still plenty of good fish eating bait on flat, shallow points along the main body of water, too."

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that all three of this pro's favorite lures this time of year are shad imitators. His starting line-up includes a squarebill crankbait, a topwater walking bait, and a jerkbait. And just as importantly as what lures he specified is knowing where and when to use them.

VanDam's first choice for a crankbait is his namesake KVD 1.5 from Strike King. "It's just such an efficient bait because the bass are moving shallow, and they'll bite it in just about any color of water," he said. "The dream scenario for a squarebill at this time of year is a rocky creek-channel swing in the back of a major tributary, with shad active near the surface of the water."

His prime choice for a topwater lure is Strike King's Sexy Dawg, which, in his words, "has magnetic qualities." You can attract bass from far away to come bite it in clear to stained water, as long as there's not too much wave action on the surface.

And VanDam's final shad-imitator selection is jerkbaits, which he noted "go together like October and falling leaves." Few lures search out bass on shallow, flat, main body, secondary points like this bait.

"Again," he continued, "not every bass swims to the back of a creek in search of shad at this time of year. There are plenty of quality fish to be caught on the shallower flat points on the main body of water, too. And by keeping your boat in about 10 feet of water and casting up there to four or five feet of water on those types of points can be an awesome way to catch 'em at this time of year," emphasized this man who has been called "one of the greatest tournament fishermen in the history of the sport."

Following Kevin VanDam's advice likely won't make you a four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion or a seven-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, but it very well may help you catch some quality bass this autumn.