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John's Journal... Entry 213, Day 3

SECRETS OF THE CLASSIC WINNERS: KEVIN VANDAM AND RICK CLUNN

Rick Clunn on How to Mentally Pick Apart a Tree

Editor's Note: Rick Clunn, nationally-known angler from Ava, Missouri, has won the Bassmaster Classic four times and every major bass-fishing tournament and honor that the sport of bass fishing has to offer.

"You can't look at the entire tree that's laying in the water to find and catch the bass that are holding there," Clunn emphasizes. "You have to divide the tree into segments: the trunk; larger limbs that come off the trunk; tangled vines and/or broken-off thick limbs that create brushy areas; the top of the tree; the point at which the tree lays over a drop-off; and any holes created by current under the tree's trunk.

"Often you'll have two productive patterns when you're fishing trees laying in the water. A general pattern will tell you for example that bass are holding on fallen trees. A specific pattern may say the bass are holding in the shade of medium-sized-limbs on fallen trees. Anyone can figure out bass are holding in fallen trees, but I want to know if the bass are:
* holding close to the shore on the main tree trunk,
* concentrating out on the end of the tree where there's current and depth,
* suspending in the middle of the tree,
* sitting on the bottom below the tree,
* staying in the darkest shadows cast by the tree,
* laying in current coming through the tree,
* holding in the eddy area that the larger limbs create, and/or
* remaining in a hole under the tree that the current has dug out.

"Knowing where the bass are positioned on a tree in the water is more important than understanding which lure you need to fish around the tree to catch the bass there. Once you know how and where the bass are holding on a tree, you can use the lure most effective for that spot and present it to the bass in a way that the fish will take it. When you determine where the bass are positioned on a tree, under particular water and weather conditions, then you can go to other trees and fish that same specific target area to easily locate and catch more bass. For instance, if you learn the bass are holding in the biggest shadow cast by the tree laying in the water, then you can go to other trees laying in the water, fish the biggest shadow and expect to catch most of your bass with that pattern. You won't waste your time fishing the entire tree."

TOMORROW: FISH THE SHADOWS, AND HIDE THE BED

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about SECRETS OF THE CLASSIC WINNERS: KEVIN VANDAM AND RICK CLUNN ...

Day 1 - Kevin Vandam's Tackle Box
Day 2 - More Of Kevin Vandam's Tackle Box
Day 3 - Rick Clunn on How to Mentally Pick Apart a Tree
Day 4 - Fish The Shadows, And Hide The Bed
Day 5 - Hunt The Holes, And Take The Easy Bass First


John's Journal