Revealed: Kevin VanDam’s secret fall smallmouth bass technique

Speed run

How you present your spinnerbait to the fish in the fall is paramount. You want to be able to visually follow your lure all the way back to the boat, from the beginning to the end of your casts. At the same time, you want the bass to be able to do the same thing while looking up toward the surface. By experimenting with blade sizes, retrieve speeds and lure weights from 3/8 to ¾ ounce, you’ll be able to keep your spinnerbait just under the surface, regardless of the water depth. And because fall smallmouth typically race up and swipe at a fast-moving spinnerbait, it’s essential to add a short, sharp, free-swinging stinger hook (above). Slide the trailer hook’s eye onto your main hook, then secure it with a tiny piece of pliable surgical tubing.