5 Traits the Best Bass Pros Have in Common

Are you hoping to win a bass tournament? It never hurts to look at how the pros do it. And on that front, I’ve put in a lot of legwork. I’ve been a columnist for a number of fishing publications and online sources for decades now, and in that time, I’ve interviewed hundreds of bass pros. These include the sport’s biggest names: Kevin VanDam, Jordan Lee, Edwin Evers, and Jacob Wheeler. I once spent three full days in the boat with Bryan Thrift trying to get his secrets. I was in the tunnel when Denny finally won the Classic. I fish fairly regularly with John Cox.

Want to win your next tournament? Use these five traits shared by successful pros. Image by Jason Sealock

My exposure to the winningest anglers frequently finds me examining their approaches. What makes some competitors good, and others great? How is it that a handful of guys just seem to win so often? It far outweighs luck of the draw.

My years of observation and study have shown me that there’s something of a formula to their success. After breathing the same air as these guys, here’s a list of what I’ve seen that separates the bass fishing millionaires from those who just cash checks.

1: CONFIDENCE

The importance of this trait cannot be emphasized enough. The top pros all possess supreme confidence in their ability, especially their daily approach. When an angler wins a big bass tournament, if we roll back the clock, he likely had a strategy to do so from the beginning. It’s a game plan that he believes is not only the best, but is entirely possible. Not “I hope I hope this comes together” or “I’ll swing for the fence and see what happens.”

Put together a winning game plan and have the confidence to stick with it. Image by Joe Balog

Instead, it’s a plan that has been well-thought and is statistically capable of producing a stringer of fish exceeding all others. Therefore, when the fishing lines up with the plan, the angler never doubts his strategy. He is reinforced over and over again with each catch, leading to heightened awareness, a fluidity in his fishing, and accurate presentations. It’s just like when a billiard ace starts running balls or a golfer hits his groove. Confidence is unstoppable in sports.

2: EFFICIENCY

Here’s one that is often overlooked. Sure, lots of competitors fish a full day and continue casting until the last minute. But few are considering efficiency in every aspect of their fishing. Few, that is, except for the best. Today’s top anglers are taking steps to ensure that every cast they make is directed and purposeful. This comes from rigging baits ahead of time to tying leaders to having multiple rods ready for each approach. But it also comes in the aspect of planning their run times, and idling areas in practice to find the best ways in and out. Having cull floats and scales at the ready. Practicing the best methods for quickly landing fish and more. If you watch guys like Dustin Connell or Michael Neal, it’s amazing how quickly they present their lures, and hook and land fish after fish. This is not by accident, but the result of maximizing efficiency at every turn.

Use your available time efficiently by pre-rigging rods, making every cast count and by landing fish quickly. Image by Joe Balog

3: CAPITALIZING ON THE FLURRY

This goes along with both No. 1 and No. 2. Very rarely in big-time competition does an angler lead from start to finish. More often, somewhere throughout the day, the winner capitalizes on a unique opportunity and loads the boat. Sometimes the flurry lasts a few hours, but other times it’s just minutes. But when it happens, the best anglers in the sport are there, waiting.

Always be prepared when a hot bite gives you the opportunity to put a lot of fish in the boat in a hurry. Image by Realtree

Kevin VanDam was famous for this. During his prime, when the fish got on a power-fishing bite, VanDam was unstoppable. Confident in his approach, and masterfully efficient, no competitor could keep up with KVD when the smallies got on a jerkbait or offshore largemouths on a deep-diving crank. Remember, all it takes is about 15 minutes to win a traditional, five-fish bass tournament. The best truly believe those 15 minutes are just around the corner, whether it’s the first five casts or the last.

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4: SPECIALIZATION

Traditionally, bass fishing specialists won big tournaments. When the fish were shallow, bank-beaters took the pot. Later in the year, offshore ledge fishermen were tough to beat. Up North, deep water smallmouth experts reigned supreme. More recently, though, anglers capable of multiple approaches compete for Angler-Of-the-Year titles. Versatility seems to have become key to making it as a pro.

Remember, though, we’re discussing winning, not just paying the bills. And an impartial look at winners continues to reveal specialists. We’re all familiar with the impact forward-facing sonar (FFS) is having on competitive bass fishing. That, alone, is a specialty, allowing for those best-versed in the game (often young, tech-savvy anglers) to win a bunch of big prizes recently.

Be versatile enough to fish any conditions, but specialize in one or two skills that will help you dominate when conditions are right. Image by Joe Balog

But we’re also seeing the old guard come through when conditions align with their specialty. Earlier this year, Bill Lowen won while jig fishing on the St. Johns, while Bobby Lane flipped up a win on the Harris Chain. Essentially, each had spent their entire careers refining their approach for that very moment. Specialization at its best.

5: HOMEWORK

While tour-level competitors are no longer permitted to get fishing info from outsiders, you’d be surprised how much homework they do prior to an event. Occasionally, this is in the form of a ride-around the lake before off-limits. More often, however, it comes from map study using electronic charts and satellite imagery. Don’t be fooled into thinking that these guys are locating obscure, offshore honey holes void of angling pressure. That ship has sailed, thanks to technology.

Instead, the best in the sport develop game plans based on water conditions and their individual preferences. In this case, no lake looks the same to two anglers. When John Cox, for example, studies a map, he looks for areas that seem extremely difficult to access and have vast backwater habitat. He largely ignores the rest of the map. When Dustin Connell won REDCREST earlier this year, he gravitated to a tailrace section he had never visited — something he saw while riding around the lake — and buckled down. Why? Because he likes to fish current, and he knew that, if he picked right in his chosen area, he’d be tough to beat. Game over.

What’s your favorite way to fish? What sort of conditions bring you the most confidence? Look for them ahead of time, and don’t second-guess the possibility that you, too, may just pick right.

You’ll notice our tournament winning formula didn’t include magic lures, sonar settings, or having the fastest boat on the water. A lifetime of experience never entered the equation. Instead, it’s necessary to capitalize on what you already know, feeding off your previous accomplishments and fish catches to develop a pattern that you excel at. Do that enough times, and you’ll find yourself the last guy called up for his trophy.

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