DAVE EASTON
HOME FIELD San Diego, California
T AR GET SPECIES Spotted, calico and bay bass
TEAM Wilderness Systems
KA Y AK Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
T OP FINISHES 2006 West Coast Basser, First Place
2005 and 2006 Plastic Navy, Angler of the Year
2012 Kayak Fishing Addicts, Angler of the Year
GREA TES T VICT ORY In the year-long West Coast Bassers
CAPTAIN FIL “FISHMAN” SPENCER
injured baitfish or shrimp when worked slowly. Also, it comes in hundreds of color combinations, which means I can always match the local baitfish.
RIGHT S TUFF
HOME FIELD Corpus Christi and Rockport, Texas
T AR GET SPECIES Speckled trout, redfish and flounder
TEAM Johnson Watersports
KA Y AK Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 12 and 15
T OP FINISHES 2005 and 2012 Inshore Fishing Association (IFA), National Kayak Angler of the Year
GREA TES T VICT ORY With good tournaments also come bad tournaments. You can’t go out and win every tournament. I always tell people that any given day you can be beat. I have lost many tournaments and several titles by a margin of only one point. You have to shake those days off and don’t let them bother you. There will always be another tournament to fish.
SECRET WEAPON Bass Assassin on a weightless hook rigged weedless. This lure looks like an
54…KAYAK ANGLER
I use a stake-out pole instead of an anchor because I can deploy and retrieve the pole more quickly. Also, the pole makes less noise than a regular anchor when I drop it in the water and a stake-out pole stops the kayak in its tracks.
T A C KLE TIP I pre-rig several of my favorite lures on leaders so I can switch out the leader and the lure when I make a change.
A W A Y G AME
When I’m pre-fishing a tournament, I’m not just trying to find fish. I also note the weather and tide conditions. I look for places I can fish if the wind is blowing. I also consider how the current flows so I can take advantage of a free ride on tournament day. Be careful not to get stranded by low tide or an opposing wind or current.
T OURN AMENT D A Y Keep track of the water temperature. Certain species like a specific water temperature. If I can find that temperature, I can find the fish. If you don’t have a fishfinder with a water temp display, use a pool thermometer or an infrared temperature gun to take the water temp.
HOME FIELD Lexington, Kentucky
T AR GET SPECIES Largemouth and smallmouth bass
TEAM
Jackson Kayak KA Y AK
Jackson Coosa
T OP FINISHES 2012 Lake Cumberland Kayak Fishing Tournament, First Place
2012 Elkhorn Classic, First Place
2013 Bluegrass Yakmasters Guist Creek Lake, First Place
GREA TES T VICT ORY After placing second in two previous tournaments, I got my first win in the Bluegrass Yakmasters Tournament on Guist Creek Lake. What a relief to break that runner-up streak.
SECRET WEAPON Yamamoto Senko is a great lure to catch large numbers of fish, but it also produces some pigs. After struggling on the first morning of the Yakmasters Classic, I switched to a Senko and caught my biggest tournament bass.
RIGHT S TUFF
I keep my rods lying on the deck in front of me. Not only are they in reach, but the rods aren’t sticking up where they can get caught in overhangs.
T A C KLE TIP I rig everything the night before the tournament so I’m not tying on lures while everyone is fishing.
A W A Y G AME
While local knowledge is valuable, an angler has to follow his gut instincts, too. Sometimes sticking to another angler’s plan can keep me from going my own direction. During the Licking Ridge Tournament, everyone said that the morning bite was non-existent. But the morning of the tournament the fish were on fire. Taking advantage of that helped me win.
T OURN AMENT D A Y Sometimes working one location and grinding out quality fish can be a win- ning strategy. In the Guist Creek Lake Tournament I hit a well-known spot close to the launch. When I caught one nice fish, I decided to grind it out. I ended up catching three more quality fish and winning the tournament.
tournament, I resolved to catch a qualifying calico, sand and spotted bass each month. I accomplished that goal and won the tournament.
SECRET WEAPON For calico and sand bass, a blue, silver, clear-flake plastic swimbait is my favorite. Kevin VanDam’s three-quarter ounce Tiger Spinner is deadly on spotted sand bass.
RIGHT S TUFF
Bring a backup for critical items such as pliers, cutters, sunglasses and hat. Losing one of these items overboard could end the day.
T A C KLE TIPS
I like to use Uni-Butter scent on my lures. The night before a
tournament, I pierce the soft plastic lure with a pin and rub in the scent. Then I cover the lure in plastic wrap and let it marinate.
A W A Y G AME
I admit I have driven around with binoculars to see where other anglers were pre-fishing. Not so I can steal their spot, but so I know where other guys are heading and I can make my own plan.
T OURN AMENT D A Y I try to use the wind and current to carry me to locations other anglers can’t reach. To extend your range, keep the kayak light; don’t overload with stuff you will not use.
T.J. STRONG
“CERTAIN SPECIES LIKE A SPECIFIC WATER TEMPERATURE. IF I CAN FIND THAT TEMPERATURE, I CAN FIND THE FISH.”
PHOTO: FIL SPENCER
PHOTO: DAVID EASTON
PHOTO: T.J. STRONG
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