GEARING UP
THE COLORS OF
VanDam , DeFoe cover the color spectrum for October , November crankbait success
By Tyler Brinks PHOTOS BY BRANDON ROWAN all is a time of transition as the warm weather of summer slowly starts to give way to cooler temperatures and shorter days . Whether that means focusing more on hunting or adjusting your fishing approach , October and November arrive with changing conditions that affect the habits of all species , including bass .
The term “ fall colors ” generally refers to the changing hues of leaves as they switch from greens to vibrant yellows and oranges , but the fall change also signifies a shift in gears when it comes to crankbait colors .
Kevin VanDam and Ott DeFoe have a lot in common : They ’ ve each claimed Bass Pro Tour victories and Bassmaster Classic wins , and each has a deep love for fishing crankbaits – so much so that they ’ ve both been deeply involved in the development of some of the most popular crankbaits on the market today from Strike King ( VanDam ) and Rapala ( DeFoe ).
“ Cranking just suits my style ,” VanDam admits . “ I ’ m a power fisherman , and I love to cover water . A crankbait is the best tool I can think of for that .”
Both VanDam and DeFoe are certainly very versatile in their techniques .
72 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2021