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By Al McGuckin
Terry Scroggins
By the time Team Toyota’s Terry “Big Show” Scroggins turned 18 he was a skilled painter in his family’s Palatka, Florida autobody business. Fast forward 35 years, and he’s not only won $2 Million dollars as a pro angler, but he’s also painting soft plastic lures in a way he’s pretty certain no one ever has before.
“I painted cars for a living for more that 16 years. I was good at my job. Made good money. But man, it was hard work. Painting cars was like a 9-hour aerobic workout in a paint booth that was 90-degrees and full of fumes. Trust me, pouring and painting soft plastic lures is way more fun,” smiles Scroggins.
His venture into pouring custom lures actually began a few months prior to the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake, Oklahoma. Locals were known for throwing a no-longer-made salamander lure that couldn’t be bought, so Scroggins had a buddy make a mold to replicate it.
The secret homemade amphibian imitation didn’t win him the Classic, but it ultimately led to an addictive hobby he continues to refine and market more than a decade later. His latest lure modification involves pumping outrageously popular Spike-It lure dye through a small paint gun to create one-of-a-kind colors.
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By Al McGuckin
Team Toyota’s Kevin VanDam was 18 years old the first time he spoke as a featured fishing seminar presenter at a boat show. He was nervous and feared nobody would show up.
Not only did they show up for the first one, 38 years later they’re still crowding-in by the hundreds like they did last week in Novi, Michigan to hear a slice of bass fishing wisdom from the man most consider the greatest of all time.
“I’ve probably done around 700 fishing seminars at this point in my career, but I’ll never forget that first one in Grand Rapids. A sales rep and promotions manager named Henry Bouche invited me to speak there, and I was dumbfounded,” smiles VanDam.
“I walked into that room, and there were dozens of guys twice my age who I knew personally and competed against. I was super nervous, but once I started sharing my passion for fishing with them, I settled right down. I think I got paid $250. That was pretty awesome,” he adds.
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By Louie Stout
Kevin VanDam & Nick
A lot is written about when is the best time to throw specific types of crankbaits. It’s easy to be confused, so we went to the man who has won a ton of money on crankbaits and arguably the best source for clarification.
Kevin VanDam.
Basically, there are three types of crankbaits. Flat-sides, square bills and the traditional round bills, the latter of which most anglers are familiar.
We asked VanDam about his favorites for early season fishing.
“Flat-side crankbaits are really good in cold water and when you’re fishing around rocks or a hard, clean bottom,” he said last week. “When fishing around Michiana old milfoil or coontail vegetation, I like the square bill because it’s so much more efficient at coming through grass.”
Strike King, VanDam’s lure sponsor, offers flat- sided crankbaits in the Chick Magnet, which runs about 5 feet deep; the Chick Magnet Jr. that runs 4 feet; and the KVD 1.5 Flat, which has a deeper bill and runs about 8 feet or more on 10-pound line.