Obviously, it's not one factor, but multiple.

Clearly, he prepares and studies effectively and is extremely motivated. He fishes with machine-like efficiency and adapts to changing conditions faster than most.

He's a world beater fishing shallow and deep.

But, what I see that sets him apart is that he's so good at mid depth (especially with moving baits). Being so dominant at mid depth enables him to catch more fish in transition. It's the bigger fish that tend to move first with changing conditions. Most of the pros excel shallow or deep, and a few are world beaters at both; but KVD appears to be the most comfortable in the mid depths. Most of his competitors are fishing shallow and deep, with the mid depth receiving much less fishing pressure.

So, he tends to catch more fish than most because he makes more casts (he has a lure in the water for a higher percentage of the time than most), tends to fish for less pressured bass, and he's putting odds in his favor to catch more of the bigger fish

Instinct... the man has a 6th sense when it comes to fishing and reading water.

Here are the reasons I think he is so successful:

Ability to read & eliminate water quickly
Ability to adjust to changing weather patterns quickly
Ability to catch them power fishing or finesse fishing
Ability to fish efficiently
Work ethic

Many of the guys in the Elite Series are proficient in one or two techniques. Some are expert at picking apart shallow water cover with a jig or a soft plastic bait like Greg Hackney. Others can catch them offshore really well like Brent Ehrler. Some are admitted junk fishermen like Gerald Swindle. Some are great finesse fishermen like Aaron Martens.

Few are good at more than one or two techniques like KVD.

The thing that makes KVD so dangerous is that he is good at so many techniques and has an almost sixth sense with regard to their patterns & movements. He is also very likely the most efficient angler on the planet. When he gets bit, he gets the fish in the box and gets a bait back to them so quickly, the fish don't know what hit em. He fires them up then mows them down.

I think he truly understands what the bass are doing and wanting at any giving time of the year.

You are spot on my friend. He knows how they travel back and forth to the shallows and exactly where to cut them off to intercept them. I have watch his techniques through his whole transition into the lime light. It just doesn't get any better as he follows the fish the way I do my mapping work from Shallow to Deep.

- He has the shallow water spots for the first hour of fishing that are the best producing spots on the lake. He works those quickly to take what he can get and moves through the spots with his search baits.
- If he finds this shallow water spot that is most productive, he follows those fish to the the mid range level of their route back to deep water. This is where he shines with the Jerk baits out on the wind blown transition areas of a flat, point that rises on the end and inside bends of the main creek channel which delivers these fish to the area.
- When that shuts down he will move deeper to their comfort zone where they live and finish them off as they suspend over the last pieces of cover on that slope next to deep water.

I know the man personally and will tell you what makes him so good, in addition to everything posted above. He's brilliant and retains knowledge from past experiences like no one else. That's why he's able to adjust so quickly. In addition to that, he absolutely hates to lose. At ANYTHING!

KVD was CLONED from Rick Clunn,Roland Martin, Bill Dance and Jimmy Houston back in the 60's He comes by it naturally from birth.

+1

If anyone knew for sure what makes him great they would be out there doing it themselves.

Efficiency.

Believe it or not, everyone doesn't want to be out there doing it themselves. Nor does everyone have his IQ, his drive AND his stamina.

I think people greatly underestimate what drive can do to a average angler much less someone with KVD intangibles as you mentioned above. You can take a person with great dive and average talent in anything and they will compete. I have admired KVD from afar for those intangibles that most will never have. The same drive Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and many more in their own sport. You just can not measure drive in anyone and what it means, at the end of a game to put a person or team over the top.

I really like the Jerry Rice/Tom Brady comparison.
Certainly underscores the importance of motivation/hard work/mental strength for success in any competitive environment.

I agree. You can put me in the category of not wanting to even if I had a clue why he is so good. I still think he does things and draws from a knowledge base none of us can understand.

He is simply the best tournament angler of all time. Not sure anyone is even close.

He's really Aquaman, so he just talks them into a boat ride.