Kevin VanDam, often described as the best angler in the world, said
he simply got lucky Saturday when he hauled 22 1/2 pounds out of the
Louisiana Delta on a day when other Bassmaster Classic anglers fishing
beside him fell behind.
“I don’t think that I’m doing anything different than anybody else
there,” said VanDam, the defending Classic champ and reigning Toyota
Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year from Kalamazoo, Mich. “I got lucky
and made a couple of right casts and had my
bait go by a bass that was in the right mood.”
By good fortune or by talent, he pulled in front with a two-day
total of 41-11. VanDam was 3 pounds, 11 ounces ahead of Brent Chapman,
in second after two days with 38-1.
VanDam said he had to work hard, “grind out” his limit.
Like the first day, Saturday was a short fishing day. Fog kept
anglers on the bank for almost three hours before the fog lifted and
tournament officials sent them on their way.
First-day leader Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., fell behind Saturday
with a 12-11 catch from the same area. He ended the day in third with
33-2. Other anglers working alongside VanDam were Brandon Palaniuk of
Rathdrum, Idaho, who was fourth with 32-8, and
Scott Rook, fifth with 31-11.
The field was cut to the top 25 for Sunday’s finale. The winner’s prize is $500,000 and bass fishing’s top trophy.
Chapman, the only angler in the top five not fishing the area of
the Delta’s Lake Cataouatche, said he’d repeat his long run to Venice
for his spot, which he hasn’t had time to properly work over because of
fog-shortened fishing time.
Chapman knew exactly how much fishing time that strategy left him Saturday.
“One hour and 10 minutes,” Chapman said. “Not very long.”
Speed-fishing, he secured a five-fish limit in the first 45 minutes
flipping a Tightline UV Beaver into the canes. In the last 20 minutes
of his short fishing time, he upgraded with three that he estimated went
4 pounds each.
“My alarm on my phone went off not two minutes after I caught that last one, and I had to go,” Chapman said.
He had a rough trip home, too. His route crossed the Mississippi River, in the fog.
“Luckily I was able to still keep pace, but there were boats, and I was pushing it.”
First-day leader Martens came off the Delta a frustrated man.
“I missed a bunch, I got probably 20 percent of the fish that bit.
They’d hit my bait, but I couldn’t get them. When you get bit on
something, you keep throwing it, but it never happened for me,” he said.
Fourth-place holder Palaniuk, the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation champ
of 2010, is a 23-year-old rookie in his first pro tournament. He pulled
up from 11th place. He’s also fishing Cataouatche.
“Some struggled there today,” he said. “It got better there for me
today. I’m not saying what I’m doing, but it’s working for me.
“I’m excited to be here. I came here to win. I know I’m going
against the best, but somebody’s going to win, and it might as well be
me.”
Full Standings
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 41-11 0
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 22-08
2. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 10 38-01 0
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 20-01
3. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 10 33-02 0
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 12-11
4. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho 10 32-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 17-14
5. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 10 31-11 0
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 12-05
6. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 10 30-03 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 17-04
7. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10 29-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-00
8. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 29-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 13-14
9. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 10 28-11 0
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 13-10
10. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. 10 27-07 0
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 10-11
11. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 10 27-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-01
12. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 10 27-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-10
13. Dale Hightower Sand Springs, Okla. 10 26-14 0
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
14. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 10 26-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 11-06
15. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 9 26-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 4 12-13
16. John Crews Salem, Va. 10 25-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 11-07
17. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. 10 24-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 11-09
18. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 7 24-07 0
Day 1: 2 4-04 Day 2: 5 20-03
19. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 9 24-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 10-09
20. Shaw Grigsby Gainesville, Fla. 10 23-10 0
Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 5 14-07
21. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 10 22-13 0
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 5 13-02
22. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka, Japan 10 22-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 12-13
23. Keith Combs Del Rio, Texas 10 21-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 8-08
24. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 9 21-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 4 7-03
25. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 9 21-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 10-00
26. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 10 20-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 7-13
27. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 10 20-09 0
Day 1: 5 7-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
28. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 8 20-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 3 6-07
29. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 10 20-06 0
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 7-04
30. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 10 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 9-06
31. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 10 19-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 9-03
32. George Crain Cropwell, Ala. 7 19-05 0
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 5 15-09
33. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 10 19-01 0
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 5 9-08
34. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 9 18-11 0
Day 1: 4 9-05 Day 2: 5 9-06
35. Randall Tharp Gardendale, Ala. 8 18-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 3 6-12
36. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, S.C. 9 18-06 0
Day 1: 4 9-02 Day 2: 5 9-04
37. Kelly Jordon Palestine, Texas 7 17-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 2 2-15
38. Brian La Clair Denton, Md. 8 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 3 6-02
39. Bill Lowen Brookville, Ind. 10 16-00 0
Day 1: 5 7-11 Day 2: 5 8-05
40. Ryan Said Wixom, Mich. 8 15-08 0
Day 1: 3 4-15 Day 2: 5 10-09
41. Dave Watson Sullivan, Ind. 7 15-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 2 4-01
42. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 8 15-01 0
Day 1: 3 4-03 Day 2: 5 10-14
43. Ryan Mcmurtury Abbeville, S.C. 10 14-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 4-05
44. Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. 8 14-14 0
Day 1: 5 8-00 Day 2: 3 6-14
45. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 5 14-14 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 14-14
46. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 7 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 8-12 Day 2: 2 5-06
47. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 8 13-10 0
Day 1: 5 7-01 Day 2: 3 6-09
48. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 3 6-10 0
Day 1: 2 2-06 Day 2: 1 4-04
49. Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, N.C. 2 5-02 0
Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
50. Clark Reehm Lufkin, Texas 4 0-11 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 0-11
