News Archive For February 2010
VanDam Stuns Birmingham, Sacks Shocking 19 1/2
February 22, 2010 (bassfan.com, February 22, 2010)
The outcome seemed almost a given. Even as Kevin VanDam made his way from the stage to his boat, some reserved shouts and cheers went up from the Birmingham, Ala. crowd. There was an icy air – a palpable electric current that seemed to signal the best who’s ever been was about achieve the inevitable. There wasn’t the tension then …Read more »Kevin VanDam wins 2010 Bassmaster Classic
February 22, 2010 (bassmaster.com, February 22, 2010)
The 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., added another accolade to his career Sunday, winning the 40th Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake. After a banner final day with a haul of 19 pounds, 7 ounces, VanDam will take home the $500,000 first-place prize from the total Classic payout of $1.2 million, along with …Read more »Unflappable VanDam wins third Classic
February 21, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — If several hundred spectators hadn’t been there to witness it firsthand, both from the water and from the bank, it would be hard to believe how easily Kevin VanDam won his third Bassmaster Classic crown this week at Alabama’s Lay Lake. In an era when increasingly specialized electronics and 70-plus mph boats are considered indispensable on the …Read more »Reaction to Classic championship
February 21, 2010 – by Kevin VanDam
Bassmaster Classic Number 3 – what a thrill! Tonight I’d like to talk about some of the things that happened during the tournament and then Tuesday when things have settled down, and I’ve had a chance to collect my thoughts and emotions, I’ll talk about what this means to me. First, I want to tell you a story about a …Read more »Top three after Day Two tightens to three ounces
February 20, 2010 (bassmaster.com, February 20, 2010)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., is sitting atop the field in the Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake with a two-day limit of 32-1. Fishing in Beeswax Creek, Kriet caught most of his fish on lipless crankbaits. Coming into the event trailing Day One leader Kevin VanDam by 3 pounds, 1 ounce, Kriet surged ahead with the day’s …Read more »Not enough room in the beehive
February 20, 2010 (bassmaster.com, February 20, 2010)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It was a Chamber of Commerce type day on Lay Lake Saturday — clear skies, light winds and a mild breeze — but it’s unlikely that all members of the Chamber were ecstatic. Sure, the nearby hotels are full, the restaurants are doing a steady business and the vendors at the Bassmaster Classic Expo are going gangbusters …Read more »VanDam committed to catching all he can now
February 20, 2010 – by David Brown
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — One of the basic rules of recreational fishing is that you shouldn’t leave fish to find fish. However, in a tournament scenario, anglers are often tempted to do just that with the intent of “saving” fish for subsequent days. That will not be the case for Kevin VanDam, who leads the field of 51 anglers going into …Read more »2 ounces behind
February 20, 2010
Today was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. This has been a different Classic. First I thought one big day would do it, and then I thought the weights would go up as the tournament progressed. Neither one of them happened like I thought it would. Although I do think the weights might go up tomorrow for …Read more »VanDam has firm grip on Day One lead
February 19, 2010 (bassmaster.com, February 19, 2010)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A warming trend was the boost the 51 competitors needed for a productive Day 1 at the 40th Bassmaster Classic, and sunny skies Friday afternoon were accommodating for most as several limits of more than 16 pounds were brought to the scales at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex arena. Starting things off with a bang was 2009 Toyota …Read more »A good first day
February 19, 2010
I said yesterday that I thought this Classic would be different because you wouldn’t need fish for three days. Honestly, when I wrote that I believed one good day would be enough this year. After today you can throw that idea out the window. This will be a three day event. There’s no doubt about that. The changes out there …Read more »