Kevin VanDam

Bassmaster Kevin Vandam was the star attraction at annual Portage Fishing Fair

May 23, 2011

PORTAGE — Taking a break from signing autographs, Kevin Vandam walked down to the shore of Long Lake to give fishing tips to a crowd of families.

The six-time national Bassmaster Angler of the Year and four-time Bassmaster Classic winner was going over the differences between spin-cast reels and open-face reels when Mindy Kulasa noticed that the way Vandam had rigged the fake worm onto the line gave the bait a lifelike look.

"Hey, Kevin," Kulasa called from the audience, "how'd you hook that worm?"

Vandam walked over to Kulasa and showed her how he'd put the fake worm on the line using a Z-hook.

Kulasa, 44, of Galesburg, has been fishing since she was 3 years old, but she had never heard of a Z-hook.

"I wanted to know what the secret was," Kulasa said.

Vandam was the star attraction at the City of Portage Parks Department's annual Fishing Fair in Ramona Park on Saturday. The fair was co-sponsored by the National Recreation and Parks Association, the Take Me Fishing Initiative, United Water, 92.5 WZUU and Great Lakes Guide Service.

Kulasa attended the fair with her 10-year-old son, Jack.

"We are avid fisherman," Kulasa said.

Jack, however, didn't need any tips. After all, the largest fish he'd ever caught was a 16-inch large-mouth bass.

"I'm pretty good at fishing already," Jack said. "I just wanted to meet Kevin Vandam."

Jack got to meet Vandam, and the fishing pro signed the bottom of Jack's blue-and-yellow baseball cap.

While the fair was geared more toward children, anyone could have fun and even learn how to fish, Vandam said.

"I think everybody would love to fish," Vandam said.

Ramona Park was a fantastic location for the fair, with lots of room and lots of fish, Vandam said.

Local organizations provided activities for children, helping them build and race model sailboats, teaching them how to cast a line and providing information on fishing safely.

Prizes were given away, including a guided trip down the Kalamazoo River with Jumpin Smallie Guide Service and a four-person fishing trip on Lake Michigan, from Great Lakes Guide Service.

The first 100 children who attended the fair were given a free fishing rod. Organizers ran out of rods about an hour into the fair, Keala said.

Jack Kulasa, however, didn't need a fishing rod — he brought his own.

By lunchtime, Jack hadn't yet had an opportunity to fish on the lake.

"I'm going to look around some more," Jack said, "maybe get another autograph."

 

 

----

source: MLive, Kalamazoo Gazette - Sebastian Fryer

---