Kevin Van Dam

Jonathon VanDam: Doing it His Way

January 28, 2008 – espnoutdoors.com

Being a VanDam in the bass fishing trade cuts two ways. High-quality, reliable advice is usually available, and it opens a lot of doors; family history and reputation counts for something in this business.

But that history also puts a lot of pressure on a guy. You’re expected to catch fish and finish high in every tournament you enter. After all, you’re a VanDam, and everyone knows that VanDams catch fish. That wouldn’t be such a problem if the fish knew how good the VanDams are, but they don’t.

“I was nervous going into the Southern Open on the St. John’s River, (January 17, 2008). It was my first professional tournament. I’m not going to deny that. I knew everyone was wondering if I could fish like my uncle,” says Jonathon VanDam, 19-year-old nephew of three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam. “But if fishing bass tournaments is what you want to do — and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do — you have to ignore all that stuff and go fishing.”

That’s an attitude that’s easy to display at the dock but comes a lot harder on the water. Still, this young man does a credible job of it.

Jonathon traveled from Kalamazoo, Mich., with a family friend and practiced with another friend to get ready for his professional debut. He left his father, Randy, and better known uncle at home. This was his tournament, not theirs.

“I learned a lot from my dad, Randy. He owns D & R Sports Center (www.dandrsports.com) in Kalamazoo. We sell fishing and hunting supplies as well as boats and service. He can fish; he caught the Ohio state record smallmouth bass in 1993 from Lake Erie. It weighed 9.5 pounds. I learned a lot about bass fishing from him when I was growing up, especially smallmouth bass fishing. He’s great.

Mike & Mike in the Morning to 2008 Bassmaster Classic

January 24, 2008 – espnoutdoors.com

The early birds are already up and listening to his popular ESPN Radio show every morning, so ESPN’s Mike Golic is going to take it on the road and bring listeners along for a big fishing trip next month. Golic is headed to Greenville, S.C., where he will experience bass fishing on its biggest stage while hosting Mike & Mike in the Morning live from the 2008 Bassmaster Classic.

Mike & Mike in the Morning will broadcast live, 6 a.m.-10 a.m. ET Friday, Feb. 22, from the 38th Bassmaster Classic launch site at Portman Marina on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. Fifty of the world’s top anglers will then start their three-day odyssey for a chance at $1.2 million in prizes, including the winner’s purse of $500,000 and the prestigious title of Bassmaster Classic champion.

As BASS celebrates its 40th anniversary, the world’s leader in bass fishing is pulling out all the stops to make the 2008 Bassmaster Classic a most memorable event.

“What an incredible addition to our stellar lineup of events surrounding the 38th Bassmaster Classic,” said Tom Ricks, vice president and general manager of BASS. “We look forward to having Mike & Mike in the Morning live at Lake Hartwell.”

Young VanDam holds lead at Open

January 18, 2008 – espnoutdoors.com

PALATKA, Fla. — At just 19 years old, Jonathan VanDam has a command of the St. Johns River that would — and likely did — make veteran anglers rather envious.

VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Mich., took over the lead after Friday’s Day 2 in the Bassmaster Southern Open with a big bag of 24 pounds, 1 ounce, for a two-day total of 40 pounds, 3 ounces.

VanDam, who moved up from third place, is the nephew of three-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam. The teenager admits his uncle, along with his father and grandfather, has taught him a lot about successful fishing.

VanDam fished a lot of areas all over the river, covering spawning fish and the pre-spawn and throwing deep-diving crankbaits in 2 to 13 feet of water. He found two areas that were particularly successful and said that in one of his favorite spots he was catching one on almost every cast.

This is VanDam’s first BASS event as a pro, though he previously has fished BASS events as a co-angler. His big fish of the day, at 6 pounds, 13 ounces, nearly didn’t make it into the boat.

“It was windy, and I kind of knew the area it was in, and I caught that one on a drop shot, actually,” he said. “I was scared because I was only using 12-pound test on a spinning rod, with a Bass Trix minnow.”

DEREK REMITZ ON THE 2008 CLASSIC

January 15, 2008 – basszone.com

Grant, Ala. – Heading into last year’s Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake, Derek Remitz was a virtual unknown in the world of professional bass fishing.

“Not a whole lot of people had any idea who I was,” he said. “It was easy to get lost in the shadows of guys like Skeet and Kevin Van Dam.”

The anonymity didn’t help him, as he quietly fished his way to a lackluster 34th place finish. But any ability to fly under the radar evaporated the next month when he won the Elite Series event at Amistad and finished 2nd a short time later at the Cal Delta, en route to a Rookie of the Year title. He’s now a household name.

“Now I may even get a spectator boat or two,” he said. But whether or not he’s recognizable, he doesn’t seem any more animated about fishing for the cool half million dollars and chance at fishing immortality that a Classic title would confer.

“It’s just another tournament to me. The only difference is that in this one your final place matters, but it doesn’t really matter. You fish it only to win it. I’d love to win a Classic, but I’m just going to take it as it comes and not get sidetracked by other things.”