Kevin VanDam

The Velvick Touch

March 14, 2008 – bassmaster.com

LAKE WALES, Fla. — Byron Velvick might have been one of the happiest men on Earth when he walked across the weigh-in stage Thursday at the Bassmaster Elite Series Citrus Slam, presented by Longhorn.

Velvick, who finished next-to-last in the point standings among 108 Elite Series pros last year, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds and took the first-day lead on the Kissimmee Chain.

“I smoked ‘em, dude,” Velvick said. “It’s about time I showed up in one of these tournaments, isn’t it?”

The answer to that question would be, “Yes.” Velvick had to re-qualify for the Elite Series, and did it by winning the WildCard qualifier on Dec. 1 last year at Florida’s Lake Okeechobee.

“The last tournament I won, there was no money,” said Velvick, who got a trophy and a chance to fish the Elite Series, but no check. “I just got a bill for $55,000.”

Velvick was referring to the entry fees for the 2008 Elite Series.

“Hey, congratulations, you won the WildCard — now give us $55,000,” he said with a laugh. “That’s no way to win a tournament.”

Velvick will at least get a check for $1,000 this week, for having the Berkley Heavyweight Bag on Day One. But he’s hoping for much more.

Closed-Minded Approach Paid Off For McClelland

March 11, 2008 – bassfan.com

Pros who win tour-level events will often tell you that keeping an open mind was a critical component in their success. But a narrow-minded approach worked quite nicely for Mike McClelland at the recent Harris Chain Bassmaster Elite Series.

The Arkansan had missed more checks than he’d made over the years in Florida, and a lot of the guys he’d been looking up at in the standings had beaten him with finesse worms. He was determined to not let that happen again.

He threw a Zoom Trick Worm all through practice and all through the tournament and came away with his third Elite Series victory in three seasons. He started the final day trailing Brian Snowden by just about 10 pounds, but won by more than 5 when the latter blanked.

While the rest of the leaders were up one day and down the next in the constantly changing conditions, he was remarkably steady. His daily average was just a shade under 15 pounds – the exact weight of his final-day bag – and he never deviated from it by more than 2 pounds.

Here’s how he did it.

Practice

McClelland and Jeff Kriet share information at each event, and both came to the season opener with the mindset that finesse worms around lily pads would be the way to go.

“We’re always 100% honest with each other, and by the second morning of practice, we started pushing that pattern everywhere we could find pads on the lake,” he said. “I was just fortunate to find the right ones that held up all week.”

His primary area was in a canal between Lake Harris and Lake Eustis. It featured a hard bottom, it was deeper than most canal spots (the water in the chain was 2 to 3 feet below normal pool) and the fish it held were primarily post-spawners.

Falling Temps Melt the Snowman’s Shallow Pattern

March 10, 2008 – basszone.com

Leesburg, FL – The Sunshine Showdown lived up to half it’s potential on the wind-whipped Harris Chain…at least the sun was out part of the day Sunday, if that’s what you were going for. Instead of a steady breeze with the occasional light gust, what 50 of the best anglers in America faced on Saturday was anything but light.

Everyone in the field had something to say about the wind on the third day of the event. Be it falling out of the boat (a first for veteran pro Gary Klein), or having an unhooked (and uninvited) bass jump into the boat, weird things happened all day…aside from the incredibly strong wings.
What wasn’t odd was the quiet calm of Brian Snowden, who put up 10 pounds of cushion on a day where over half of the field failed to bring in a limit. Needing just a few bites to all but clinch the deal Sunday, The BASS ZONE was with the Missouri pro until 2:00…and he hadn’t had a keeper bite yet.

A clear and chilly 42-degree sunrise met the 12-man field at launch, and the 50-mile-per-hour gusts had been replaced with a steady 10- to 12-mile-per-hour breeze. The problem many faced was what the overnight chill had done to the water temps…a near 10-degree drop over most of the lake – particularly in the canals where the top of the field had been clustered.

The door to the top spot was left open as Snowden stubbed his toe, allowing for a nail biter of a final weigh-in. Mike McClelland scrambled to his back-up water and made the most of it by bringing 15-00 to the scales to the scales Sunday to take his sixth BASS win – his third in the Elite Series.

McClelland amassed 59-2 over four days fishing – over five pounds better than required to claim the win.

McClelland breaks the chain

March 10, 2008 – bassmaster.com

LEESBURG, Fla. — Brian Snowden almost won the Sunshine Showdown without catching a bass Sunday. Ten of the final 12 anglers had weighed in at the Harris Chain of Lakes, and Snowden’s 54-pound, three-day total remained unsurpassed.

But when Mike McClelland put 15 pounds on the scales Sunday, Snowden was suddenly down by just over 5 pounds. And he couldn’t get up. Snowden, who had been so consistent from Thursday through Saturday, finished second for the fourth time in his BASS career when he zeroed Sunday.

McClelland was still in shock 15 minutes after claiming the first-place trophy for the Bassmaster Elite Series Sunshine Showdown, presented by Advance Auto Parts.

“This is almost bittersweet,” said McClelland, who has now won three Elite Series events. “I feel so bad for Brian.

“Brian and I have known each other for a lot of years. It’s really a shock. I had no idea what I had today would get me where I needed to be.”

McClelland said he told his wife, Stacy, in a phone conversation Saturday night that this was Snowden’s tournament, and that he was fishing for second place. McClelland was fine with that. He wants to make a run at the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. The week was already a moral victory, because he hasn’t performed well on Florida lakes in the past.

“I was content with the fact that I thought I’d caught enough today to finish second,” said McClelland, who started the day in second place with 44-2, almost 10 pounds behind Snowden. “I heard rumors that Brian didn’t catch ‘em, but I thought people were just trying to keep me suspenseful (on stage).”

THE SNOWMAN NOT MELTING AT THE HARRIS CHAIN

March 8, 2008 – basszone.com

Leesburg, FL – Just when you think you’ve finally got it figured out…WHAM! Mother Nature pitched a sinker (or stinker) right down the middle of the plate Saturday, and conditions at the Sunshine Showdown on the Harris Chain sunk right along with it, at least for some of the pros.

With an overcast sky at dawn, the sun popped out bright and clear during the mid-morning hour. The only constant throughout the day was wind – and lots of it. A sustained westerly wind blowing at 30- to 40-mph, and gusts up to 50, ravaged the area and all but dashed the hopes of those who didn’t have any protected water to steal away to.

In addition to the winds, heavy rains from last night muddied up the water, making many areas – even ones protected from the wind – all but un-fishable. The Harris Chain lends itself well to windy conditions as there are canals everywhere, so it’s true that the mob of anglers who lined up to fish them did have a distinct advantage; however, reports early were that even they were struggling in the high winds and muddy conditions Saturday had to offer.

By the time the weigh-in rolled around, it was clear that a 10- to 12-pound bag in the third round would be pretty strong. Three pros commented that they had fish jump into (and out of) their boats while on the trolling motor. As added insult, it was a fish that all three could have used given the lack of limits on cut-day.

However, the ever-consistent Brian Snowden was able to make the most of an otherwise bad situation. He adjusted to the wind and stained water inside the protected canal he has been sharing with Kenyon Hill all week. In the process amassed one of less than 30 limits, which weighed 16-13, giving him 54-0 over three days…and a10-pound lead heading into Sunday.

In second place after the third period was Mike McClelland, with a combined weight of 44-2. McClelland weighed five fish Saturday for 13-1, giving him 44-2 in total weight. Third place honors Saturday went to Elite Series rookie Bobby Lane, who brought 8-11 to the stage, giving him a three-day total weight of 41-3.

In fourth headed down the stretch was Dean Rojas, with 42-6 overall. Rojas weighed 13-9 Saturday, giving him almost a pound over his closest competitor, but nearly 12 pounds out of the lead.

LET IT SNOW IN FLORIDA…

March 8, 2008 – basszone.com

Leesburg, FL – Weather seems to always be the wildcard in any bass tournament – whether you’re fishing for fun or competing in a million-dollar derby. It’s either too sunny, or too hot. Sometimes it’s too windy…or too not. And in the second day of the Sunshine Shootout on the Harris Chain in Leesburg, FL, the weather was the foe to an otherwise tranquil story…whether you liked it or not.

The fishing unfolded as expected – a slower-than-most-would’ve-liked morning gave way to a pig-fest of an afternoon. Right after lunch, a storm strong system began to approach the Leesburg area, and by 2:00 thunder could be heard booming a short distance away.

With the field being sliced to 50 at the conclusion of the day’s festivities, the thunder wasn’t the only thing booming. The leader board changed continually throughout the weigh-in, and for those who thought that day one would be the day for the big bite; Friday’s demonstration stood them on their collective ear.

Bill Lowen’s day one lead of 21-10 was strong but susceptible to a good kicker. This was true with each pro at the top, so the test heading out this morning was to not only repeat Thursday’s performance but better it by nabbing that one (or two) big bites needed to not only advance, but remain in contention.

With the expected rain holding off until after the weigh-in, angler after angler brought a limit to the scales (over 70 in fact), and at the end of day two Brian Snowden held down the top spot with a combined limit weighing 37-3, thanks in part to his day two weight of 20-0.

The leaders continued to shuffle as Mark Menendez came all the way from 47th into second place by bringing a limit to the scales weighing 24-9, giving him 34-13 for a two-day total. In third after the second-day slug out was Bobby Lane, who set the day’s Berkley Heavy onto the scales Thursday weighing 26-9, giving him a two-day combined weight of33-15.

Fourth place belonged to Rick Morris, with a combined weight of 31-14, who brought 18-05 to the weigh-in on day two. Rounding out the top five was Mike McClelland with a total weight of 31-1, thanks to a second-day limit weighing 15-4.

Top three endured hard times at Harris Chain

March 6, 2008 – bassmaster.com

LEESBURG, Fla. — If you could use some inspiration for overcoming adversity, you need only look at the top of the leaderboard after Day One of the Bassmaster Elite Series Sunshine Showdown presented by Advance Auto Parts.

At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Bill Lowen had only one 13-inch bass in his livewell. He ended his day as the leader on the Harris Chain of Lakes with 21 pounds, 10 ounces, which included a 10-6 big bass that had a head as big as a flathead catfish.

Bryan Hudgins hadn’t been sick in 10 years, he estimated, but Tuesday during practice he came down with a full-blown case of the flu. A $100 dose of Tamiflu and 24 hours of rest left him in good enough shape to catch 21-6 Thursday and be in second place.

Billy Brewer, fishing his first Elite Series event, guessed his wife “was kind enough” to give him the upper respiratory illness she was suffering through before he left Waco, Texas, to come to Florida.

“I’m sick as a dog,” Brewer said. “Then I got in my boat this morning and my shoes fell apart.”

He was further tested when he lost a 5-pound bass and a 6-pounder right at the boat. But he finished the day with a five-bass limit weighing 20-7, which was good enough for third place on Day One.

Top of the leaderboard? Heck, those three anglers felt like they were on top of the world Thursday afternoon, even during the driving rainstorm that began as the national anthem was sung prior to the weigh-in at Venetian Cove.

“I just really can’t wait to get back and see what happens tomorrow,” said Lowen, a 33-year-old North Bend, Ohio, resident whose best finish in a BASS tournament is fourth.

Anglers should pick bed fish early Thursday

March 6, 2008 – bassmaster.com

LEESBURG, Fla. — Kevin VanDam paused and raised his eyebrows in confused skepticism when he heard somebody say it might take 75 pounds to win.

“I don’t think it will be near that much,” VanDam said as he made the last-minute adjustments to his boat before Day One of the Sunshine Showdown. “It’s hard out there.”

Anglers seemed more optimistic before they launched on the Harris Chain of Lakes this week for practice. Skeet Reese said it might take 75 to 85 pounds in an early preview of the tournament , and Peter Thliveros said he thought everyone would be spread out.

Three days of practice has changed the tune.

“There are going to be some guys who hustle and pick a few fish off the beds this morning,” said Marty Stone, who is hoping to rebound from a tough 2007 season. “There will be some big weights today, but then guys are going to have to find another way to catch them.

“It shouldn’t take more than 13-15 pounds a day to keep you in the running.”

LET THE SEASON BEGIN AT THE HARRIS CHAIN

March 6, 2008 – basszone.com

Leesburg, FL – Now that the smoke and dust has cleared after the frenzied pitch of the last month’s 38th rendition of the Bassmaster Classic, it’s time to settle in to the epic 11-event schedule of the Elite Series. This week, the first stop is the Sunshine Showdown at Leesburg, Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes.

There are eight principal lakes that make up the Harris Chain – Harris, Little Harris, Griffin, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair, Carlton and Apopka – which together form over 76,000 acres. Each lake is accessible via canal, and all offer stable water levels and habitat. This is saying quite a lot given the decadent conditions of the lakes in the early ‘90s.

Thanks to the efforts of the State’s Legislature, and citizen’s advisory boards, the Harris Chain rebounded back into pro-form and will now be host to it first Elite Series event. While many in the field have fishing the famed Florida fishery at least four times over the last five years, The Elite Series has never made a stop in Leesburg…until now.

The weather should set up well for Florida fishing this week. With the exception of a chance of rain Friday, all in the field agree that there could be some crazy-big weights that come to the stage over the course of the next four days. Additionally, most everyone that The BASS ZONE spoke to recognized the canals as being elemental in their game plan.

As for who and how…well, you’ll have to wait until Sunday. Until then though, we were able to round up a few for a quick peek at the bite.

Elite anglers finding Harris Chain full of fishermen

March 6, 2008 – bassmaster.com

LEESBURG, Fla. — After three days of practice on the Harris Chain of Lakes, Jeff Kriet knows fishing pressure will play a big role in the outcome of the Bassmaster Elite Series Sunshine Showdown, which started here Thursday.

“It’s unbelievable, dude,” Kriet said. “I don’t think anybody around here works.

“These fish, I would say, are harrassed to the fullest.”

The four-day tournament, which kicks off the Elite Series 2008 11-event schedule, officially started at 7:30 a.m. under clear skies, practically no wind and temperatures in the high 50s.

The luck of the draw will also play a big part today. The pros who drew low numbers and got to take off first definitely have an advantage in catching the bass that are on spawning beds.

“Alton Jones is going to be really tough,” said Ben Matsubu of the newly-crowned Bassmaster Classic champion. “I saw him in the same canal I was in (during practice), and there are a lot of fish in there. There are some big ones.

“They’re not on beds yet. They’re cruising around, and Alton knows how to catch those fish. He’s got a low (takeoff) number, and once you go up there, you’ve got to commit to it. I think Alton’s going to catch them pretty good and maybe a couple of other guys who go in there this morning.

“But after the boat traffic goes through there, they get really skittish. It gets really tough to catch them.”