July 31, 2010 – bassfan.com
Ghosts of BASS’s past walk the streets of Montgomery, Ala. – a city that was once headquarters of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
And ghosts seemed to circle through Skeet Reese’s mind as once again Kevin VanDam hoisted the Toyota Trucks Angler of the Year (AOY) trophy in front of the Montgomery faithful.
One year ago, Reese likewise watched VanDam wrest the AOY title from his grips, and the circumstances were eerily similar. Today, and 1 year ago, VanDam won the Montgomery leg of the Toyota Trucks BASS Championship Week, while Reese finished 6th, with the result that KVD held the trophy while Reese made a few statements and walked offstage.
This time around though, Reese was noticeably more emotional. For a moment onstage, as he fought to find the words, he seemed unable to reconcile his blistering season (which included six Top 5s, including two wins) and his 3rd-place finish in the AOY race.
Where Reese’s season ultimately stands will be up to the record-keepers, but it rests side-by-side with the best any BASS angler has ever offered, including Denny Brauer’s amazing run in the late-90s of four BASS wins in five events including the Bassmaster Classic, alongside five FLW Tour Top 10s that same year.
But BASS’s new post-season performance emphasizes the two-event Championship week, during which points are readjusted to raise the stakes. And under that format, VanDam is clearly dominant.
VanDam won the Montgomery leg and the title last year, and he did it again this year. But this title seems all the more amazing given his struggles during the regular season.
VanDam slipped all the way to 38th in the AOY race at the midpoint of the season. But he rebounded and registered three Top 10s including a win over the final four regular-season events. That was good enough to make the post-season, and that’s when he turned on the juice.
VanDam finished 3rd at the Jordan leg and won today.
Reese, on the other hand, recorded a 10th at Jordan and a 6th today.
VanDam has won the three most recent AOY titles, and the two most recent titles serve as bookends to his 2010 Bassmaster Classic win.
And with a comparatively light 10 1/2-pound limit today, VanDam certainly left the door open for Reese. But VanDam’s 15 1/2-pound sack yesterday was enough to put him over the top.
VanDam’s 10-09 was the sixth-best sack today, but his 15 1/2-pound day 1 made the difference.
Here’s a look at the final Top 12 standings in the 2010 BASS AOY race.
1. Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich. — 275
2. Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla. — 265
3. Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif. — 260
4. Terry Butcher, Talala, Okla. — 252
5. Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala. — 244
6. Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss — 244
7. Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala. — 243
8. Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La. — 238
9. Tommy Biffle, Waggoner, Okla. — 228
10. Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas — 219
11. Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala. — 217
12. John Crews, Salem, Va. — 216
VanDam: Each One Means More
VanDam now possesses six BASS AOY titles, plus an FLW Tour AOY title. The only pro who possesses more is Roland Martin, who won nine BASS titles.
With his $200,000 AOY prize plus a $60,000 boat package for winning this leg, VanDam is also very close to breaking the $5 million mark in combined BASS and FLW Tour career earnings. Nobody else is even close.
“It’s amazing, and I just cannot believe that I’m standing here and the week has went this way,” VanDam said. “Going in I knew it was going to be a longshot. I’d have to perform real well and Skeet would have to open the door. In this format anything can happen. I can’t tell you how much this one means. It never gets old, man. It’s incredible.”
He thanked the fans – both those in the audience and those he saw on the water today – and said it’s the fans that “really make it special.” He added that he couldn’t do it without the support of his wife Sherry and his sons Jackson and Nicholas.
About the perceived rivalry between himself and Reese, he said: “Without a doubt Skeet and I have had a heck of a rivalry the last few years. But he really motivates me. I think I motivate him. And each year it seems like it comes down to us. I’m just glad to be here. It’s been an incredible week.”
And as his career marches on, the wins and titles keep coming. But as any dominant sports figure knows, it could all end soon.
“Every one is more special than the one before,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for a long time, and I’ll tell you, the competition out here – they’re incredible. Just to get an opportunity to be in contention going into finals week is really something. To be able to win again – there’s nothing like it. You just never know when your last one is going to happen. So I cherish every one.”
He threw Strike King cranks in the river and fished hard and fast. Details of his pattern, plus more of his thoughts on the season and the title, will be published soon.
Reese Emotional
Reese’s 9-03 limit today initially put him tied with Cliff Pace for 5th in the Alabama River standings, but Pace won the tiebreaker (most live fish weighed) and thus Reese finished 6th.
Even if Reese weighed five live fish on day 1, instead of four, his resultant 5th-place finish (earned via a third tiebreaker) wouldn’t have been enough to unseat VanDam.
Reese’s ultimate undoing was day 2 at Jordon, when he weighed just four fish. A single other keeper would have boosted him several spots in that event’s final standings. Coupled with his finish today, it would likely have been enough to win.
“I’m proud of the season I had this year,” Reese said onstage. “Obviously this is not the way I want to end up. I guess I peaked a little early and Kevin peaked late. Bottom line: Him and I have had some good battles here the last 5 or 6 years. Unfortunately he’s a couple up on me right now. He fuels me. But like you say, he’s King Kong. He’s Godzilla. He’s all that.
“But I also know that what I’ve done – I had one of the greatest seasons…”
At that point, Reese trailed off and choked up.
After he collected himself, he said: “I want to thank all the fans for coming out. I want to thank my sponsors for the season. You guys have given me one of the greatest seasons ever and I’ll never forget it. Thanks.”
Evers Improves
Lost in all the VanDam-Reese drama was the fact that Edwin Evers climbed back up from 5th to finish 2nd in the AOY race – a position he held at the start of the post-season.
And he did it the third-heaviest sack today (12-10) and a 2nd-place finish.
“I was going out there swinging with a big bat and trying to catch some big fish,” Evers noted. “I landed everything that bit my bait today and that’s what I caught. I was hoping for 16 or 17 pounds. That’s all I could get.
“I keyed on backwaters the whole time,” he added. “I was way up in backwaters and I caught everything on a Yum Wooly Bug, (although) I think I caught one fish on a crankbait.”
Notable
> Aaron Martens and Cliff Pace tied for 5th in the final points, but Martens won the tiebreaker (total weight caught during post-season).
> Although Reese’s emotions were on full display, the most chilling moment of tonight’s weigh-in occurred when emcee Keith Alan asked Tommy Biffle to name his favorite part of Championship Week. Biffle could barely choke out words about the Hope for the Warriors event earlier this week, in which the 12 post-season pros fished with service folk recently wounded overseas.
> Although pro sponsorships come and go, it was interesting to hear Klein remark today that every bass he’s ever caught in his carrer has been caught on a Zebco (or Quantum) reel, and every bass he’s ever weighed in has been on Berkley Trilene line.
July 31, 2010 – bassmaster.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — At this point, the only thing hotter than Kevin VanDam is Alabama in late July. The Kalamazoo, Mich., veteran closed in typical fashion on the Alabama River Saturday, scoring his sixth — third consecutive — Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. VanDam’s 20-year career has played out like an assault on the BASS record book. Consider: VanDam notched his 19th BASS career victory Saturday at the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph — which ties him for the most victories with Roland Martin.
Paired with VanDam’s earlier February Classic win — in Alabama of course — VanDam is only the second angler to score both of the sport’s most prestigious titles in the same season. And probably most important — at least to his twin boys, Jackson and Nicholas — VanDam netted $200,000 to push his career earnings to more than $4.5 million, by far the most in BASS’ 40-year plus history.
And the popular perception might be that VanDam would lose a touch of motivation and get fat and happy but exactly the opposite is true.
“I never get tired of winning,” said VanDam, 42. “This title was the hardest for me to accomplish so it means that much more. I take nothing for granted because I face competition every day that can beat me. It’s easy to stay motivated when that’s the case.”
It was an uphill climb for VanDam, who waded through a tough stretch early in the season. In fact, at the mid-point of the season, VanDam looked like a long shot to even qualify for the postseason. But VanDam has made a career on turning it on when it matters most and after a victory on Kentucky Lake in June, it was only a matter of time before VanDam threatened for the title.
“When people count me out, it really motivates me,” said VanDam. “I have a lot of confidence that the next spot or that next cast is going to be the one. Every time I win, it gets better and I just crave that feeling.”
Still, heading into the postseason, VanDam felt he had only a puncher’s chance at another AOY. In his mind, he figured that he needed to win both legs of the postseason to catch Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., who put together possibly the best regular-season run in BASS history. But as it turned out, VanDam only needed to win one leg with Reese’s postseason struggles.
VanDam’s river strategy — which netted him 26 pounds, 0 ounces — was much like the plan of attack that carried him through the season. He worked a variety of Strike King crankbaits — a Strike King Series 5 in sexy shad and a KVD 2.5 and 1.5 — fast and furiously.
While his power approach is trademark VanDam, it was patience — mixed with extreme confidence — that was the key for VanDam. Friday, he went without a bite until 11 a.m. but his confidence and strategy were unwavering.
“On a place like this, its only matter of time before you get a bite so you have to stick with it,” said VanDam. “It was such a magical week. Anything can happen when you get into a format like this and I love it.”
A dejected Reese can take solace in the fact that he smashed VanDam in the regular season. That magical run included six top-five finishes and two victories that resulted in a media firestorm. But in the end, it wasn’t enough and though Reese held a commanding lead to kick off the postseason, he finished in a distant third.
It is a tough pill to swallow for the 2007 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year and he was visibly shaken after ceding his lead to VanDam for the second consecutive season. But while VanDam’s resume is sterling, Reese has cemented his reputation with a fantastic run over the past five years in Bassmaster Elite Series competition.
“I’m proud of the season I had,” said Reese, the 2009 Classic champion. “I guess I peaked a little early. I had one of the greatest seasons ever and I know what I’ve accomplished. The only thing you can do when you spill milk is clean it up and move on. I missed some opportunities that will play over in my mind for the next while.”
Those missed opportunities included failing to boat a five-fish limit on the final day of competition on Lake Jordan, the first leg of the Postseason. Additionally, Reese missed a 3- and 3-plus pounder early Saturday morning, which probably would have been enough to leapfrog VanDam, exhibiting how tight the race was. As it was, Reese finished sixth with 21 pounds, 7 ounces.
Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., was able to capitalize on Reese’s slip-up and finish in second in the event and the AOY race. His two-day total was 24 pounds, 0 ounces.
Finishing fourth in the AOY race was Terry Butcher, Evers’ brother-in-law, while Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., improved on his last-place standing heading into this week to finish fifth. The full standings with points can be seen here.
The icing on the cake for VanDam was that he also earned a $60,000 boat package with the Trophy Triumph victory.
July 31, 2010 – bassmaster.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — As usual, Kevin VanDam did what he had to do and took his familiar position at the top of the leaderboard, but Skeet Reese did just enough too, positioning himself in second in the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph.
With that, the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race is Ziploc-tight and VanDam and Reese have set the stage for another down-to-the-wire battle, the second consecutive year the two competitors will lock horns in the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason on the Alabama River.
Aided by two flurries of action, VanDam toted 15 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales while Reese managed 12-4. The implications, in terms of legacy, are endless for this event. Reese, the 2007 AOY, would take a hit if he fails to close for the second consecutive year and VanDam, who is already perhaps the best angler ever, would claim his sixth AOY and third consecutive, putting him in rarefied territory.
And that says nothing of the $200,000 top prize. But it would be a mistake to count out the rest of the field. 2005 AOY Aaron Martens (third) and Edwin Evers (fourth) are still within striking distance while Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., surprised prognosticators with his struggles Friday but still lurks.
“I really don’t know what tomorrow (Saturday) will bring but I’m ready to find out,” said VanDam, a three-time Bassmaster Classic champion. “You want to be in the lead and I’ve done all I can do today. It’s going to be interesting.”
If the standings were finalized today, Reese would tally 277 points to VanDam’s 275. But those results mean nothing, as fishing fans found out last year, with one final day to go. After trailing Reese by a significant margin, VanDam was able to slam the door shut last year on the River with a stellar final day, but the 21-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said the River is fishing quite differently. VanDam did employ a typical approach, running-and-gunning frantically and visiting a high number of spots.
At the stage of the game, all anglers were playing it close to the vest on specifics of their pattern. VanDam did say he would change things up Saturday if the conditions called for it. One concern of his — and Reese — was the declining water levels on the River and the affect of that on the bass. The 18-time BASS winner is heavily relying on the water generation to determine his strategy and much of his activity seems to be predicated on when the water is pulled.
VanDam managed to pull in two relatively large bites that netted him the three-pound cushion. One of those, a 4-10, was the largest bass of the day.
While VanDam was buoyed by two random active periods, Reese caught fish throughout the day. His morning started hot and he was able to scratch out a quick limit but lacked quality-sized fish. Late in the day though, Reese made a run with a three-pound spotted bass and another good-sized keeper largemouth.
Weighing heavily on Reese’s mind is his regular-season run and the possibility of it being essentially erased with a Postseason slip-up. And make no mistake: His regular-season performance was one for the ages with six top-fives and two victories but the Postseason, like it or not, presents the same set of parameters for each angler.
“It is what it is,” said Reese, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion. “I’m still leading the points and I just have to go wrap it up Saturday. I’ve processed it and no one can take away what I did in the regular season. I’ve only got one more step to go.”
In third in the Trophy Triumph was Martens with 12-2. Evers had 11-6 and Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., was fifth with 11-1.
Competitors are vying for a $60,000 boat package in the Trophy Triumph. But the real prize is the Angler of the Year, which five anglers have a legitimate shot at heading into the final day of action.
2010 TOYOTA TRUCKS CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK- Adjusted standings heading into final day
Field and Standings
No.: Angler: Points:
1. Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif. 277
2. Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich. 275
3. Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala. 262
4. Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla. 256
5. Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala. 252
6. Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La. 245
7. Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss 240
8. Terry Butcher, Talala, Okla. 234
9. Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas 219
10. John Crews, Salem, Va. 216
11. Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala. 215.5
12. Tommy Biffle, Waggoner, Okla. 209.5
Postseason Points Scale
Place: Points:
1st 50
2nd 45
3rd 40
4th 36
5th 32
6th 28
7th 25
8th 22
9th 19
10th 16
11th 13
12th 10
July 30, 2010 – bassmaster.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — It would take a math major to figure out the possible point permutations that could culminate Toyota Trucks Championship Week.
Most of the top 12 anglers can do the simple match — win on the river for a shot at an AOY.
“There are five, six guys that are all with striking distance, and you never know what’s going to happen,” Kevin VanDam said. “One thing I’ll promise you here, one of those guys who is up within 10 or 15 points or so is going to catch them, and I think the guy who wins this one is going to be the Angler of the Year.”
KVD figures heavily in that mix after Russ Lane and Aaron Martens charged from the bottom of the field in the first event and reshuffled the standings. KVD’s third on Lake Jordan put him within a fraction of his third consecutive Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
“I know a lot of guys are having a hard time figuring it out at home,” he said. “What I know is I’m seven points behind the leader right now and I was 31 going in, so I feel pretty good about it.”
Last year, KVD won on the river to overcome a 16-point deficit to Skeet Reese, who stumbled to sixth and wound up six points shy of his second AOY.
“There’s never going to be a happy feeling about last year, and this year, it’s shaping up to be a tough tournament here,” Reese said. “It’s anybody’s event right now.”
After what many consider the best regular season ever, Reese is vulnerable for a repeat heartbreak.
“I still have the lead, which is a great place to be,” he said, “but I know I have a lot more work cut out for me.
“My goal is to figure out how to win this tournament this week, and that pretty much guarantees that I’ll win the title and the trophy I want.”
He’ll also have to hold off Lane, who would make two Championship Week victories add up to an AOY. Fresh off his victory on his home lake in the Ramada Trophy Chase, he moves to his home river as the favorite.
“It’d be unbelievable,” to win AOY, he said. “I really hadn’t thought much about it this year until I won on Lake Jordan last week. Now, I feel like I have a legitimate shot. I’m just going to keep my head down and keep grinding it out.
“I’ve got a lot of history here down on the river. I should do well. It’s not going to easy though. The conditions are really tough. The water is about 3 foot low. About as low as I’ve fished a tournament in the summertime down here.”
Another to factor in is Martens. He out caught everybody on Jordan but livewell issues brought about some poor decisions to cull dying fish for smaller fish that also died. He calculated he lost about five pounds, the Chase victory by 4 ounces, and a possibly AOY.
“It’s pretty wild how some of the guys are right there in the top four, like me and Russ, from last,” he said. “It’s pretty interesting. I didn’t think it was possible for Skeet to stumble like that. I thought he’d be in the top four all the time.
“That was the surprise and he put himself in real danger because he’s really got to beat Russ. I’m going to try to win it, too, but the guy down here to beat is Russ, since he lives here in Prattville and fishes it more than anybody. Skeet has to beat him, if he doesn’t, (Lane) is probably going to win it.”
While KVD said Reese seems a touch nervous about his troubles multiplying, he wouldn’t subtract the leader from the equation. “He doesn’t have two bad tournaments in row very often.”
July 29, 2010 – bassmaster.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — At BASS’ postseason finale on the Alabama River, the smart money on who will win Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year honors seems divided between local favorite Russ Lane of nearby Prattville and angling legend Kevin VanDam.
But it’s Skeet Reese who’s currently in the proverbial catbird seat. He’s five points ahead of Lane and seven atop KVD. The problem for Reese is that his once insurmountable lead now seems quite surmountable, and the grasp he once he held on fishing’s most prestigious prize has gone from a death grip to slippery fingertips. He may be the leader in the clubhouse, but few expect him to take home the trophy.
Here are our top five:
Angler Points
Skeet Reese 232
Russ Lane 227
Kevin VanDam 225
Aaron Martens 222
Edwin Evers 220
The rest of the Toyota 12 are seven or more points back of Evers and would need a certified miracle to claim AOY honors. Not only would one of those seven need to win the event, he’d need disasters from the top five.
That leaves us with five anglers who have a chance at the title. Three (Reese, VanDam and Martens) have climbed this mountain before — VanDam on five previous occasions. Lane and Evers would be marking new territory.
The scene could hardly be more dramatic. Instead of a riverside amphitheater, this weigh-in should take place at the nearby Shakespeare Festival. The bard has nothing on this.
Skeetastic or Reese Unravels?
As good as Skeet Reese was during the regular season — setting Elite points records, winning two events and finishing second in two others — he’s been just about as dismal in the postseason, both in 2009 and 2010. His only glimmer of excellence came in the 2009 on Lake Jordan, where he was second. After that, he was sixth on the Alabama River, losing a tight AOY race to VanDam.
This year it’s been even worse. He was 10th at Jordan and now controls his own destiny only if he wins on the river. If he finishes second behind Lane, they’ll end the season in a points tie for AOY, and the first tiebreaker is total pounds of bass caught … in the postseason. Lane would win that race handily.
Reese’s next closest competitor is Kevin VanDam. Not only is VanDam the ultimate tournament tactician, but he’s already beaten Reese on these waters, in exactly this format less than a year ago.
Then there’s Reese’s emotional focus. After such a great regular season, there has to be some sense that he “deserves” to win, whether or not he’s competitive in the postseason. Of course, that and five bucks will get you a mocha decaf latte at Starbucks. If there were ever a time to get his head in gear, this would be it.
Because if there were ever two anglers Reese could have picked not to be nipping at his heels before the finale, it would be Lane and VanDam.
The Fast Lane
After the first day of the first postseason event, Russ Lane said he’d be “embarrassed” to take the AOY title away from Skeet Reese. On some level, Lane felt he deserved it after such a strong year.
Of course, Lane said he’d be embarrassed when he was sitting in last place and thought he had no chance to pass Reese. All that changed after Lane won the Jordan event and Reese finished a dismal 10th. It’s now a brand new ball game and Lane is playing in his back yard.
For Lane, who has never challenged for an AOY title before, it may come down to his mental game. Is he tough enough to stand up to this kind of pressure? Will he crack under the weight of the spectator boats and media questions?
In 2007 when he was fishing the Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake, Lane was a heavy pretournament favorite, but things didn’t work out and he barely finished in the top half of the field. He was much better on the same waters in 2010.
What’s incontrovertible is that Lane knows these waters better than anyone else in the championship does. Even if he loses a couple of good bass or is rattled early, he should be able to rebound and hit one of the dozens of spots on the river that only he knows. It’s a nice advantage.
The Kaped Krusader
No one does drama quite like KVD, whether he’s pulling victory from the jaws of defeat at the 2009 postseason or shocking the world with his third Bassmaster Classic championship. He’s simply that good.
He’s also very clever. At last year’s postseason finale, he was letting other competitors share his spots in hopes they could pass Skeet Reese and boost KVD to his fifth AOY title. He’s already doing the same thing this year. At Jordan, Terry Butcher was sharing water with VanDam and cushioning his catch on his way to finishing just ahead of Reese … all according to VanDam’s plans.
There will be more of that on the river.
And the river plays right to VanDam’s strengths, too. Not only did he win here last year, but the offshore cranking pattern that so many predict will win here is one of the strongest techniques in KVD’s arsenal. He’s in it to win it, and knows how.
He also knows how to get into Skeet Reese’s mind and take him off his game. Will similar methods work against Russ Lane? Time will tell.
The Martens Have Landed
There’s simply no better pure angling talent on the Bassmaster Elite Series than Aaron Martens. Unfortunately, strategic errors have hurt his chances this and other years. At Jordan, culling mistakes cost Martens the tournament. Otherwise, he would be hot on the heels of Reese rather than Lane.
For Martens to have a real shot at the title, he’s most likely going to need to win and get a little help from his friends. The three anglers ahead of him will need to stumble.
E-squared = AOY?
The forecast for Edwin Evers is very similar to that for Martens — win and get some luck in the form of bad finishes from those ahead of him. Evers has the skills to win this title, but may not be quite in the right spot to pull it off this year. The Rest of the Field
They’re simply too far back with too many other anglers ahead of them to have a chance with one tournament to go. They can each certainly move up and earn more AOY money, but as far as taking the top prize is concerned, they’re out of it.
Prediction
VanDam finds a way and three-peats.
July 27, 2010 – bassmaster.com
MONTOMGERY, Ala. — Monday’s off day for the top 12 Elite Series anglers was anything but.
Though those vying to win the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title were kept busy, a day off the water was a welcome relief from an Alabama heat wave.
Media day
After a morning session of TV shoots, they gathered for a media day luncheon, where Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange announced the Elite postseason would be coming back next year.
Beside the economic benefits, Strange said being host city to the events offers tremendous exposure. He was out of the country and saw a TV ad showing his city.
“You can’t buy that kind of publicity,” he said.
After being treated to roasted beef tenderloin, broiled fish and shrimp cocktail, a meal many said was absolutely the best ever in years of BASS travels, the anglers met the media. Each sat at their own table conducting interviews.
After Russ Lane won the Ramada Trophy Chase on Sunday, the point standings were reshuffled and are much closer, making Friday’s Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph a tossup.
“The next one is definitely anybody’s ballgame,” Edwin Evers said.
There was still talk of Aaron Martens’ fish-care penalties that cost him the Chase, and many worried about when they would have time to prep their tackle and take care of personal business before Wednesday’s first day of practice on the Alabama River.
“My biggest concern right now is getting my dirty underwear clean,” said Skeet Reese, who had his lead trimmed to five points.
The anglers then learned they need their big bass pants on Tuesday. Anne Wood, public relations director for Hope for the Warriors, has rounded up 12 wounded soldiers from across the nation to fish an exhibition with the Elites.
“You guys are rock stars to these guys,” Wood said. “They were chosen because they are avid fishermen.”
The program, which was started by three Marine Corps wives, is dedicated to bringing attention to injured military men and their families.
John Crews has been involved in various other wounded warriors events and comes away each time thinking that he’s not the real star.
“It is often the other way around,” he said, relating some of the experiences he’s been told. “These are the guys who sacrifice so much for our country.”
The anglers were also presented with a topographical map to The Waters, a private trophy bass lake where they will guide the soldiers. Seconds after seeing it, Crews, pointing to a road bed, told Kevin VanDam, “There’s going to be a rush for right here.”
A short respite, and it was off to Bass Pro Shop in Prattville, where the anglers lined up for an hour-long autograph session with several hundred fans.
Clarence Hodges of Wetumpa brought his wife, Olivia, sons Brayden, 7, and Jakob, 11, and friend Josh Ward, 15. They literally sweated out Sunday’s weigh-in — it was too hot to go Saturday — and rooted for Lane (because their favorite Mike Iaconelli didn’t make it this year).
Media day After leaving the Prattsville Bass Pro Shop, Russ Lane was hustled to the home field of the Montgomery Biscuits to throw out the first pitch.
The Hope for the Warriors presentation was next, with the matchups announced. The soldiers were also given a $200 gift card to shop with their pro to prep for Tuesday’s fishing.
July 26, 2010
The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year program acknowledges and rewards those anglers who fish the most consistently over the course of the Elite Series season. Along with the Bassmaster Classic title, the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year is the most sought after award on the BASS circuit because it recognizes the hard work and credibility of those who achieve it.
Anglers fishing each Bassmaster Elite Series event are awarded points based on their finish. The angler with the most points at the end of the season wins.
The points race begins during the “Duel in the Delta” on the California Delta in Stockton, California, March 11-14, and wraps up during Toyota Trucks Championship Week in Alabama, July 24-31, when the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be crowned.
2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Points: After Sooner Run | After Tennessee Triumph | After Pride of Georgia | After Southern Challenge | After Alabama Charge | After Blue Ridge Brawl | After Golden State Shootout | After Duel in the Delta
2010 Elite Series Toyota Trucks Championship Week Standings
Name, Hometown Postseason Points 1. Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif. 232 2. Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala. 227 3. Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich. 225 4. Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala. 222 5. Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla. 222 6. Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La. 213 7. Cliff Pace, Petal, Ms. 212 7. Terry Butcher, Talala, Okla. 212 9. Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas 209 10. John Crews, Salem, Va. 203 11. Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala. 198 12. Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla. 192July 26, 2010 – bassmaster.com
WETUMPKA, Ala. — Heading into this week, Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., just wanted to win a few boats.
He didn’t see any plausible scenario where he could overtake Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. So, he fished void of worries and the carefree attitude helped him win the Ramada Trophy Chase on Lake Jordan, virtually Lane’s home waters.
Now, the stakes have just been raised and Lane is within striking distance — just 5 points behind Reese in the AOY standings — of the most coveted award in bass fishing. He will again be working a fishery that he is ultra-comfortable with next week as the competition moves to the Alabama River for the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph.
“I just realized that winning the Angler of the Year is now a possibility,” said Lane, 37. “I have to keep my head right and have fun and block out all the distractions. I can’t control what anyone else does and I can’t get wrapped up in thinking about what winning the Angler of the Year would mean.”
Lane had a “crazy day” that included dropping his biggest fish off the side of the boat only to land it again and losing his rod-and-reel outfit to an aggressive spotted bass.
“That one hit right at the boat and was coming to the top really fast,” Lane said. “My drag was set tight, it made a run at the last minute and my rod just flew out of my hand. I must have looked like such a goofball. I tried to pick up another rod and throw out there, but it must have been over 100 feet of water — it was gone.”
Ultimately, good fortune and a hometown crowd — an armada of nearly 40 spectator boats stayed connected to Lane — carried Lane through, earning him his first BASS victory and a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $60,000.
Lane, who tallied a two-day total of 32 pounds, 3 ounces, had a distinct plan each day of competition that included searching for big bites early in the day and then moving to areas, after the current generation began at 11 a.m., where he was confident he could fill out his five-fish limit.
The four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier worked several deep-running crankbaits in addition to a Big Bite Baits worm, which enticed quality-sized spotted bass. As it was, Lane had a much more difficult time Sunday morning landing quality bites. By 9:30, he had zero fish in the boat.
“I could have panicked early,” said Lane. “But I stayed calm all day long. That was the key to the victory: keeping calm.”
The door was opened for Lane and a host of others because Reese had a disastrous day. He wasn’t able to register a limit and lost three fish that would have helped him considerably.
“I’m pretty heated right now,” said Reese, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion. “That was my toughest day of the season without a doubt. It is so frustrating and now I’m not in the best position. There are a lot of guys going into the next tournament with a shot and I don’t like that.”
Almost equally as disappointed as Reese was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala. Martens finished second to Lane by 3 ounces in the event, but had the opportunity to win. He had fish care issues all day, which resulted in him absorbing a 24-ounce penalty to decrease his total of 32-0.
Beyond that, Martens made several blunders during the tournament day, tossing back quality, expiring fish which he was never able to match. The implications are endless for Martens. If he had won, he would be in second in the AOY standings instead of fourth. As is, Martens is still within striking distance, just 10 points back.
With all the drama, perhaps lost in the shuffle was Kevin VanDam moving up to third in the AOY standings just seven points behind Lane. VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Mich., already owns five AOY titles including the last two years. VanDam has a magical way of performing in the biggest events and the Postseason is tailor-made for his aggressive style.
“I like the Postseason format,” said VanDam, a three-time Bassmaster Classic champion. “It’s very similar to other sports with playoffs and you have to be performing at the end of the year to be the champion. It’s the most intense events I have ever fished and it’s exciting as heck.”
Rounding out the top five in the AOY was Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla. Evers was Reese’s closest challenger heading into this week, but the leaderboard has been turned upside down with the stellar performances of Lane and Martens.
The final Postseason leg, the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph, will play out on the Alabama River on July 30 and 31. The Postseason format features two, two-day events. Angler’s scoring from the regular season was readjusted and then each tournament is scored on a 50-point sliding scale found below.
July 24, 2010 – bassmaster.com
WETUMPKA, Ala. — Dodging a serious bullet, Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., extended his lead — albeit by .5 points — in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings despite stubbing his toe Saturday and placing sixth in the Ramada Trophy Chase.
Thankfully for Reese, his closest competition faltered much worse than him. But Russ Lane, perhaps the most dangerous angler in the field, rocketed up the AOY ledger from last to second after just one day of fishing on Lake Jordan, positioning himself for a dramatic comeback if he continues his run on the Alabama River, the final leg of Postseason competition.
And don’t count out Kevin VanDam, who was third in the Jordan competition. VanDam has won the past two Angler of the Year titles and thrives in the pressure-packed Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason format.
Still, Reese was giddy after learning his lead grew. All in all, despite a mediocre showing, he still holds the catbird’s seat by a significant margin.
“I’m pretty dang happy right now,” said Reese of Auburn, Calif. “I feel good about heading into Sunday in the position I am in. I knew it was going to be an interesting week and I just need to roll with the punches.”
In 2009, Reese famously ceded his advantage to VanDam in the second leg of the Postseason and while that has haunted him — and will continue to — Reese knows this is a four-day derby and has vowed to not get too wrapped up in each day’s momentum swings.
But it looked very bleak for Reese early. By 1 p.m. — more than seven hours into his competition day — he had only landed three keepers. The six-time BASS winner had located a spot in practice that kicked out some keepers later in the day and knew he had the trump card in his back pocket. He was able to get right by hitting the spot, rounding out his limit and culling up to his 12-pound, 4-ounce limit.
Reese said his five bass came on five different baits and he junk-fished the majority of his day. After a stellar tournament on Jordan last year, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion figured he would try his luck on some of the same areas but ended up catching nothing from any of those spots.
“I’ve got some work to do,” said Reese, the 2007 Angler of the Year. “I’m looking to extend my lead each day of competition and hopefully I can do that again tomorrow (Sunday). I was looking for 15 pounds today and it didn’t materialize but I know there is plenty of fish in here that are capable of producing a solid bag like that.”
While Lane wasn’t able to leapfrog Reese in the AOY standings — it was only possible from his vantage point if Reese finishes last — the Prattville, Ala., angler satisfied many pundit’s predictions by taking the first-day lead on Jordan, a fishery that is essentially in his backyard.
Flanked by an armada of as many as 40 vocal spectator boats, Lane was able to capitalize later in the day, much like Reese. He landed 15 keepers after 11 a.m. If Lane maintains his Jordan lead — Louisiana’s Greg Hackney was only 7 ounces behind — he would earn a fully-rigged boat package valued at $60,000.
“Everything is out of my control,” said Lane, 37. “I feel like I don’t have much of a chance to move up so I’m fishing like I have nothing to lose. It’s like all the pressure is off of me and I can just go out and have fun.”
Fishing care-free and easy apparently suits Lane and considering he maintains his homefield advantage next week on the Alabama River, the four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier is posing the biggest threat to Reese at the moment.
But VanDam said he let up on his fish a bit, figuring that 15 pounds would be good enough for the lead. The five-time Angler of the Year said he was going to swing for the fences Sunday and 19 pounds was a possibility.
“I have to move up, third place just isn’t going to cut it,” said the Kalamazoo, Mich., veteran. “Skeet controls his own destiny but I can put the pressure on if I go out there and whack ‘em.”
July 22, 2010 – bassmaster.com
WETUMPKA, Ala. — The bar is open for Kevin VanDam.
While the five-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year is known to enjoy the occasional adult beverage, it was a sand bar that offered him refreshment Thursday.
At noon on the first day of practice for the Ramada Trophy Chase on Lake Jordan, a school of Coosa spotted bass jumping after shad caught his attention. He zoomed over, quickly shut down and had a 3-pounder in the boat in seconds.
The discovery made the defending champion feel like he was a little bit more in business.
“There are right there at the bar,” he said. “Nothing like playing at the sand bar.”
The school chased more shad, surfacing several times to VanDam’s delight.
“They’re all around here,” he said. “It’s an A-list spot.”
Such is the fortune of KVD, seeking to overcome a 31-point deficit to Skeet Reese in the two-event Toyota Trucks Championship Week. Reese leads the field of 12 with 216 points, 15 ahead of Edwin Evers. In third is Cliff Pace with 187 points and VanDam and Derek Remitz have 185.
VanDam rallied last year to the thrill of victory, while handing Reese the agony of defeat. Reese had the opportunity to become only the second angler to win the Classic and AOY in the same season before KVD played spoiler.
Last year the two started championship week almost even, but VanDam knows he has his work cut out for him this time.
“I’ve really got to catch them and Skeet’s got to mess up,” he said. “But I can’t worry about Skeet. He got the fish last year. He knows what to do.
“I’m going out trying to win both of them. I have to go out and try to win both.”
First place in each event is worth 50 points, second 45 and third 40, then points descend by four through the next two spots then three for the final seven. KVD said if Reese takes third twice, no one can catch him.
The others will have a major say in how the week plays out.
“You can’t hold anything back,” Evers said. “It’s going to be a two-day shootout.”
Pace takes the same tack, saying the winner will have to really catch them all four days. Gary Klein, among four tied for ninth with 177 points, would love to make some noise.
“I have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” he said. “All I have to do is beat 11 guys.”
Each began scouring Lake Jordan at dawn Thursday and stayed through dusk. John Crews (eighth at 181) was among those who said Friday might be a shorter day as each will have to assess time prepping tackle for Saturday’s 6:45 a.m. ET launch, which means leaving the hotel at 5 a.m. ET.
KVD spent Thursday revisiting areas he found last year, making sure fish were still there. Despite different conditions, he said experience on the lake is beneficial.
“At least I got a basic understanding, but it’s a different time of year, different conditions,” he said. “At least I know the lay of the land. That’s a big part of it. Practice is going to be important.”
Last year rains had the dam generating water and fish were staged beneath it looking for easy meals. The anglers were, too. VanDam says if they do end up generating, he’ll be there.
Most were looking for another pattern, that ledge or point, all the while battling the heat. The anglers sported sun hats, long-sleeve shirts and downed copious amounts of water to ease their acclimation.
“I’m from Michigan,” KVD said. “You don’t get used to 100-degree heat and 90 percent humidity.”
A run on the lake was one way to cool off a bit, but VanDam’s main tactic to confront the conditions? “You just suck it up. That’s all you do.”
KVD started hot, opening the day with a flurry of catches topping five pounds, but they were hybrids. Although he enjoyed hooking into the big fish, including a 10-pounder, finding the school of spots made his day.
“When you see it going shallow or around a point, you know it’s Mr. Greenjeans,” he said smiling. “They live here. See them schooling. They live here. Geez, it’s hot.”
A tropical depression heading toward Florida had picked up some wind strength Thursday, and KVD has hopes it will work through the Gulf and bring some weather to Alabama by competition days.
“They’re not active. They’re not eating during the day,” he said, noting water temperatures in the 90s. “With the temps up, they’re metabolism is up and they have to eat more, but the problem is they’re probably feeding mostly at night.
“That storm would bring a low pressure and would just help the level of the fish activity. Some rain. Raining fish.”
KVD also said the fish are finicky about colors of bait. While changing to lighter line to get his Sexy Shad deeper, he said matching the color was critical to get bites.
Another spot comes in the boat and spits out about five shad.
“This is what I need … five of these,” he said of the 3-pounder. “One hit it, came off and this one got it.
“It’s always key to figure out where they are. Last year, it was won on boat docks. Good chance it will be again.”
KVD explored his newfound bar a bit more, saying he’ll definitely hit it sometime on the first day of competition, which could lead him to buying rounds at another bar Sunday night.
“It’s always good to be at the bar.”