Lewisville, Texas - They say everything is bigger in Texas. After an outlandish Day One limit of 24 pounds, two ounces at Lake Lewisville, 2001 Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., would agree. Included in his limit was an absolute monster of a bass that tipped the scales at 11 pounds, 13 ounces - the biggest bass ever recorded from the lake.
VanDam cruised to a seven-pound, two-ounce advantage over Oklahoma's Edwin Evers at the Bassmaster Elite 50 bass fishing event near Dallas.
"I love Texas!" VanDam exclaimed after weighing in the biggest bass he has ever caught in competition. "The state absolutely has the best fishing in the country, and I just love this fishery."
VanDam's tournament can already be considered a success. His big bass earns him an extra $1,000 after taking Big Bass honors on the day. Additionally, his Wednesday catch earned him the catch of the day and another $1,000.The three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year appears well on his way to making the cut to the top 12 anglers that comes after the second round. Unfortunately for VanDam, the weights will be zeroed after the first two days and the competitors will start over from scratch.
"We know about the weights being zeroed before coming into this tournament, so that doesn't take away from my day," VanDam said. "All in all, I have to say today went pretty well, and I'm extremely happy."
Although VanDam wasn't too forthcoming with information on his tackle and techniques, he did offer a few details.
"I'm using a worm, and I have it rigged a special way," he said. "I'm keying on water anywhere from the bank down to ten feet deep. In the deeper areas, I'm looking for hard bottoms with rock, wood or clay."
Nearly lost in the shadows of VanDam's record-breaking day was Evers, who won a Bassmaster Tour stop at Lake Norman earlier this year. He's alone in second place after catching a very respectable limit of 17 pounds. His bag included a five pound largemouth taken on a Bass Pro Shops flipping tube. The key to Evers' day was variety.
"I had 12 rods on my deck when the day started," Evers said, "and I must've caught a fish on every one of them."
Evers affinity for variety also extended to the water he fished. He caught fish in as little as six inches of water and as deep as 20 feet. Helping the Oklahoma pro's cause was the familiarity he feels with the lake.
"This lake really reminds me of Lake Texoma," Evers said. "I grew up fishing there, and I feel really comfortable with this lake. I just have to go out and go fishing here."
A pound behind Evers in third place is Alabama's Randy Howell, who caught all of his bass on a slip-shot rigged lizard. His bag included a pair of five pounders and came in four to eight feet of water on points.
"I've got a pattern that should hold up," Howell said. "I visited a spot I had yet to fish in practice and caught one of my five pounders there."
Rounding out the top five are 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli (15-6) and 2004 Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle (13-11).
This week's visit to Lake Lewisville marks the first in BASS history. The tournament has already been a huge success. Forty-one of the 50 anglers brought limit catches to the scales, and the lake now has a new largemouth bass record thanks to VanDam.
Regardless of where any of the anglers finish in the standings, they all earn a check in the Elite 50 events. First place will receive $100,000. From there, the prize money gradually scales back until even the 50th place angler gets $5,000.
The anglers will launch at 10:00 a.m. at Sneaky Pete's for the three remaining days of the tournament. Weigh-ins will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Lake Lewisville Park.
2005 Texas Bassmaster Elite 50 Pro 06/01-06/04 Lewisville Lake, Lewisville, Texas Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 24-02 305 $2,000.00 Day 1: 5 24-02 2. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 17-00 295 Day 1: 5 17-00 3. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 5 16-00 290 Day 1: 5 16-00 4. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 15-06 285 Day 1: 5 15-06 5. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 5 13-11 280 Day 1: 5 13-11 6. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 5 13-07 276 Day 1: 5 13-07 7. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 5 13-05 272 Day 1: 5 13-05 8. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 5 13-02 268 Day 1: 5 13-02 9. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 5 13-01 264 Day 1: 5 13-01 10. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 5 12-12 260 Day 1: 5 12-12 10. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 5 12-12 260 Day 1: 5 12-12 12. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 12-10 254 Day 1: 5 12-10 13. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 5 12-07 251 Day 1: 5 12-07 14. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 5 12-04 248 Day 1: 5 12-04 15. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 5 12-01 245 Day 1: 5 12-01 15. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 5 12-01 245 Day 1: 5 12-01 17. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 5 11-15 241 Day 1: 5 11-15 18. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 5 11-13 239 Day 1: 5 11-13 19. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 5 11-12 237 Day 1: 5 11-12 20. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 5 11-11 235 Day 1: 5 11-11 21. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 5 11-09 233 Day 1: 5 11-09 22. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 5 11-08 231 Day 1: 5 11-08 23. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 5 11-07 229 Day 1: 5 11-07 24. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 11-00 227 Day 1: 5 11-00 25. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 10-10 225 Day 1: 5 10-10 26. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 5 10-09 223 Day 1: 5 10-09 27. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 5 10-06 221 Day 1: 5 10-06 28. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 9-12 219 Day 1: 5 9-12 29. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 5 9-11 217 Day 1: 5 9-11 30. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 9-07 215 Day 1: 5 9-07 31. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 9-03 213 Day 1: 5 9-03 32. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 5 9-02 211 Day 1: 5 9-02 33. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 5 9-01 209 Day 1: 5 9-01 34. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 5 9-00 207 Day 1: 5 9-00 34. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 5 9-00 207 Day 1: 5 9-00 36. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 5 8-13 203 Day 1: 5 8-13 36. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 5 8-13 203 Day 1: 5 8-13 38. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 5 8-11 199 Day 1: 5 8-11 39. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 5 8-08 197 Day 1: 5 8-08 39. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 4 8-08 197 Day 1: 4 8-08 41. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 4 8-00 193 Day 1: 4 8-00 42. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 7-13 191 Day 1: 5 7-13 42. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 4 7-13 191 Day 1: 4 7-13 44. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 5 7-01 187 Day 1: 5 7-01 45. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 4 7-00 185 Day 1: 4 7-00 46. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 3 6-01 183 Day 1: 3 6-01 47. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 2 5-07 181 Day 1: 2 5-07 48. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 3 4-14 179 Day 1: 3 4-14 49. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 3 4-07 177 Day 1: 3 4-07 50. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 1 2-01 175 Day 1: 1 2-01 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 11-13 $1,000.00 Day 1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 24-02 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 41 233 528-07 ---------------------------------- 41 233 528-07