Lewisville, Texas -- There are great weeks and then there are weeks like the one Kevin VanDam just had. The Kalamazoo Kid dominated the Lake Lewisville Bassmaster Elite 50 bass fishing tournament in every facet of competition, starting off the tournament on Wednesday by catching a new lake record largemouth bass weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces.
The 2001 Bassmaster Classic champ finished the week in grand fashion, bringing in a fourth consecutive limit, this one weighing 10 pounds, four ounces and good enough to best Missouri's Brian Snowden by a pound and 12 ounces. VanDam, whose two-day total was 18-4, takes home a $100,000 paycheck for his efforts.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't fish my best tournament," the three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year continued. "Sometimes everything comes together and, luckily for me, a few great fishermen stumbled today."
On an extremely windy and tough day, VanDam was the only angler to bag a limit. His catch was the best of the day and will earn him $1,000 as the . Today he threw a 3/8-ounce Strike King bleeding bait series spinnerbait in chartreuse and white.
"The key to that spinnerbait's success was a #6 Indiana blade," VanDam said. "I messed around with a few others, but I put that Indiana blade on, and it made a world of difference."
VanDam caught bass in every hole, starting in No. 4 - his favorite on the six-hole course. Although he has a knack for fishing fast and furious, once he found a productive spot, he forced himself to slow down and work it over thoroughly.
"I like to fish fast and cover a lot of water," VanDam said. "Today, if you found a good spot, you had to slow down and fish the heck out of it to be successful."
VanDam continued to build on his Elite 50 success with the win. He's made the semifinal cut in all seven Elite 50 events in BASS history, but finally broke through with his first win in the format.
"If you keep knocking on the door, someone is bound to answer." VanDam said.
VanDam not only cashes the big check with his win, but the victory moves him into the top spot of the 2005 Bassmaster Elite 50 standings with 865 points.
Just missing out on his first BASS victory was Brian Snowden. Although he only caught two keeper bass on the final day, his two-day total of 17-0 was second best for the event.
"I'm satisfied with a strong finish like second place," Snowden said. "You still always want to win though."
Snowden caught his two fish on a four-inch black neon Yum tube. The Missouri pro hopes to build momentum going into the final Elite 50 event at Lake Wissota in Chippewa Falls, Wis. (June 15-18). Included in his solid finish was a 3-3 largemouth for which Snowden will receive Purolator Big Bass honors and $1,000.
Snowden was able to jump into second place due to a disappointing day by Friday's leader, Michael Iaconelli. Ike caught just three fish tipping the scales at 3-9 and giving him a two-day total of 16-6.
"You have to be consistent when you're fishing against these guys," the 2003 Bassmaster Classic champ said. "I didn't catch a limit today and you can't do that on the final day and expect to win."
Iaconelli's third-place finish at Lewisville means that he's in second place of the Elite 50 points standings, just a point behind VanDam. The top 10 in the Elite 50 points for the season will qualify for both the 2005 and 2006 Bassmaster Classics.
Rounding out the top six are 1983 Bassmaster Classic champ Larry Nixon (9-5), Oklahoma's Edwin Evers (7-15) and Alabama's Randy Howell (5-11).
Part one of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Series event on Lake Lewisville will be telecast on The Bassmasters on Saturday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Part two will air on Saturday June 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
2005 Texas Bassmaster Elite 50 Pro 06/01-06/04
Lewisville Lake, Highland Village Texas
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 18-12 315
$106,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-02 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 8-08 Day 4: 5
10-04
2. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 6 17-00 295
$22,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 4 11-15 Day 4: 2
5-01
3. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 8 16-06 295
$13,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 12-13 Day 4: 3
3-09
4. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 5 9-05 285
$11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 4 7-06 Day 4: 1
1-15
5. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 7-15 280
$10,300.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 4 6-02 Day 4: 1
1-13
6. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 3 5-11 276
$10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 9-04 Day 3: 3 5-11 Day 4: 0
0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 11-13 $1,000.00
2 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5-10 $1,000.00
3 Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 4-01 $1,000.00
4 Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 3-03 $1,000.00
Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 11-13 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 24-02 $1,000.00
2 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15-14 $1,000.00
3 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 12-13 $1,000.00
4 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10-04 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 41 233 528-07
2 38 219 457-01
3 2 34 68-13
4 1 12 22-10
----------------------------------
82 498 1076-152005 Pro Points
After Highland Village, Texas Ending 06-04-2005, Day 4
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Kevin VanDam Mich. 865
2 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 864
3 Davy Hite S.C. 805
4 Kevin Wirth Ky. 791
5 Aaron Martens Ala. 777
6 Larry Nixon Ark. 774
7 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 762
8 Gerald Swindle Ala. 756
9 Gary Klein Texas 750
10 Zell Rowland Texas 746
11 Dean Rojas Texas 740
12 Dustin Wilks N.C. 736
13 Kelly Jordon Texas 729
14 David Fritts N.C. 728
15 Rick Clunn Mo. 727
16 Terry Scroggins Fla. 704
16 Luke Clausen Wash. 704
18 Edwin Evers Okla. 703
19 Brent Chapman Kan. 701
20 Jeff Kriet Okla. 699
21 Randy Howell Ala. 698
22 Mark Davis Ark. 694
23 Stacey D King Mo. 693
23 Peter E Thliveros Fla. 693
25 Brian Snowden Mo. 691
26 Skeet Reese Calif. 684
27 Alton Jones Texas 681
27 Mike Wurm Ark. 681
27 Takahiro Omori Texas 681
30 Tommy Biffle Okla. 677
31 Guy Eaker N.C. 676
32 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 665
33 Mike Reynolds Calif. 655
34 Kenyon Hill Okla. 652
35 Jay Yelas Texas 650
36 Ishama Monroe Calif. 633
37 Bud Pruitt Texas 627
38 David Wharton Texas 619
39 Marty Stone N.C. 618
40 Roland Martin Fla. 607
41 George Cochran Ark. 605
42 Jimmy Mize Ark. 603
43 Bernie Schultz Fla. 593
43 Denny Brauer Mo. 593
45 Jim Bitter Fla. 587
45 Mark Tyler Ariz. 587
47 Ron Shuffield Ark. 583
48 Dave Wolak Pa. 569
49 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Fla. 563
50 Tim Horton Ala. 553