(Provided by B.A.S.S. News)
Jonathon VanDamGREEN BAY, Wis. Four days on Lake Michigan produced four different tournament leaders at the Bassmaster Elite Series Green Bay Challenge. But it was the leader at the end of todays final competition round who takes home the trophy, $100,000 in first-place prize money and an automatic berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. That distinction belongs to Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., who bested 97 of the best bass anglers in the world with a four-day catch of smallmouth bass weighing 79 pounds, 2 ounces.
VanDam saved his best performance for the last round, boating a limit of five smallmouth that weighed 23-4 and edging ahead of Idahos Brandon Palaniuk, the tournament leader going into the final round, by 2-6.
VanDam fished a Strike King Dream Shot plastic worm in KVD Magic (green and silver with blue flake) on a drop shot rig above a 3/8-ounce sinker for the bulk of his catch. Though he struggled early, falling behind Palaniuk and others, he came on strong in the last couple of hours to claim the championship.
I went through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows today, VanDam said on stage moments before his uncle, legendary angler Kevin VanDam, handed him the tournament trophy and set a Green Bay Packers cheese head atop his fishing cap. I didnt have my first keeper until about noon. I was a train wreck, but I kept grinding, and it paid off.
Along with the Elite Series win and six-figure payday, VanDam earns a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake out of Tulsa, Okla. It will be his first appearance in the championship that his Uncle Kevin has dominated with 22 consecutive appearances and four wins since 2001.
Words just dont describe what this means to me, VanDam said. Ive been dreaming of this moment for a long time.
The win is VanDams second as a B.A.S.S. pro and first at the Elite level. He becomes the second youngest Elite champion in history at 23 years and 10 months of age. Elite Series angler Casey Ashley was six months younger when he won on Smith Mountain Lake in 2007.
VanDam also won the Carhartt Big Bass title, which paid $750, plus another $750 if the angler was wearing Carhartt clothing, with a 5-11 smallmouth. His Day 4 limit of 23-4 earned him the Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the best five-fish limit. In addition, he won the $1,000 Power-Pole Captains Cash for having Power-Poles installed on his boat.