Jon VanDam Leaves MLF, Returns to Bassmaster Tourneys

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Published: 28 November 2024

By Louie Stout

Jon VanDam

A VanDam will attempt to get back to the Bassmaster Elites, but not THAT one.

Jonathon VanDam, nephew of Kevin VanDam and a former Bassmaster Elite angler, has left the MLF Bass Pro Tour and registered to fish the Bassmaster Opens.

“I want to get back to the Bassmaster Classic,” said the 36-year-old Kalamazoo angler.

He fished Bassmaster Opens from 2006 through 2010, winning one event at Sandusky Ba, Ohio. He qualified for the Elites in 2011 and competed there before leaving to compete on the Major League Fishing circuit in 2018. During his time with B.A.S.S., he logged 18 top 10 finishes, including an Elite win at Green Bay, Wisc. He’s won $563,000 with B.A.S.S. and competed in two Classics, finishing 23 at Grand Lake, Ok. in 2013 and 16th at Lake Guntersville, Ala. in 2014.

VanDam was qualified to return the MLF Bass Pro Tour but chose to fight his way back into the Elites through a very tough Bassmaster Open format.

“I did well over at the other circuit, but I wanted to get back to the B.A.S.S. format which seems to fit me better,” he said.

He added that the new Elite Series “no entry fee” policy is another motivator.

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Bassmaster Elites No Longer Pay to Play

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Published: 31 October 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Professional bass fishing will never be the same. Ever. That’s a huge statement. In this case, it’s true. B.A.S.S. just announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series, heading into its 20th season, will no longer require entry fees. Yes, you heard that correctly. In 2025, competitors of the most prestigious tournament trail on the planet, for the first time ever in the history of B.A.S.S. competition, will no longer fish for their own money. No longer are Elite Series pros required to pay to play. 

This historic decision was not made lightly. B.A.S.S. has long believed that the ultimate goal of the organization’s highest level of competition should be on par with other individual professional sports, like golf and tennis, which do not require pros to pay entry fees to compete. However, on the heels of record-breaking viewership of Bassmaster LIVE on FOX networks and Bassmaster.com, paired with strong long-term partnerships, this ultimate goal has been realized.

“We have been looking at this model for quite some time,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “But, we wanted to make sure that when we flip this switch, which we believe will change the face of professional bass fishing, that the concept is sustainable for the future. For the past several months, we’ve done our due diligence and came to the realization that, with the money we planned to allocate to payouts in 2025, we could offer attractive payouts without putting angler money at risk. This change greatly reduces the risk and financial strain required to compete at bass fishing’s highest level. Now, the Elite Series is in a league of its own, and the only league equivalent to other major individual sports.”

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