Kevin VanDam Comes From Behind To Claim Second Victory Of Season At Cayuga Lake

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Published: 27 June 2016

Kevin VanDam Comes From Behind To Claim Second Victory Of Season At Cayuga Lake

Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., wins the 2016 Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake held out of Union Springs, N.Y., Sunday, with a four-day total weight of 71 pounds, 13 ounces. - Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — A little over a month ago, many professional fishing fans were wondering out loud, “What’s wrong with Kevin VanDam?”

Now those same fans must be wondering just how many gigantic moments VanDam has ahead of him.

After recording his 21st career victory at Louisiana’s Toledo Bend Reservoir in May, VanDam won again Sunday, coming from behind to claim the $100,000 first-place prize in the Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake. After going five years between victories, the Michigan superstar has now won twice in seven weeks.

VanDam went into Sunday’s final round in third place, almost 2 pounds out of the lead. But a final-day catch of 15 pounds, 7 ounces put him over the top with a four-day mark of 71-13. Jordan Lee, a 24-year-old Alabama angler who led going into the final round, finished second with 70-12.

“You just never know how things are going to go out here,” said VanDam, who extended his own B.A.S.S. record with his 22nd career win. “I’ve said it many times before. It’s really hard to win against these guys.

“I feel pretty lucky today, for sure. I didn’t have a great day today.”

Unlike Toledo Bend, which he described as the “toughest tournament he ever won,” VanDam went into the Cayuga Lake event with a lot of confidence based on what he’d seen in practice. He used a variety of patterns throughout the week and exploited the lake’s solid populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

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Indiana Lake Trout Record Shattered

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Published: 15 June 2016

(Provided by Indiana DNR)

Indiana Lake Trout Record Shattered

Indiana's youngest charter boat captain shattered the state lake trout record by "accidentally" catching a fish last weekend that was older than he is.

Tyler Kreighbaum, 25, owner of Tightline Fishing Charters in Michigan City, caught the fish in Lake Michigan on June 11. It measured 44 inches long and weighed 37.55 pounds, beating the previous state record by about 8 pounds. The former record was 29-4 set in 1993.

"I caught it by accident," Kreighbaum said. "I thought I was hooked on bottom. I was trying to break the line off."

Kreighbaum, his wife and first mate Britney, and five clients were trolling with downriggers near the Michigan state line. Kreighbaum said the trout came up easily, which was another reason he thought he had hooked debris, and not a fish.

Even after landing the fish, Kreighbaum didn't immediately recognize its significance.

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