When The Bassmasters take the Elite All-Stars to Muskegon Lake near Muskegon, Mich. Sept. 27-29, all eyes will be on a VanDam.
But with your help, those eyes could be on TWO VanDams.
The Toyota All-Stars is a national tournament with a festival atmosphere, including an outdoor show and live entertainment after the weigh-ins Friday through Sunday.
The Toyota Truck All-Stars is a special, end-of-the-season national bass tournament that pits the top eight 2013 Bassmaster Angler of Year point getters, the 2013 Bassmaster Classic Champion, 2013 Rookie of Year, and four others voted in by fans. The tournament will be televised on ESPN2 later this year.
The pros will fish Muskegon Friday and Saturday with top four advancing to the finals held on nearby White Lake on Sunday. Weigh-ins will be held at Heritage Landing in Muskegon at 4 p.m. daily and admission is free. Muskegon is about 2 ½ hours north of South Bend.
In addition to the All-Star event, eight collegiate anglers will compete for a Bassmaster Classic Berth on nearby Grand River and will weigh in along with the Elite pros.
Kevin VanDam (also known as KVD) of Kalamazoo is pretty much a lock on one of the top 8 spots. He was third in Angler of Year going into this weekends event on Lake St. Clair. Hes also one of the most popular pro anglers, having set records in wins, dollar winnings and championship titles.
But his nephew Jonathon (JVD), a third-year pro also from Kalamazoo, will need fan support to vote him in. Hes having a great year, but wont crack the top 8 and lacks the national recognition that some pros enjoy.
Guys like Michael Iaconelli, Skeet Reese and Gerald Swindle, all of whom have gained celebrity status because of their successes and entertaining personalities, are always fan favorites.
Thats why Im asking you to go to www.promotion.bassmaster.com/toyota/register and vote for Jon. Youll have to fill out a short form then go to the voting page that will give you the list of all the Elite anglers, from which you vote for four. You can vote once a day.
Jon wants in badly. In fact, he promises to give away a fishing trip to Lake St. Clair with lodging, a G. Loomis GL3 rod with a Stradic fishing reel, and a Strike King Lure tackle pack with sunglasses and apparel, and two $50 gift cards from D&R Sports Center in Kalamazoo if hes voted in. Hell conduct a drawing from a list hell get from Bassmaster of those names of people who voted for him.
If he gets in, a VanDam showdown is quite possible and would make for an even more exciting finish. Kevin and Jon grew up fishing the 4,150-acre lake and Jon has more recent experience there than Kevin.
Both anglers are well known throughout Michiana and have fished and/or competed on many of our nearby lakes.
Jonathon is coming off a second place finish at the St. Lawrence River two weeks ago and locked down a Bassmaster Classic berth at St. Clair last weekend.
Now in his third full season as an Elite pro, hes earned more than $300,000 and beginning to establish credentials that rise above his legendary last name.
Everyone knows me as Kevins nephew and there are certainly positive aspects of that, says the 25-year old angler. But I want them to know Im doing this on my own and love it. I want to gain peoples respect by proving myself a capable competitor - not as the nephew of the greatest angler on the planet.
A berth in the All Stars and the opportunity to challenge for the title would be a big step in that direction.