PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOENIX MOORE AND JOSH GASSMANN
“ Intelligence – what ’ s in your brain – is THE most important aspect of tournament bass fishing .”
— KEVIN VANDAM intelligence wins championships
arely a heartbeat passes after he hears the quote from Michael Jordan before Kevin VanDam nods his head and answers emphatically : “ Absolutely ,” says the only man to surpass the $ 7 million mark in career tournament winnings . “ Intelligence – what ’ s in your brain – is THE most important aspect of tournament bass fishing .
As an eight-time tour-level Angler of the Year and the most successful tournament bass fisherman of all time , it ’ s impossible to argue with VanDam ’ s assessment . Mind games , according to VanDam , are just as important as the ability to flip , pitch , cast and crank like a pro .
“ The mental part of the game is the difference between the top anglers and the rest of the field ,” VanDam continues . “ It ’ s more so than ever these days , with all the technology and all the information out there . Everybody ’ s gear is more equal than ever now , too . The difference now is what ’ s between your ears .”
Exploring the mind of a champion
— Michael Jordan
“ Good is not good when better is expected .”
— Vin Scully
At its most basic , bass fishing is a simple game . You choose a location where you think a bass lives , you choose a bait that you think a bass will bite , you place that bait in a location where you believe a bass will bite it , and then you do it over . And over . And over .
But when you add the multitude of factors and influences that the highest-level tourna-
40 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | APRIL-MAY 2022