ment pros must consider on a day-to-day , hour-to-hour – even minute-to-minute – basis , and “ simple ” gives way to complex in a hurry . The ability to mentally process those conditions becomes the most valuable weapon in the angler ’ s arsenal .
VanDam has demonstrated that truth more than anyone in the history of the sport . As a 26- time tour-level champion , fourtime Bassmaster Classic champion , multiple-time MLF Cup winner and Bass Fishing Hall-of- Famer , the “ Kalamazoo Kid ” has made a hearty living fishing , thanks in large part to his ability to identify trends and patterns , quickly assess conditions on the fly and solve the proverbial fishing puzzle faster than the anglers he ’ s competed against for 35 years .
“ Every tournament – and every tournament format – has its strategy ,” VanDam says . “ It ’ s no different than NFL football , NHL hockey or Major League Baseball : You have to have the faculties to gameplan your strategy , and then be honest enough with yourself that you can make a change when you identify that things are changing and your original gameplan isn ’ t working .
“ You want to give a pattern or an area or a technique time enough to develop , but you also have to understand when ‘ the ship has sailed ’ and it ’ s time to move on . Being focused while still being open-minded isn ’ t easy ; it ’ s a mind game that the best ( anglers ) seem to be better at than the others .”
VanDam names several anglers who he believes have strong mental games – “ Alton Jones outperformed everybody last year at Heavy Hitters because he had better focus and was more dialed in mentally than everybody else ,” he says – but eventually comes around to the defending Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year , Jacob Wheeler .
The Tennessee pro had one of the most dominant years in the history of the sport in 2021 ,
“ Work ethic and dedication are mental things . I can never half-ass anything when it comes to details and preparation .”
— BRENT EHRLER
ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRANDON ROWAN
APRIL-MAY 2022 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 41