COLUMN : BALOG ON BASS FISHING |
|||||
|
VanDam ’ s gifts to be invaluable in their efforts to devise ways to catch more fish and his credibility vital to catching the eyes of anglers . If you fish , chances are at some point you ’ ve bought a product with VanDam ’ s name or initials on it .
is it too early ?
VanDam will have plenty to keep him busy . Still , one can ’ t help but think he ’ s stepping away too early . Last season found him again in AOY contention , finishing fifth . In 2021 , the fishing world watched in awe as he took to the ledges of the Tennessee River en route to an astounding victory on Lake Chickamauga . In June , he led his group through the Qualifying Rounds on Cayuga Lake , ultimately qualifying for the Championship Round and finishing ninth . The secret to his sustained success ? “ It ’ s a mental toughness and fortitude combined with decision making ,” he said . “ I understand when there ’ s a window to win .”
VanDam has always been the epitome of a closer . As he approached his final two regular-season tournaments – both in his home state of Michigan – he had some thoughts about those windows closing on their own .
“ You know , I ’ ve never won at St . Clair ,” he confirmed .
I was as surprised as anyone , sure I ’ d seen him hoist a trophy sometime during the lake ’ s long competitive history .
“ I ’ ve got a star on the schedule every time we go there ,” VanDam said . “ It ’ s my favorite place on the planet .” How about Saginaw Bay ? “ I haven ’ t been there in 30 years , even though it ’ s only three hours from my house ,” VanDam said .
That sums up why VanDam is ready to retire . The greatest our game has ever known wants time to just go fishing . Whether that ’ s at Saginaw Bay or an exotic locale in Alaska , VanDam will soon come full circle , enjoying the outdoors the way he did before all of this started — before creating the feared KVD persona , filling rooms with trophies and achieving immortality in the sport that he , arguably more than any other figure , helped elevate to its current level . Still , I think it ’ s too early . He ’ ll continue to be relevant in the sport for
|
decades , no doubt , but the absence of KVD from the competitive arena will be noticeable . “ Where ’ s Kevin ?” they ’ ll ask at each BPT event . “ How ’ d KVD do ?”
With the upcoming retirement of Kevin VanDam , a chapter in the book on bass fishing will be completed and never
The author isn ’ t so sure that it ’ s time for VanDam to wave goodbye to tournament fishing .
|
re-written . It seemed like just yesterday that we all got our first taste of the lanky kid from Kalamazoo , dorky hat and baggy shirt , poised to pound the pro tour into oblivion .
“ It ’ s scary how fast it goes by ,” VanDam admitted .
VanDam added to his more than 120 career Top 10s at
Cayuga Lake in June .
|
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON PHOTO BY PHOENIX MOORE |