Entry 75-3

Life With Kevin VanDam

A Day In The Life Of Kevin VanDam

Editor's Note: Thirty-five-year-old Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, has had a whirlwind career and has made over $1,173,000 on just the BASS Circuit. VanDam has fished in 13 Bassmasters Classics and won the 2001 Bassmaster Classic. This three-time BASS Angler-of-the-Year has had seven first-place finishes, four second-place finishes and 45 top-10 finishes. VanDam is very intense and very focused on being a tournament bass fisherman. But this week, we’ll look at the man behind the machine, and learn who Kevin VanDam really is.

VanDam: When I’m at a tournament, I’m usually up at 4:00 a.m. and generally, I’ve been to bed late the night before. But I have to get up early to get prepared to fish. I make sure my boat is equipped properly and check to see that all my rods, reels, line and tackle are organized. I meet my partner and try to develop a rapport with him before we start fishing, and then I set my jaw and prepare for 18 hours of work. The only way that I can work 18 hours a day, seven days a week, in a tournament is to have a passion and a love for your job. That is one of the biggest advantages I believe that I have in the sport of bass fishing. I truly love the sport, and I truly love my job. I don’t have to get myself mentally up for a day of fishing, because I’m already excited.

To keep my focus I have to forget my mistakes quickly. If I lose a bass, I try to get that experience out of my mind as quickly as possible. Many times I can’t control whether or not that bass stays on the hook, or whether or not he gets the hook in my Strike King lures. The bass has a lot of influence on whether or not I catch him. So, I’ve learned to forget the things I can’t control and concentrate on the things that I can. The same is true if I have a bad tournament. I try to learn from my mistakes and determine not to make those same mistakes again. Then I erase the memory of a bad tournament and start thinking about the things I can do to win the next tournament. To be a good bass fisherman, you’ve got to quickly get over your mistakes and not let your mistakes and your losses rule your mind.




 

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