Entry 109-1

The Elite 50 Champs

What Is the Elite 50?

Editor's Note: This past season, BASS created a new circuit, the Elite 50, a four-tournament circuit made up of the anglers BASS considered the best tournament fishermen in the nation. The first 20 fishermen in the Elite 50 were chosen from BASS's all-time money-winning list. The other 30 fishermen included in the Elite 50 were selected by adding up the points that all the anglers in the top 150 positions had earned over the last three seasons. The scores were tallied, and BASS picked the top 30 fishermen with the most points in all tournaments, for the past three years to also participate in the Elite 50. Some of the greatest names in bass fishing were picked to be in the Elite 50 competition.

At the end of the four-tournament competition, Strike King pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was crowned the winner in the best-of-the-best competition. "Winning the Elite 50 championship was one of the highlights of my career," VanDam says. "When you compete against the best bass fishermen in the world over a four-event contest and win the championship, you have to feel good about your ability to find and catch bass. Remember, the guys in the Elite 50 are the bass fishermen I respect most in the world. This win is a huge accomplishment for me, and I feel humbled to have come out on top competing against these legends of bass fishing."

Question: Kevin, how does this win compare to a Bassmasters Classic win?

VanDam: The Bassmasters Classic is a completely different animal. The Classic is the biggest single event in the sport of bass fishing. The Elite 50 championship is similar to winning the Angler-of-the-Year title because points are compiled to win. The difference in the Angler-of-the-Year title and the Elite-50 championship is that there are fewer competitors in the Elite 50 than in the Top-150 championship. However, those fewer anglers represent the best bass fishermen in all of competitive bass fishing.

For me, winning this championship is a really big accomplishment. The Bassmasters Classic gets more hype and more immediate attention than the Elite 50 circuit does, and rightfully so, because it is like the Super Bowl. However, just qualifying for the Elite 50 is a major accomplishment. Winning the championship of the Elite 50 is a great thrill, a great honor and a great payday for me.

Question: What was the total of your winnings for the Elite 50?

VanDam: I won $150,000 for the championship and about $10,000 in event money.




 

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