Entry 324-5
Strike King’s Kevin VanDam’s Keys to Consistency
Editor’s Note: The race for the 2009 Angler-of-the-Year (AOY) title has ended, and Kevin VanDam has been crowned the winner. Before the first event took place at Lake Jordan on September 13, to name the AOY winner, VanDam was 1-point ahead of 2009 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, in the race for the AOY title. We caught up with Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, when he was en route to fish the two tournaments in Alabama that would determine who would win the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler-of-the-Year title and talked to him after the tournaments. VanDam told us his plans of how he would fish to win his second-consecutive AOY title and shared his proven keys to bass-fishing consistency.
Part 5: Learn to Manage Bad Days
Question: Kevin, you and Skeet Reese were the two front runners for the 2009 Angler-of-the-Year (AOY) title. Reese was the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion, and you were the 2008 AOY winner. How do you deal with this type of pressure when you’re in a tournament with so much significance?
VanDam: Skeet Reese was a formidable opponent. But there were 11-other great fishermen, who also had a legitimate chance to win the AOY title fishing with us. To win this year’s AOY race, I knew I’d have to perform perfectly for the 4 days of competition on two-different bodies of water. After each day, I’d have to evaluate where I was in the standings and determine what I needed to do to reach the goals I’d established for the next day. Going into this contest, Skeet and I were tied. But other fishermen were also high in the standings. Remember, in these two tournaments, I’d be fishing against the best of the best in bass fishing. 
One or two of these guys might struggle, but overall, most of them would catch bass.
So, I realized I’d have to catch good limits of big bass every day. We had 2 days of competition on two-different bodies of water. In a 4-day event, if you stump your toe, you’ll have a day to catch-up. To win Angler of the Year, I knew I couldn’t have a bad day. I had to go out and hit a homerun every day. That was a tall order. But I knew no matter whatever happened I’d never give-up.
Question: What do you do when you’re in trouble in this type of tournament? For instance, let’s say you only have 2 hours to fish, you don’t have a limit in the boat yet, and these last 2 hours are do or die. What’s your go-to tactic?
VanDam: My go-to tactic depends on the weather, the water and the fishing conditions each day. 
But when I’m scrambling, I’m not afraid to try anything. I’ll drop-shot, cast a 4-inch worm on a shaky-head jig or fish a Strike King Mini 3 to try to catch a limit. In the past, this has been the main ingredient for me winning the AOY title. To win Angler of the Year, you don’t need to have a number of great days. You just have to prevent having bad days.
When I’m having a tough day, I try to make the most of it. If I come in with a small 10-pound limit and finish in 50th place, that’s better than coming in with three bass and finishing in 90th place. You really have to manage those bad days and find some lure that can help you put a limit in the boat, even if the limit isn’t big.
