PARIS, Tenn. - Kevin VanDam's Kentucky Lake domination is beginning to get a bit ridiculous. Despite a rough start - VanDam failed to connect on consecutive 5-pounders on his first two bites - the five-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year opened up a 6-pound lead at the Tennessee Triumph bass fishing tournament Friday.
After scoring a first-, second- and third-place finish in the previous three Elite events here, VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., is closing in on adding another victory to his Kentucky Lake ledger. He ended up toting 24 pounds, 2 ounces, to the scales Thursday, which upgraded his two-day total to 49 pounds, 2 ounces. His consistency was rare as he was only angler to remain in the top five from Wednesday.
VanDam capitalized on a fast-and-furious early-morning bite, which allowed him to vacate his primary areas by 9:30 a.m. and hunt for new water. The search wasn't fruitless and VanDam feels that he has a number of areas at his disposal that could produce. Still, VanDam was worried about boat pressure - from locals and competitors - with the impending weekend. Last year, perhaps the most lasting image from Bobby Lane's victory here was the armada of 100-plus spectator boats that crowded his area.
Still, if anyone is used to boat pressure, it's VanDam. And he's certainly in a comfort zone on Kentucky, so all things considered, he likes where he is at.
"You have to catch them all four days here to have a chance," said VanDam, who is looking for his 18th BASS win. "Each day, guys are figuring out how to catch them and I just have to keep at it. With the boat traffic, I have had to be very selective about what areas I can fish. And that is hurting me a little bit. But it is what it is."
VanDam played it close to the vest on details of his pattern but given his responses ("I like the way I'm fishing") and his past choices here, it's probable VanDam is working a crankbait around the numerous ledges that are so vital to Kentucky Lake tournament fishing.
VanDam said the evolution of side-imaging equipment -VanDam uses a Humminbird - has been key to his success. It has allowed VanDam to explore expanded areas and though it has evened the playing field in terms of finding the subtle areas on ledges where the bass are schooling, the 20-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said anglers still have to find a way to put the fish in the boat.
With the lead, and perhaps of most importance to VanDam, he collects another five-point bonus in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. VanDam has moved into Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason position - only the top 12 in the AOY standings qualify - and is closing the tremendous gap that Skeet Reese had opened up heading into this week. After a white-hot start to the season, Reese is experiencing how the other half lives, as he missed his second consecutive cut with a 48th-place showing.
"My focus is on trying to get in that Postseason," said VanDam, who scored the AOY last year in come-from-behind fashion. "Anything can happen there."
Moving up from 32nd into second was Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas. Jordon brought 26-14 to the scales Thursday, which stands as the biggest limit thus far of the tournament. His banner day was anchored by a 10-1 behemoth, the biggest of the tournament. His two-day total was 43-2.
A perennial Bassmaster Classic contender, Jordon came into this week out of the Classic qualifying cutline, but a strong performance here would put him right back in the mix. The 10-1 fell for a Lake Fork Tackle 10-inch worm in red.
"It was a heck of a day," said Jordon, an eight-time Classic qualifier. "I was really disappointed after Wednesday. I had a great practice and found some serious schools but I just couldn't get the right bites. Today (Thursday), that all changed."
Moving up from eighth to third was Jason Quinn of York, S.C., with 41-14. In fourth was Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., with 41-10. Evers was Reese's closest competitor in the AOY standings heading into this week and has steadily closed the gap on Skeet Reese's once 250-point lead in the standings. If he can keep the pace, Reese will have to perform well on the season finale on the Arkansas River to maintain a comfortable margin heading into the Postseason.
Rounding out the top five was Elite rookie Keith Poche of Troy, Ala., with 41-8.
Only the top 47 qualified to fish Friday. Along with Reese, defending Kentucky Lake champion Bobby Lane missed the cut. Notables in the cutline include 2006 Kentucky Lake winner Morizo Shimizu of Japan (ninth), 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett (15th) and 19-year-old Bradley Roy (43rd). Full standings can be found below.
Kentucky Lake has hosted a dozen BASS events, including the 2009 Tennessee Triumph, at which Lane of Lakeland, Fla., won his first BASS tournament with a total of 97 pounds, 9 ounces, after leading through all four days.
Kentucky Lake is 185 miles in length, with 160,000 surface acres and 2,380 miles of shoreline. Lake Barkley adds another 80,000 surface acres.
The top prize of the Tennessee Triumph is $100,000.
The public is invited to attend the daily launches (6 a.m. CT) through Saturday and weigh-ins (3:30 p.m.) at Paris Landing State Park, 16055 Hwy. 79 N., Buchanan, Tenn. After Day 2's competition Thursday, the field will be cut to the top 47 anglers for Day 3. Only the top 12 will go on to compete in Saturday's Day 4.
DAY 2 TENNESSEE TRIUMPH STANDINGS 2010 Paris, TN 6/9-6/12 Kentucky Lake, Paris TN. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 49-02 310 Day 1: 5 25-00 Day 2: 5 24-02 2. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 10 43-02 295 Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 26-12 3. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 10 41-14 290 Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 21-01 4. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 41-10 285 Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 21-12 5. Keith Poche Troy, AL 10 41-08 280 Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 21-07 6. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 41-03 276 Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 18-09 7. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 41-02 272 Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 26-03 8. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 41-00 268 Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 17-04 9. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 40-15 264 Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 22-03 10. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 39-15 260 Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 15-00 11. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 39-10 257 Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 20-01 12. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 38-15 254 Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 19-11 13. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, FL 10 38-09 251 Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 18-09 14. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 38-01 248 Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 19-04 15. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 37-14 245 Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 21-10 16. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 37-09 243 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 21-10 17. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 37-07 241 Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 22-05 18. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 37-04 239 Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 17-13 19. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 37-04 237 Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 17-05 20. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 36-14 235 Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 17-09 21. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 10 36-12 233 Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 15-13 22. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 36-08 231 Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 17-10 23. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 35-14 229 Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 16-08 24. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 35-06 227 Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 17-00 25. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10 35-00 225 Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 14-14 26. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 34-12 223 Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 16-01 27. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 34-11 221 Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 19-10 28. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 34-08 219 Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 18-12 29. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 10 34-04 217 Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 19-07 30. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 33-14 215 Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 19-11 31. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 33-13 213 Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 17-04 32. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 32-10 211 Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 18-08 33. John Crews Salem, VA 10 32-08 209 Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 18-00 34. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 10 32-06 207 Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 11-03 35. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 31-13 205 Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 36. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 10 31-09 203 Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 18-10 37. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 10 31-06 201 Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 18-05 38. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 31-05 199 Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 16-07 39. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 31-05 197 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 18-05 40. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 31-03 195 Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 14-10 41. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 30-11 193 Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 14-15 42. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 9 30-11 191 Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 4 08-11 43. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 30-06 189 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-14 44. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 9 30-06 187 Day 1: 4 10-07 Day 2: 5 19-15 45. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 10 30-04 185 Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 12-11 46. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 30-04 183 Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 13-02 47. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 30-01 181 Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 14-05 48. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 29-11 179 Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 15-08 49. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 10 29-07 177 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 16-02 50. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 29-03 175 Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 10-09 51. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 10 28-10 173 Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 15-08 52. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 28-05 171 Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 09-11 53. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 9 28-01 169 Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 5 20-02 54. Byron Haseotes Centerville, MA 10 27-15 167 Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 14-13 55. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 10 27-15 165 Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 14-12 56. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 27-05 163 Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 14-13 57. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 27-01 161 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-14 58. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 26-13 159 Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 59. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 26-13 157 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-13 60. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 10 26-10 155 Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 11-06 61. David Smith Del City, OK 10 26-10 153 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-06 62. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 9 26-10 151 Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 4 14-05 63. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 10 26-07 149 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-06 64. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 10 26-04 147 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-08 65. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 26-04 145 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-04 66. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 26-00 143 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 14-06 67. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 25-14 141 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 15-13 68. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 25-10 139 Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 11-01 69. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 10 25-06 137 Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 11-12 70. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 25-02 135 Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 11-01 71. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 24-08 133 Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 15-03 72. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 24-06 131 Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 14-01 73. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 23-15 129 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-05 74. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 9 23-15 127 Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 17-01 75. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 10 23-14 125 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 12-10 76. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 7 23-13 123 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 2 07-14 77. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 9 23-12 121 Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 5 16-03 78. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 10 23-11 119 Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 11-02 79. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 7 23-11 117 Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 2 08-06 80. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 23-10 115 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 12-09 81. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 22-11 113 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-11 82. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 21-14 111 Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 11-08 83. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 7 21-12 109 Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 2 04-11 84. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 9 21-04 107 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 4 09-07 85. Alton Jones Waco, TX 10 20-13 105 Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-05 86. Pat Golden High Point, NC 8 19-15 103 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 07-12 87. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 8 19-14 101 Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 5 11-13 88. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 7 16-11 99 Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 4 07-09 89. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 6 15-08 97 Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 5 13-13 90. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 7 13-02 95 Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 2 04-01 91. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 5 12-06 93 Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 92. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 6 10-06 91 Day 1: 4 07-04 Day 2: 2 03-02 93. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 4 07-10 89 Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 2 03-06 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 84 449 1374-09 2 81 436 1397-08 ---------------------------------- 165 885 2772-01