GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. - Bassmaster Elite Series anglers are learning that it's not a wise idea to fire up Kevin VanDam. After narrowly missing out on his 14th BASS victory by 8 ounces on Alabama's Wheeler Lake last week and absorbing considerable trash talk from eventual winner Jeremy Starks of Charleston, W. Va., the three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year has dominated the Bassmaster Elite Series' Bluegrass Brawl bass fishing tournament on Kentucky Lake, taking a three-day total of 68 pounds, 4 ounces, and a near 7-pound advantage into the final day of competition.
"I'm fired up, man," said VanDam, 40. "I was very disappointed last week but more times than not, I'm going to come back strong. I just wish Jeremy was in the field for this one."
In addition to closing on a victory, VanDam is piling up the Bassmaster Angler of the Year points. A wire-to-wire victory would earn him 320 points and with previous leader Todd Faircloth finishing in a tie for 18th, VanDam will take hold of the lead in the season-long points standings with only three events remaining.
If VanDam is the top performer in the AOY points race, he will take home $250,000. The standings also will determine the brunt of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers. The Classic is set for Feb. 20-22 out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La., on the Red River.
If VanDam is able to hang on at Kentucky, he will earn $100,000, which would push his career BASS earnings to nearly $3 million. Additionally, a victory would also mark his fourth in Elite Series competition, the most for any angler since the format was created in 2006.
VanDam said his day was much like he expected. He had to contend with boat pressure from other tournament circuits. He "mixed it up" with a variety of lures, including his most productive bait, a Strike King sexy shad.
"I planned very well for today," said VanDam, a two-time Bassmaster Classic champion. "I knew I would get hit hard by the boat traffic so I stayed away from some of my stuff. I still have a good many spots that I haven't even touched yet."
Falling behind VanDam further was four-time Bassmaster Classic Rick Clunn. His credentials are as impressive as VanDam but he has not been in contention for a tournament victory for more than two years. Still, with a productive crankbait bite on Kentucky Lake, Clunn, 61, remains dangerous.
He boated 17 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday and has been fishing areas far away from the launch site where little boat traffic exists. He said that he feels most comfortable when he has his own water and will continue to look for those areas Sunday.
"After 35 years, I have run out of excuses," said Clunn, who has a three-day total of 61 pounds, 7 ounces. "My spots just didn't pan out today but tomorrow is a new day."
Moving from eighth to third was Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., with 59 pounds, 1 ounce. In fourth was all-time BASS four-day heavyweight record hold Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss., with 58 pounds, 14 ounces and fifth was Elite rookie Wade Grooms of Bonneau, S.C., with 57 pounds, 0 ounces.
Only the top 12 anglers will fish Sunday including Mike McClelland (seventh) of Bella Vista, Ark., who is in the top five in the Angler of the Year standings. Others in the cut line include Oklahoma's Bradley Hallman (eighth), Kenyon Hill (ninth) and Edwin Evers (10th).
In the co-angler division, Michael Bass of Austin, Texas, took home the top prize of $25,000 with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 0 ounces. Bass outlasted Jason Seaton of Martinsville, Ind., with 44 pounds, 1 ounce, and Brian Hickey of Cadiz, Ky., with 43 pounds, 14 ounces. Hickey finished in second place in the co-angler competition in last week's Elite Series event on Alabama's Wheeler Lake.
Straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee border, Kentucky Lake is 185 miles in length, with 160,000 surface acres and 2,380 miles of shoreline. Barkley, a navigable canal, adds another 80,000 surface acres. The Bassmaster Elite Series made its last stop at Kentucky Lake in June 2006, when the top seven pros each caught more than 60 pounds through four days. Winner Morizo Shimizu weighed in 66 pounds, 9 ounces.
Bluegrass Brawl
2008 Bluegrass Brawl 6/12-6/15
Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville KY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 68-04 315 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 21-14
2. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 61-07 295 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 24-00 Day 3: 5 17-11
3. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 15 59-01 290 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 23-05
4. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 15 58-14 285
Day 1: 5 21-04 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 21-10
5. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 15 57-00 280
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 20-00
6. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 15 55-08 276
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 20-06
7. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 55-06 272
Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 15-15
8. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 15 53-05 268
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 14-10
9. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 15 53-02 264
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 18-12
10. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 53-01 260
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 17-09
11. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 15 52-10 257
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 18-06
12. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 15 52-01 254 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 15-13
13. Alton Jones Waco, TX 15 52-00 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 17-13
14. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 51-11 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 18-07
15. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 15 51-06 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 21-07 Day 3: 5 17-01
16. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 15 50-03 243 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 15-15
17. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 15 50-01 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 18-07
18. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 15 49-07 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 5 15-11
18. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 15 49-07 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 17-11
18. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 49-07 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 15-12
21. Jason Quinn York, SC 15 48-15 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 18-08
22. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 48-07 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 17-13
23. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 15 48-04 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 17-14
24. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 48-02 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 17-04
25. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 48-01 224 $10,125.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 15-04
25. Kevin Langill Terrell, NC 15 48-01 224 $10,125.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 15-01
27. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 47-10 220 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 15-07
27. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 15 47-10 220 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 16-14
29. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 14 47-07 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 4 13-02
30. David Smith Del City, OK 15 47-06 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 12-13
31. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 15 47-02 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 13-05
32. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 47-00 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 15-03
33. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 15 46-13 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 16-06
34. Glenn Delong Bellville, OH 15 46-09 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 13-10
35. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 15 46-02 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 11-09
36. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 15 46-01 202 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 12-07
36. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 15 46-01 202 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 14-09
38. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 15 45-15 198 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 15-09
38. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 15 45-15 198 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 16-15 Day 3: 5 14-05
40. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 15 45-10 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 13-01
41. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 15 45-08 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 12-08
42. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 15 45-03 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 14-06
43. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 15 44-08 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 12-06
44. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 15 44-07 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 14-01
45. Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, FL 15 44-00 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 13-08
46. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 43-15 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 10-15
47. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 43-10 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 12-02
48. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 15 43-07 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 10-08
49. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 15 43-04 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 12-04
50. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 14 39-13 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 4 08-01
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 06-07 $1,000.00
2 Rick Clunn Ava, MO 07-02 $1,000.00
3 Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 05-13 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 24-13 $1,000.00
2 Rick Clunn Ava, MO 24-00 $1,000.00
3 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 23-05 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 99 519 1581-03
2 97 513 1503-06
3 48 248 783-07
----------------------------------
244 1280 3868-00
2008 Bluegrass Brawl 6/12-6/15
Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville KY.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Michael Bass Austin, TX 15 45-00 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 14-09
2. Jason Seaton Martinsville, IN 15 44-01 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 12-13
3. Brian Hickey Cadiz, KY 15 43-14 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 16-14
4. Benjamin Jackson Broken Arrow, OK 15 43-07 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 15-14
5. Crispin Powley Buchanan, TN 15 42-09 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 12-15
6. Dustin Evans Eads, TN 15 40-01 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 14-03
7. Preston Frazell Kincaid, KS 15 39-13 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 12-14
8. Richard Kennedy Angie, LA 14 39-11 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 16-05
9. Dave Dickherber Lake Saint Louis, MO 15 39-09 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 11-12
10. Tom Frink Simi Valley, CA 13 38-10 0 $1,375.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 3 06-02 Day 3: 5 16-13
10. Billy Harris Murfreesboro, TN 13 38-10 0 $1,375.00
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-06
12. Kevin Savely Liberal, KS 14 38-08 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 4 09-09 Day 3: 5 17-09
13. Michael Neal Dexter, KS 14 37-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 4 10-05 Day 3: 5 11-14
14. Jack Palmer Gracey, KY 15 37-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 12-07
14. Mike Frazier Clermont, FL 14 37-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 4 09-08 Day 3: 5 13-09
16. Steven Morton New Albany, IN 15 36-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 11-01
17. Matt Hoffman Highland Heights, KY 12 36-13 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 2 05-04
18. Chris Meyer Hendersonville, TN 13 36-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 3 07-02 Day 3: 5 14-14
19. John Knight Franklin, KY 15 35-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-13 Day 3: 5 14-09
20. Chad Kallina Nada, TX 15 35-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 12-04
21. David Herman Mcalester, OK 15 35-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 10-09
22. Ronnie Tyson Marietta, GA 14 34-12 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 13-15
23. Richard Coldiron Somerset, KY 15 34-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 11-12
24. Micah Cruse Parsons, TN 12 34-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 04-09 Day 3: 5 15-14
25. Dave Elder Tuscaloosa, AL 13 32-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 3 06-12 Day 3: 5 12-04
26. Gary Biggs Mounds, OK 14 32-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 4 08-11 Day 3: 5 10-01
27. Paul Pagnato Vienna, VA 14 32-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 4 07-09
28. Alexander Meza San Jose, CA 13 31-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 3 05-10
29. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 13 31-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 3 07-10
30. Tom Eason Jeffersonville, IN 14 30-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 4 07-07
31. Adam Eisele Cambridge, WI 12 30-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 2 05-04
32. Alton Jones Jr. Woodway, TX 11 29-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 1 03-04
33. David Stewart Cedar Park, TX 11 28-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 3 07-13 Day 3: 4 11-07
34. Greg Hackman Sturgis, MI 13 28-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 3 05-15
35. Marcos Malucelli Fort Mill, SC 12 27-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 3 06-02 Day 3: 4 10-12
36. B J Nelson Louisa, KY 11 27-14 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-12 Day 2: 4 07-02 Day 3: 4 10-00
37. Luke Smith Eddyville, KY 10 27-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 2 05-03 Day 3: 3 07-03
38. Walter Stringer Jr. Tallassee, AL 13 26-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 4 08-07
39. Wayne Hauser Mooresville, NC 12 26-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 4 09-03 Day 3: 3 06-04
40. Keith Sykes Clintwood, VA 11 24-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 2 04-09 Day 3: 4 07-09
41. Ivan C Morris Virginia Beach, VA 11 23-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 3 05-12 Day 3: 3 06-03
42. Robbie Gaddis Owensboro, KY 8 22-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 3 06-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
43. Michael Klingler Terre Haute, IN 8 22-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 2 08-13 Day 3: 1 02-01
44. Anthony Ray Columbia, TN 9 21-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 2 05-12 Day 3: 2 03-07
45. Ken Willis Attalla, AL 9 21-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 3 05-15 Day 3: 1 03-09
46. Kenneth Mclemore Antioch, IL 9 21-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 1 01-13
47. Bob McMullin Pevely, MO 8 20-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 3 06-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
48. John Voyles Petersburg, IN 9 20-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 4 10-01 Day 3: 0 00-00
49. Darin Snapp Kansas City, MO 8 19-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 0 00-00
50. Les Williams Mcalester, OK 8 16-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 4 08-00 Day 3: 0 00-00
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BIG BASS
Day
1 B J Nelson Louisa, KY 05-13 $500.00
2 Chris Snow Mc Minnville, TN 05-07 $500.00
3 Kevin Savely Liberal, KS 05-11 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 51 371 918-05
2 33 315 770-10
3 25 181 468-10
----------------------------------
109 867 2157-09