A lifetime of enjoyment and maybe even a profession. It all starts with that first fish on the creek or at the pond. Alex Stephens and a smallmouth bass.
I was in Paris, Tennessee last weekend on Kentucky Lake. You know what? Someone forgot to tell a whole bunch of fisherman that you can’t make a living fishing in this day and age. I watched ninety-three fishermen who grew up loving to fish and at some point in their lives they decided they were going to live their lives doing what they loved. Poor souls – I mean think about how tough their profession is. Who would want to travel all over fishing in every premier lake and river in the country? Who would want to travel in brand new trucks pulling brand new bass boats all covered in cool looking sponsor graphics? Who wouldn’t feel guilty about getting first-class fishing equipment and apparel provided for you to use by sponsors free of charge. I know I would. That’s why I was in a canoe and casting a twenty year old rod with an Ambassador 5500C reel that I inherited from dad.
The truth is I was there with the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance to hold a Trailblazers Adventure Day in conjunction with the Bassmasters Elite Series, Tennessee Triumph bass tournament. For a fellow who grew up fishing in southern Missouri ponds, creeks, and rivers, this was a sight to behold. The tournament started on Wednesday with a 6:00 am launch and lasted for four days, ending on Saturday at the 3:30 weigh-in. The field started with ninety-three fishermen on Wednesday and was narrowed to 12 for the final on Saturday. The weigh-in stage looked more like something straight from Las Vegas than what you would expect for a bunch of fishermen. Daily, the tournament emcee or some of the vendors would rile up the crowd like Fred Bird at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. They would throw various types of fishing tackle or outdoor garments into the crowd and the folks went wild like groupies at a rock concert! There were tents full of vendors with all the latest and greatest fishing equipment imaginable. There was a giant big screen like those in professional sports arenas. There were enormous inflatables like at the Macy’s Day Parade. There were food vendor trailers like at the state fair. Heck, there was even a giant aquarium with largemouth bass reminding a person of a Bass Pro Shop on wheels! Finally, there were giant satellite trucks from ESPN beaming the live coverage to all parts of the country.
At the end of the tournament the sponsor trucks pulled the boats right to the stage and each fisherman pulled his final catch from the live-well. After weighing in, each fisherman told of the tactics he employed to make it to that point in the tournament. With all the hoopla it was almost anticlimactic to learn, with the exception of some state of the art location equipment, these folks fish with the same tactics and equipment that we anglers here in the Ozarks employ. On Kentucky Lake the bait of choice for most of the anglers in the final 12 was a crankbait, however, the heaviest fish caught was a 10 pound 1 ounce largemouth caught on a plastic worm by professional fisherman Kelly Jordan. It was a sight to behold and the other fisherman all made their way to see this impressive fish. Even in the ranks of the elite a 10 pound largemouth weighed in at a tournament is a Holy Grail of sorts.
In the end, however, the heaviest four day catch was from Kalamazoo, Michigan professional fisherman Kevin VanDam, who boated 90 pounds, 5 ounces. KVD, won his 18th tournament and is now one away from the all time record of 19. Kevin caught the majority of his take on two Strike King crankbaits, a series 6 XD and a Sexy Chad Silent Stalker. There is no doubt this man has decided to chase his dream to be the best at what he loves. There is also no doubt that for years he had to adjust his standard of living to allow for him to pursue his dream. Today, however, that dedication has paid off. Winning $100,000 dollars for 1st Place in the Bassmasters Elite Series, Tennessee Triumph tournament and over $600,000 just this year is proof that chasing your dreams not only will provide you with the satisfaction of doing what you love but also can be very lucrative as well. Who would have thought that taking KVD to a pond with a Zebco and bobber for the first time years ago would set him on course to be one of the most successful fishermen of all time as well as a man ultimately content with pursuing his passion in life? Good for you Kevin VanDam. Take a child to the Great Outdoors - you never know what might become of it. So says the One-Eyed Hillbilly. Good luck, be safe, and get a big one.
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