Day 2 with KVD

Kevin VanDam waits for the official time to start fishing during the afternoon session on the Niagara River.
Kevin VanDam waits for the official time to start fishing during the afternoon session on the Niagara River.
And he had a small flotilla of spectator boats following him.
And he had a small flotilla of spectator boats following him.
With a sizable lead over Drew Benton to begin his day, he fires his first cast.
With a sizable lead over Drew Benton to begin his day, he fires his first cast.
And it was obvious he had plans to build on that lead.
And it was obvious he had plans to build on that lead.
He was fishing an area that had been fished heavily by several different anglers...
He was fishing an area that had been fished heavily by several different anglers…
Looking relaxed he takes a seat...
Looking relaxed he takes a seat…
...and eases his first fish...
…and eases his first fish…
...close to the boat.
…close to the boat.
It would be one of the few fish he would catch on a bait...
It would be one of the few fish he would catch on a bait…
...other than a Strike King KVD jerkbait that he helped design.
…other than a Strike King KVD jerkbait that he helped design.
With a smile on his face...
With a smile on his face…
...and a fish that would help pad his lead...
…and a fish that would help pad his lead…
...he moved to the back of the boat to have the fish weighed.
…he moved to the back of the boat to have the fish weighed.
And then it was immediately released.
And then it was immediately released.
And then back to work.
And then back to work.
Spectators arrived in different forms of watercraft.
Spectators arrived in different forms of watercraft.
But VanDam was on the move, looking for more areas to fish.
But VanDam was on the move, looking for more areas to fish.
He moved out to a large flat...
He moved out to a large flat…
...following a very defined grass edge that could be seen in the clear waters of the Niagara River.
…following a very defined grass edge that could be seen in the clear waters of the Niagara River.
He would occasionally see fish cruising and cast to them on the huge flat.
He would occasionally see fish cruising and cast to them on the huge flat.
He hit a point along the main river channel...
He hit a point along the main river channel…
...before moving a few hundred yards down river and checking out the hoopla going on with the competition.
…before moving a few hundred yards down river and checking out the hoopla going on with the competition.
At this point he was in full practice mode for the semi-finals...
At this point he was in full practice mode for the semi-finals…
...but still one of the many men on the river still at work.
…but still one of the many men on the river still at work.
Every fish he would catch told him something...
Every fish he would catch told him something…
...and regardless of size put a smile on his face.
…and regardless of size put a smile on his face.
It was the jerkbait he used to search new areas.
It was the jerkbait he used to search new areas.
He would have his photo taken from several different angles...
He would have his photo taken from several different angles…
...mark areas where he would catch every fish...
…mark areas where he would catch every fish…
...and smile when he knew he was only adding to the waypoints he could fish tomorrow.
…and smile when he knew he was only adding to the waypoints he could fish tomorrow.
This fish surges downward at the boat...
This fish surges downward at the boat…
...thrashes a bit as he's pulled from the bottom...
…thrashes a bit as he’s pulled from the bottom…
...but would eventually be worn down and lose the fight with KVD.
…but would eventually be worn down and lose the fight with KVD.
He pushed his boat away from the wall...
He pushed his boat away from the wall…
...before giving us another look at another keeper.
…before giving us another look at another keeper.
Five minutes later another bite...
Five minutes later another bite…
...a fish that felt much stronger and heavier.
…a fish that felt much stronger and heavier.
This fish took VanDam from the front of the boat to the back of the boat...
This fish took VanDam from the front of the boat to the back of the boat…
This is the KVD method of tuning a jerkbait or crankbait...
This is the KVD method of tuning a jerkbait or crankbait…
...the tying it on for action.
…the tying it on for action.
He moved well up the river to check some other areas...
He moved well up the river to check some other areas…
...and marked several more way points.
…and marked several more way points.
He made quick check of a shallow area...
He made quick check of a shallow area…
...before eventually laying his rod down and standing on the trolling motor, simply looking.
…before eventually laying his rod down and standing on the trolling motor, simply looking.
And it was obvious it liked what he saw...
And it was obvious it liked what he saw…
...and his prospects for his semi-final match tomorrow against Koby Kreiger.
…and his prospects for his semi-final match tomorrow against Koby Kreiger.