KVD goes to work

Kevin VanDam down the Niagara River on the final day of the 2016 Classic Bracket with Trip Weldon as his tournament official.
Kevin VanDam down the Niagara River on the final day of the 2016 Classic Bracket with Trip Weldon as his tournament official.
VanDam and Brett Hite had qualified their way through a series of matches to go head-to-head on the final day for the opportunity to make the 2017 Bassmaster Classic.
VanDam and Brett Hite had qualified their way through a series of matches to go head-to-head on the final day for the opportunity to make the 2017 Bassmaster Classic.
While both anglers had seemingly little trouble catching fish during the match-ups with other anglers, the final day match up started very slow.
While both anglers had seemingly little trouble catching fish during the match-ups with other anglers, the final day match up started very slow.

Cloud cover was thick and the wind was stiff.
Cloud cover was thick and the wind was stiff.
And during the first hour of competition, there were no fish caught by either angler.
And during the first hour of competition, there were no fish caught by either angler.
After another 30 minutes of fish-less action, VanDam left the down river area and headed up river toward Lake Erie.
After another 30 minutes of fish-less action, VanDam left the down river area and headed up river toward Lake Erie.
Near Strawberry Island, VanDam washed the skunk off of the fishing day.
Near Strawberry Island, VanDam washed the skunk off of the fishing day.
The first fish came with little fanfare.
The first fish came with little fanfare.
And came aboard with little drama.
And came aboard with little drama.
But it would uncap the catching action until that point that had been nonexistent.
But it would uncap the catching action until that point that had been nonexistent.
The fish would be in the 1-pound range.
The fish would be in the 1-pound range.
And would take a second look to determine it was worth measuring.
And would take a second look to determine it was worth measuring.
VanDam would soon follow up the first catch with a second.
VanDam would soon follow up the first catch with a second.
This one was obviously pulling hard.
This one was obviously pulling hard.
And after a long morning of no bites, it was a welcome sight.
And after a long morning of no bites, it was a welcome sight.
This fish would run VanDam down the side of the boat.
This fish would run VanDam down the side of the boat.
And into the passenger seat.
And into the passenger seat.
And VanDam would reach for a green fish instead of the bronzebacks seen for most of the event.
And VanDam would reach for a green fish instead of the bronzebacks seen for most of the event.
The fish would be hefty enough to give VanDam the lead in the match up that he wouldn't relinquish the rest of the day.
The fish would be hefty enough to give VanDam the lead in the match up that he wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the day.
He would spend the rest of the day hitting high-percentage areas around the Niagara River.
He would spend the rest of the day hitting high-percentage areas around the Niagara River.
He alternated between a jerkbait, a tube, a drop shot and the occasional spinnerbait.
He alternated between a jerkbait, a tube, a drop shot and the occasional spinnerbait.
And once he started catching them, he never really stopped.
And once he started catching them, he never really stopped.