KVD’s Busch trip to Alaska

A fishing trip with Kevin VanDam was the grand prize of the Busch Catch One Win Big contest, a popular 2016 sweepstakes on Bassmaster.com.
A fishing trip with Kevin VanDam was the grand prize of the Busch Catch One Win Big contest, a popular 2016 sweepstakes on Bassmaster.com.
There were five winners selected from those who sent in a photo of themselves after finding one of the special golden Busch cans. Each winner was allowed one guest, and KVD said he felt like he won too as the winners all voted for the Alaska fishing trip.
There were five winners selected from those who sent in a photo of themselves after finding one of the special golden Busch cans. Each winner was allowed one guest, and KVD said he felt like he won too as the winners all voted for the Alaska fishing trip.
VanDam said each winner was from a different part of the country, and it was a really good group of people.
VanDam said each winner was from a different part of the country, and it was a really good group of people.
The plan was to fish the Kenai River for silver salmon and trout. Big Otter float planes ferried the winners to prime fishing locations. “It’s what Alaska is all about,” VanDam said.
The plan was to fish the Kenai River for silver salmon and trout. Big Otter float planes ferried the winners to prime fishing locations. “It’s what Alaska is all about,” VanDam said.
For some, including KVD, the lights offered eye-opening sights of Alaska’s splendor and enormity.
For some, including KVD, the lights offered eye-opening sights of Alaska’s splendor and enormity.
Line’s in! That’s what KVD’s talking about. While the Kenai is known for king, sockeye and coho salmon, other targeted species include rainbow trout, Dolly Varden/Arctic char, Arctic grayling, lake trout and steelhead trout.
Line’s in! That’s what KVD’s talking about. While the Kenai is known for king, sockeye and coho salmon, other targeted species include rainbow trout, Dolly Varden/Arctic char, Arctic grayling, lake trout and steelhead trout.
Just like that, KVD is hooked up, and he shares a fist bump with the guide.
Just like that, KVD is hooked up, and he shares a fist bump with the guide.
Don’t worry, VanDam knows how to get a fish to the boat. The net needs to be large -- it is Alaska. The world record king salmon, which was caught in the Kenai, was 97 pounds.
Don’t worry, VanDam knows how to get a fish to the boat. The net needs to be large — it is Alaska. The world record king salmon, which was caught in the Kenai, was 97 pounds.
VanDam’s first fish was not anywhere near that, but satisfying just the same.
VanDam’s first fish was not anywhere near that, but satisfying just the same.
That’s one -- a nice silver salmon, his first. “We caught silver salmon, a couple people caught some pink salmon. Mainly we were there for the silver and the trout.”
That’s one — a nice silver salmon, his first. “We caught silver salmon, a couple people caught some pink salmon. Mainly we were there for the silver and the trout.”
And he’s right back at it.
And he’s right back at it.
There’s a couple of other really good fisherman hanging around the river that day, as well as some scavenging for scraps.
There’s a couple of other really good fisherman hanging around the river that day, as well as some scavenging for scraps.
This one takes off super low. VanDam said the entourage first had two moose walk right past the kitchen windows at the lodge and saw a bear hunting for fish and another with her cub cross the river.
This one takes off super low. VanDam said the entourage first had two moose walk right past the kitchen windows at the lodge and saw a bear hunting for fish and another with her cub cross the river.
Awesome nature scenes were around every corner.
Awesome nature scenes were around every corner.
The crew enjoys a frosty Busch beer on the water.
The crew enjoys a frosty Busch beer on the water.
The Busch contest winners stayed at Tower Rock Lodge in Kenai. They fished farther upstream one day then flew up into the mountains to fish another day on Crescent Lake, which is just west of Moose Pass.
The Busch contest winners stayed at Tower Rock Lodge in Kenai. They fished farther upstream one day then flew up into the mountains to fish another day on Crescent Lake, which is just west of Moose Pass.
The trip was about being with KVD, and here he’s signing everything from pictures and posters to beer cans.
The trip was about being with KVD, and here he’s signing everything from pictures and posters to beer cans.
That’s a pretty nice haul for the proud anglers.
That’s a pretty nice haul for the proud anglers.
And they made for a really fresh dinner.
And they made for a really fresh dinner.
KVD and the contest winners offer a salute: Here’s to earning it!
KVD and the contest winners offer a salute: Here’s to earning it!
Another day, and the planes head farther in the Kenai Peninsula to Crescent Lake.
Another day, and the planes head farther in the Kenai Peninsula to Crescent Lake.
Crescent Lake is a glacial lake nestled in the mountains of Chugach National Forest.
Crescent Lake is a glacial lake nestled in the mountains of Chugach National Forest.
“It was killer,” KVD said of seeing something so vast, as well as the wildlife.
“It was killer,” KVD said of seeing something so vast, as well as the wildlife.
“We fly into that lake and there’s a grizzly bear 200 yards across on the opposite shore walking down just hunting for fish. A great big one, a 1,000-pounder,” he said.
“We fly into that lake and there’s a grizzly bear 200 yards across on the opposite shore walking down just hunting for fish. A great big one, a 1,000-pounder,” he said.
“While we were fishing, a sow and cub swam across the stream about 80 yards upstream from us. They played in the river for a bit while were fishing.”
“While we were fishing, a sow and cub swam across the stream about 80 yards upstream from us. They played in the river for a bit while were fishing.”
“The cool thing for everybody there, every day we fished different waters, different techniques,” KVD said. And it seemed rather picturesque about every which way they looked.
“The cool thing for everybody there, every day we fished different waters, different techniques,” KVD said. And it seemed rather picturesque about every which way they looked.
The fishing wasn’t too shabby either.
The fishing wasn’t too shabby either.
“I’ve caught lots of lake trout, but never one as pretty as that …  in the fall spawning colors,” VanDam said.
“I’ve caught lots of lake trout, but never one as pretty as that … in the fall spawning colors,” VanDam said.
“It was great experience. Just too dang short.”
“It was great experience. Just too dang short.”
VanDam also caught a first, a Dolly Varden trout.
VanDam also caught a first, a Dolly Varden trout.
Busch had photographers and videographers record the trip.
Busch had photographers and videographers record the trip.
VanDam went on about how spectacular the sights were, and the cameramen captured much of it. The trip was one of four possibilities voted on by the winners. The other selections were Montana trout fishing, Venice, La., and Lake St. Clair for bass.
VanDam went on about how spectacular the sights were, and the cameramen captured much of it. The trip was one of four possibilities voted on by the winners. The other selections were Montana trout fishing, Venice, La., and Lake St. Clair for bass.
Alaska was probably an easy call, especially with Busch footing the bill. VanDam said it was mesmerizing.
Alaska was probably an easy call, especially with Busch footing the bill. VanDam said it was mesmerizing.
“I’ve been to Montana, Idaho, Colorado, even Arizona, and there’s a lot of great places in the country and some incredible sights …
“I’ve been to Montana, Idaho, Colorado, even Arizona, and there’s a lot of great places in the country and some incredible sights …
… but there’s nothing I’ve ever seen like that,” he said.
… but there’s nothing I’ve ever seen like that,” he said.
He said flying out was also unbelievable experience.
He said flying out was also unbelievable experience.
“When we left there, the pilot took us through the mountains and right over the glacier.”
“When we left there, the pilot took us through the mountains and right over the glacier.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s pretty amazing. I got to see enough to know I wanted to go back.”
“I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s pretty amazing. I got to see enough to know I wanted to go back.”
“I’d love to take my boys there. I think every American should see Alaska, because there’s so many people who live in cities who have no idea. All of us who went said the same thing -- it was fantastic.”
“I’d love to take my boys there. I think every American should see Alaska, because there’s so many people who live in cities who have no idea. All of us who went said the same thing — it was fantastic.”