Editor’s Note: Bassmaster Elite Series fans have the opportunity to visit www.ESPNOutdoors.com/hottestrig and vote for their favorite Elite angler’s boat designs in the Hottest Rig Running contest. Fans can vote each week until the winner is announced July 29 at the Bassmaster Memorial presented by Evan Williams Bourbon in Syracuse, N.Y. The winner of the contest will receive $10,000
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., is known for his fast-paced style on the water, but the two-time Bassmaster Classic champion had to shift gears into low speed Sunday to claim the Bassmaster Elite Series Southern Challenge presented by Purolator besting Mark Tucker of St. Louis, Mo., by more than seven pounds.
VanDam, who received a $100,000 top prize, stormed from fourth place and almost two pounds behind leader Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla., on Sunday with a catch of 25 pounds, 5 ounces, to finish with 66-3 on Lake Guntersville for his first victory in a Bassmaster Elite Series event. VanDam’s catch was the second-heaviest bag of the tournament, which was shortened a day due to weather. ESPN2 will air coverage of VanDam’s comeback victory at the Southern Challenge presented by Purolator on Saturday, May 5 at 9 a.m. ET.Tucker was second with 59-1 and Butcher finished third with 58-4. Terry Scroggins of Palatka, Fla., was fourth with 58-0 and Jason Quinn of Lake Wylie, S.C., rounded out the top five with 57-2.
The win was VanDam’s 11th career BASS victory and 67th career top 10, several of them coming on Guntersville Lake where the 39-year-old competed in the third tournament of his illustrious BASS career. It also put the three-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year winner closer to the lead in the points chase roughly halfway through the current Elite Series season. VanDam now has 1,263 points, just 25 behind leader Skeet Reese of California.
After missing the top 50 cut the week before at an Elite event on Clarks Hill Lake in Evans, Ga., VanDam, who is in first place on the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, tightened the screws on Guntersville. He hovered near the lead all three days, concentrating on spawning shad along grass lines with a ½-ounce Strike King KVD Pro-Model spinnerbait in blue shad and either a Strike King Series 5 or Series 6 crankbait, depending on the depth of the milfoil.
“Shad is spawning all over the lake on the ledges or grass,” the 39-year-old said. “You can throw a spinnerbait in the grass and hardly get it back because of the shad bumping the bait.”Bass are up there capitalizing on that and if you can find a pack of them, you can catch two or three. I really had to slow down and work the spinnerbait deliberately through those areas and when a bass in that grass saw it come over their heads, they’d come up and get it.”
VanDam made milk runs to specific spots in the midlake area, keying on areas near spawning flats where bass would be moving to key on the shad spawn. Tucker and Butcher also were keying on spawning shad, mixing up a variety of spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics around grasslines, docks and wood cover.”You had to stay around the shad whether they were shallow or deep,” said Tucker, who worked a ½-ounce Picasso spinnerbait, ¼-ounce Chatterbait and Zoom crankbait. “If there weren’t any shad following my bait, I’d throw the crankbait and they usually would follow it, so I knew they still were there but were just deeper. After 10 a.m., they’re harder to find.”Butcher, a 35-year-old ex bull-rider, led the first two days of the tournament but couldn’t close the deal Sunday. He plucked bass from different areas, never getting the consistent big bites he needed.”I spent most of the day flipping docks and wood with a Yum Wooly Hawg,” he said. “They had to be specific docks near spawning areas. I just didn’t have enough to get the victory.”
After being on the road since Feb. 9 for the Bassmaster Classic and Elite Series season, VanDam wrapped up his tournament with a vow to be in Michigan with his family Monday. The tour has a two-week break before the Bassmaster American presented by Advance Auto Parts on High Rock Lake in Greensboro, N.C.He’ll do it with the Elite Series trophy comfortably secured in his truck on the long drive.”Anytime you can win on this series with these guys, it’s special,” he said. “This is awesome.”Fishing fans can visit www.espnoutdoors.com for live weigh-in footage, a real-time leaderboard, photo galleries and analysis of the Bassmaster American, the first Bassmaster Major of the season.
Day 3 Purolator Big Bass
Pro: Kevin VanDam; Kalamazoo, Mich.; 7-5
Location and Field
Southern Challenge — Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, Ala.
April 26-29
Local sponsors: Local sponsors include Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce and Marshall County.
Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Costa Del Mar, Ramada Worldwide and Evan Williams Bourbon.
2007 Elite Series - Southern Challenge PRO 04/26-04/29
Lake Guntersville, Guntersville Ala.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 66-03 305 $102,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-04 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 25-05
2. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 15 59-01 295 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 21-05
3. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 15 58-04 300 $34,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-03 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 15-11
4. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 15 58-00 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 20-01 Day 3: 5 16-13
5. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 15 57-02 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 19-04 Day 3: 5 15-04
6. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 15 55-03 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 21-15 Day 3: 5 18-03
7. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 15 51-09 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 12-07
8. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 48-00 268 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 13-10
9. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 14 46-11 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 4 11-02
10. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 13 44-13 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 3 9-01
11. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 13 43-03 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 19-06 Day 3: 3 8-02
12. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 13 43-01 254 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 3 8-06
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Big Bass
Day
1 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 0-00 $1,000.00
2 Rick Ash Pottstown, Pa. 7-09 $1,000.00
3 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 7-05 $1,000.00
Big Bag
Day
1 Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. $1,000.00
2 Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 22-05 $1,000.00
3 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 25-05 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 81 470 1392-04
2 71 454 1366-15
3 8 53 175-05
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160 977 2934-08
2007 Southern Challenge - Southern Challenge Pro Points
After Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, Ala. Ending 04-29-2007, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Skeet Reese Calif. 1288
2 Kevin VanDam Mich. 1263
3 Jared Lintner Calif. 1234
4 Ishama Monroe Calif. 1169
5 Derek Remitz Texas 1129
6 Jeff Kriet Okla. 1128
7 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 1119
8 Aaron Martens Ala. 1115
9 Steve Kennedy Ala. 1102
10 Scott Rook Ark. 1067
11 Mike McClelland Ark. 1059
12 Gerald Swindle Ala. 1033
13 Terry Scroggins Fla. 1032
14 Kelly Jordon Texas 1027
15 Chris Lane Fla. 1025
16 Tommy Biffle Okla. 1024
17 Alton Jones Texas 1021
18 Brent Chapman Kan. 998
19 Todd Faircloth Texas 997
20 Stephen Browning Ark. 994
21 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 989
22 Casey Ashley S.C. 982
23 Pete Ponds Miss. 981
24 Mark Menendez Ky. 977
25 Timmy Horton Ala. 974
26 Cliff Pace Miss. 973
27 Paul Elias Miss. 972
27 Dean Rojas Texas 972
29 Gary Klein Texas 970
30 John Crews Va. 969
31 John Murray Ariz. 958
32 Kevin Wirth Ky. 956
33 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 949
34 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 942
35 Jason Quinn S.C. 940
36 Mark Tyler Okla. 932
36 Brian Snowden Mo. 932
38 Peter Thliveros Fla. 921
39 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 918
39 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 918
41 Ken Brodeur Conn. 917
41 Scott Campbell Mo. 917
43 Kevin Short Ark. 907
44 Rick Morris Va. 905
45 Edwin Evers Okla. 873
46 Randy Howell Ala. 872
47 Greg Hackney La. 866
48 Jimmy Mize Ark. 865
49 Takahiro Omori Texas 859
50 Mark Tucker Mo. 847
51 Russ Lane Ala. 846
52 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 843
53 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 841
54 Ben Matsubu Texas 840
55 Davy Hite S.C. 833
56 Jason Williamson S.C. 832
57 Dave Wolak N.C. 829
58 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 822
59 Boyd Duckett Ala. 798
59 Ken Cook Okla. 798
61 Denny Brauer Mo. 797
62 Bernie Schultz Fla. 791
63 Britt Myers S.C. 786
64 Matt Reed Texas 779
65 Zell Rowland Texas 778
66 Bill Lowen Ohio 777
66 Lee Bailey Ala. 777
68 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 776
68 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 776
70 Bradley Hallman Okla. 771
71 James Charlesworth Fla. 764
72 Jim Murray Ga. 762
73 Mike Wurm Ark. 761
74 Charlie Hartley Ohio 757
75 Jami Fralick S.D. 754
76 Marty Robinson S.C. 753
77 Jeff Connella La. 752
77 Paul Hirosky Pa. 752
79 Mark Rogers Fla. 751
80 Rick Clunn Mo. 736
81 James Niggemeyer Texas 724
81 Bill Smith Ky. 724
83 Kevin Langill N.C. 723
84 Matt Amedeo Ohio 722
85 Guy Eaker N.C. 712
86 Kenyon Hill Okla. 711
87 Grant Goldbeck Md. 710
88 Kurt Dove Va. 702
89 Glenn Delong Ohio 684
90 James Kennedy La. 677
91 Marty Stone N.C. 675
92 Preston Clark Fla. 660
93 Steve Daniel Fla. 651
94 Keith Phillips Ala. 639
95 Eric Nethery Ga. 620
96 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 614
97 Jon Bondy Canada 596
98 Terry Butcher Okla. 595
99 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 586
100 Rick Ash Pa. 570
101 Dave Smith Okla. 562
102 Jimmy Mason Ala. 558
103 Doc Merkin Ill. 527
104 Charlie Youngers Fla. 494
105 Byron Velvick Texas 491
106 Frank Scalish Ohio 483
107 Bradley Stringer Texas 447
108 Elton Luce Jr Texas 426
2007 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
After Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, AL ending 04-29-2007, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Derek Remitz Texas 1129
2 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 989
3 Casey Ashley S.C. 982
4 Scott Campbell Mo. 917
5 Jason Williamson S.C. 832
6 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 776
7 James Charlesworth Fla. 764
8 Marty Robinson S.C. 753
9 James Niggemeyer Texas 724
10 Matt Amedeo Ohio 722
11 Glenn Delong Ohio 684
12 James Kennedy La. 677
2007 Toyota Moving Forward Award
After Guntersville, AL ending 04-29-2007, Day 3
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Place Name 2006 Finish 2007 Standings
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1 Fred Roumbanis 69 7
2 Pete Ponds 83 23
3 Ken Brodeur 98 41
4 Chris Lane 61 15
5 Mark Menendez 68 24
6 Scott Rook 47 10
6 Rick Morris 81 44
8 Ishama Monroe 37 4
9 Mark Tyler 64 36
10 Jeff Kriet 33 6
11 Stephen Browning 45 20
12 Kevin Short 67 43
13 Brent Chapman 41 18
14 Paul Elias 49 27
15 Mark Rogers 99 79
16 Brian Snowden 54 36
16 Terry Scroggins 31 13
18 Ray Sedgwick 56 39
19 Jared Lintner 18 3
20 Ken D Cook 73 59
21 Britt Myers 76 63
22 Greg Gutierrez 46 34
23 Mike McClelland 22 11
23 Jimmy Mize 59 48
25 Charlie Hartley 83 74
26 Gary Klein 36 29
27 Skeet Reese 7 1
28 Timmy Horton 30 25
29 Todd Faircloth 23 19
30 Grant Goldbeck 88 87
30 Kevin VanDam 3 2
30 Gerald Swindle 13 12