The 3 Amigos go bass whacking

In this popular 2014 photo gallery, Kevin VanDam, Russ Lane and Jeff Kriet pooled up on a school during BASSfest 2014.

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Kevin VanDam started the day in the same place where he started the event. He was soon joined by Jeff Kriet and Russ Lane.
Kevin VanDam started the day in the same place where he started the event. He was soon joined by Jeff Kriet and Russ Lane.
Nearby was Jeff Kriet, who started catching fish almost immediately.
Nearby was Jeff Kriet, who started catching fish almost immediately.
This fish bit before all the boats from the take off had yet to pass.
This fish bit before all the boats from the take off had yet to pass.
The fish was about 4 pounds.
The fish was about 4 pounds.
As a boat rushes by in the background, Kriet gets the fish aboard.
As a boat rushes by in the background, Kriet gets the fish aboard.
Unfortunately it was a smallmouth ...
Unfortunately it was a smallmouth …
... which are required to be 18 inches on Chickamaugua.
… which are required to be 18 inches on Chickamaugua.
This one measured 17 7/8 inches.
This one measured 17 7/8 inches.
While Kriet was catching smallmouth, the smallmouth king, KVD, was casting to largemouth.
While Kriet was catching smallmouth, the smallmouth king, KVD, was casting to largemouth.
He hooks up early with his first keeper.
He hooks up early with his first keeper.
And gets it in the boat quickly.
And gets it in the boat quickly.
The fish would measure ...
The fish would measure …
... but not be the size KVD was hoping for.
… but not be the size KVD was hoping for.
The fish still fought to the end.
The fish still fought to the end.
It gave KVD a little shower for his trouble.
It gave KVD a little shower for his trouble.
The fish would go in the livewell and spend most of the day there.
The fish would go in the livewell and spend most of the day there.
Behind him, Russ Lane boats his first keeper, one that forced KVD to turn his head.
Behind him, Russ Lane boats his first keeper, one that forced KVD to turn his head.
And Kriet would start boating small spotted bass.
And Kriet would start boating small spotted bass.
Russ Lane would have a flurry near the river ledge.
Russ Lane would have a flurry near the river ledge.
He started there on Day 1, but the fish didn’t bite like they did on Day 2.
He started there on Day 1, but the fish didn’t bite like they did on Day 2.
This one would produce a big splash ...
This one would produce a big splash …
... before Lane could get him to the side of the boat ...
… before Lane could get him to the side of the boat …
... and attempt to get his hands on the fish.
… and attempt to get his hands on the fish.
The quality keeper slid right to his hand.
The quality keeper slid right to his hand.
It looked like it would come in the boat easily.
It looked like it would come in the boat easily.
The fish wasn’t through, though.
The fish wasn’t through, though.
And Lane had to rush the delivery into the boat.
And Lane had to rush the delivery into the boat.
The fish gives him a splash as he comes aboard.
The fish gives him a splash as he comes aboard.
Lane would add the hefty fish to his well ...
Lane would add the hefty fish to his well …
... after he takes a photo for his Marshal.
… after he takes a photo for his Marshal.
On the next cast, he’s hooked up again.
On the next cast, he’s hooked up again.
This one forces him to grit his teeth.
This one forces him to grit his teeth.
The fish gets close and produces a big splash.
The fish gets close and produces a big splash.
Under control, Lane gets ready to flip the fish.
Under control, Lane gets ready to flip the fish.
He quickly brings it out of the water.
He quickly brings it out of the water.
Now, over the side of the boat.
Now, over the side of the boat.
The fish gave one last head shake.
The fish gave one last head shake.
It sent a spray of water everywhere.
It sent a spray of water everywhere.
It then spit the bait back at Lane.
It then spit the bait back at Lane.
The bait flies over Lane’s head, but the fish lands safely in the boat.
The bait flies over Lane’s head, but the fish lands safely in the boat.
While Lane was having his flurry, KVD was hard at work.
While Lane was having his flurry, KVD was hard at work.
And Lane just kept catching them.
And Lane just kept catching them.
This one would slide into the boat ...
This one would slide into the boat …
... giving the Alabama pro his fourth keeper of the morning.
… giving the Alabama pro his fourth keeper of the morning.
A big head shake and water sprays everywhere, but this one keeps the bait in its mouth.
A big head shake and water sprays everywhere, but this one keeps the bait in its mouth.
KVD and Lane are soon side by side.
KVD and Lane are soon side by side.
The two along with Kriet worked together throughout the day.
The two along with Kriet worked together throughout the day.
Kriet was just 50 yards away, near the river channel, as Terry Scroggins rushes by.
Kriet was just 50 yards away, near the river channel, as Terry Scroggins rushes by.
Kriet works an area while Jim Sexton of Bassmaster.com captures GoPro images.
Kriet works an area while Jim Sexton of Bassmaster.com captures GoPro images.
Off to the side, a group of spectators gather to watch the trio.
Off to the side, a group of spectators gather to watch the trio.
They are treated to a show when the fish start biting.
They are treated to a show when the fish start biting.
But not all of them would make it in the boat.
But not all of them would make it in the boat.
This big fish would almost suspend in the air, as KVD’s bait flies by.
This big fish would almost suspend in the air, as KVD’s bait flies by.
The fish is still in the air as KVD swings his bait toward it.
The fish is still in the air as KVD swings his bait toward it.
Lane hooks up again.
Lane hooks up again.
This one would head shake across the bow ...
This one would head shake across the bow …
... producing an explosion of water ...
… producing an explosion of water …
... before Lane could get him to the side and get his hands on him.
… before Lane could get him to the side and get his hands on him.
Lane gives a fist pump for his limit fish.
Lane gives a fist pump for his limit fish.
He then poses for a photo for the Marshal.
He then poses for a photo for the Marshal.
It wasn't long before he was back in the seat.
It wasn’t long before he was back in the seat.
And pulling in another big keeper.
And pulling in another big keeper.
Eventually all of the anglers would group together.
Eventually all of the anglers would group together.
At times they looked like synchronized casters.
At times they looked like synchronized casters.
And no matter how close they were to each other, they still caught fish.
And no matter how close they were to each other, they still caught fish.
Remembering the lost fish, KVD hits the seat to land this one.
Remembering the lost fish, KVD hits the seat to land this one.
He gets this one in the boat by every means possible.
He gets this one in the boat by every means possible.
Even hugging the fish to his shoulder until it was safely in the boat.
Even hugging the fish to his shoulder until it was safely in the boat.
He admires it for a second.
He admires it for a second.
Then he poses for the Marshal as Lane grins in the background.
Then he poses for the Marshal as Lane grins in the background.
He would quickly added a third keeper.
He would quickly added a third keeper.
And while he was doing that, Kriet hooked up.
And while he was doing that, Kriet hooked up.
This one would not keep, but notice the fishing line running in front of him. One belongs to Lane, the other to KVD.
This one would not keep, but notice the fishing line running in front of him. One belongs to Lane, the other to KVD.
Lane produces a toothy grin at hooking up.
Lane produces a toothy grin at hooking up.
And gives a look at KVD as he fights the fish.
And gives a look at KVD as he fights the fish.
He would get the fish to the side ...
He would get the fish to the side …
... and bring it aboard.
… and bring it aboard.
The hefty keeper flopped the whole way.
The hefty keeper flopped the whole way.
The fish would force Lane to cull, while his Marshal snaps an image or two.
The fish would force Lane to cull, while his Marshal snaps an image or two.
As Lane (lower right) drops his cull, Kriet sets the hook.
As Lane (lower right) drops his cull, Kriet sets the hook.
The big fish would send splash that almost reached KVD nearby.
The big fish would send splash that almost reached KVD nearby.
He quickly got his hands on the fish.
He quickly got his hands on the fish.
And brought it aboard.
And brought it aboard.
It almost flopped out of his arms.
It almost flopped out of his arms.
While Kriet tends to his livewell and Lane prepares for the next cull, KVD fishes on.
While Kriet tends to his livewell and Lane prepares for the next cull, KVD fishes on.
He gets hung up on the rocky bottom.
He gets hung up on the rocky bottom.
He would quickly recover, following that with another keeper.
He would quickly recover, following that with another keeper.
The three amigos stayed within close proximity for much of the day.
The three amigos stayed within close proximity for much of the day.
Often they were side by side.
Often they were side by side.
And they were regularly hooking up.
And they were regularly hooking up.
This one would send KVD to the back of the boat - and the Marshal to scrambling - before it shook off KVD’s hook.
This one would send KVD to the back of the boat – and the Marshal to scrambling – before it shook off KVD’s hook.
Soon after, Kriet sets the hook.
Soon after, Kriet sets the hook.
Lane pauses a moment to assess the size of the fish by the bend of the rod.
Lane pauses a moment to assess the size of the fish by the bend of the rod.
Then fires his own cast as Kriet fights on.
Then fires his own cast as Kriet fights on.
This fish forces Kriet to do a little maneuvering ...
This fish forces Kriet to do a little maneuvering …
... before he gets to the side of the boat ...
… before he gets to the side of the boat …
... and close enough for Kriet to reach.
… and close enough for Kriet to reach.
Kreit gets a handle on his fifth keeper.
Kreit gets a handle on his fifth keeper.
And it just keeps coming out of the water.
And it just keeps coming out of the water.
The fish would be his biggest of the day.
The fish would be his biggest of the day.
And assure that he would make the top 50 cut.
And assure that he would make the top 50 cut.
A couple of spectators watch the catch.
A couple of spectators watch the catch.
Kriet would soon be up and firing again.
Kriet would soon be up and firing again.
As the sun heated up the day, the three shed their jerseys for t-shirts.
As the sun heated up the day, the three shed their jerseys for t-shirts.
It’s not long before Kriet hooks up, but loses a fish.
It’s not long before Kriet hooks up, but loses a fish.
KVD, fishing shallow, has a boat separate him from the bank.
KVD, fishing shallow, has a boat separate him from the bank.
Kriet’s check-in time is written on his hand as a reminder.
Kriet’s check-in time is written on his hand as a reminder.
As the action slows, this spectator cools his feet.
As the action slows, this spectator cools his feet.
Occasionally a fish would come aboard.
Occasionally a fish would come aboard.
This one would provide Kriet with a cull.
This one would provide Kriet with a cull.
It allowed him to get rid of a small spotted bass from the morning.
It allowed him to get rid of a small spotted bass from the morning.
And Kriet would continue to catch smaller fish.
And Kriet would continue to catch smaller fish.
KVD would come by close enough produce a reflection in his sunglasses.
KVD would come by close enough produce a reflection in his sunglasses.
Kriet gets ready to catch a bottle of catch and release formula thrown from Lane’s boat.
Kriet gets ready to catch a bottle of catch and release formula thrown from Lane’s boat.
KVD sets the hook on his fifth fish of the day.
KVD sets the hook on his fifth fish of the day.
He starts to swing the fish into the boat.
He starts to swing the fish into the boat.
But the fish hits the rail ...
But the fish hits the rail …
... and drops back into the lake.
… and drops back into the lake.
As KVD moves to the driver’s seat, the fish goes airborne.
As KVD moves to the driver’s seat, the fish goes airborne.
He jumped high enough and close enough to read the lettering on top of the rail.
He jumped high enough and close enough to read the lettering on top of the rail.
And it kept jumping ...
And it kept jumping …
... producing quite the fish fight.
… producing quite the fish fight.
With a smile on his face, KVD sits to land the fish.
With a smile on his face, KVD sits to land the fish.
But the fish would not give up that easily.
But the fish would not give up that easily.
He jumps again.
He jumps again.
Then KVD had his hands on him.
Then KVD had his hands on him.
Nearby, Russ Lane throws a topwater hoping to get a giant bite.
Nearby, Russ Lane throws a topwater hoping to get a giant bite.
The fish that hit, though, would be no help.
The fish that hit, though, would be no help.
It would be the same no help for Kriet.
It would be the same no help for Kriet.
Kriet looks over his options.
Kriet looks over his options.
Meanwhile, KVD sets the hook.
Meanwhile, KVD sets the hook.
This big fish would wallow at the front of the boat.
This big fish would wallow at the front of the boat.
Then it jumped high.
Then it jumped high.
And sent a cascade of water in every direction.
And sent a cascade of water in every direction.
KVD would get the fish to the back of the boat ...
KVD would get the fish to the back of the boat …
... where more jumping ...
… where more jumping …
... and splashing ...
… and splashing …
... and wallowing would take place.
… and wallowing would take place.
The fish then raced to the front of the boat.
The fish then raced to the front of the boat.
Repeating the splashing and wallowing.
Repeating the splashing and wallowing.
VanDam worked to get the fish under control.
VanDam worked to get the fish under control.
When it’s close enough, KVD makes a stab for it.
When it’s close enough, KVD makes a stab for it.
He comes up with a hefty fish that would allow him to cull.
He comes up with a hefty fish that would allow him to cull.
Kriet would continue searching for a lunker, frequently setting the hook.
Kriet would continue searching for a lunker, frequently setting the hook.
But landed several small fish.
But landed several small fish.
To finish off the action, rain clouds moved in during the later part of the day.
To finish off the action, rain clouds moved in during the later part of the day.