Day 1: KVD culling 5-pounders

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We caught up with Kevin VanDam in the middle of the day as he made his charge for the Day 1 lead.
We caught up with Kevin VanDam in the middle of the day as he made his charge for the Day 1 lead.
VanDam already had the majority of his Day 1 weight in the livewell, and admitted he had been practicing for tomorrow.
VanDam already had the majority of his Day 1 weight in the livewell, and admitted he had been practicing for tomorrow.
He was using his electronics looking for new schools of fish...
He was using his electronics looking for new schools of fish…
...would occasionally hook up with a fish...
…would occasionally hook up with a fish…
...and sometimes with both the front and back hooks.
…and sometimes with both the front and back hooks.
He caught several of the wrong species during his afternoon on Toledo Bend...
He caught several of the wrong species during his afternoon on Toledo Bend…
...but kept grinding, making one determined cast...
…but kept grinding, making one determined cast…
...after another...
…after another…
...after another.
…after another.
He fired casts as far as he could...
He fired casts as far as he could…
...trying to expand on what he had found in practice.
…trying to expand on what he had found in practice.
His late afternoon search for new fishing locations finally paid off...
His late afternoon search for new fishing locations finally paid off…
...and he moved to the back of the boat to finish the fight...
…and he moved to the back of the boat to finish the fight…
...with a fish he could cull with.
…with a fish he could cull with.
He dropped the fish in the livewell...
He dropped the fish in the livewell…
When you are culling fish this size...
When you are culling fish this size…
...you know you are in the game.
…you know you are in the game.
Regardless, VanDam didn't quit grinding until the end of the day.
Regardless, VanDam didn’t quit grinding until the end of the day.
He lost fish that wouldn't have helped him...
He lost fish that wouldn’t have helped him…
...caught more that had no chance...
…caught more that had no chance…
...of helping him cull...
…of helping him cull…
...and white bass that were just an aggravation.
…and white bass that were just an aggravation.
He kept moving from one spot to the next...
He kept moving from one spot to the next…
...and finished the afternoon giving his Day 1 Marshal a one-on-one seminar on offshore fishing from one of the best bass fishermen in history.
…and finished the afternoon giving his Day 1 Marshal a one-on-one seminar on offshore fishing from one of the best bass fishermen in history.