KVD’s big Day 3

Posted on
Kevin VanDam started Day Three of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with 50 pounds.
Kevin VanDam started Day Three of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend with 50 pounds.
He started the morning fishing shallow...
He started the morning fishing shallow…
...but for the first few minutes all he caught was white bass.
…but for the first few minutes all he caught was white bass.
It was a Chamber of Commerce morning on Toledo Bend, light winds and mild temperatures.
It was a Chamber of Commerce morning on Toledo Bend, light winds and mild temperatures.
VanDam was working his way down a seawall off the main lake...
VanDam was working his way down a seawall off the main lake…
...a very large seawall.
…a very large seawall.
The seawall finally paid off and KVD was hooked up with his first largemouth of the day...
The seawall finally paid off and KVD was hooked up with his first largemouth of the day…
...and he made his way to the back of the boat to finish the fight.
…and he made his way to the back of the boat to finish the fight.
He took a knee...
He took a knee…
...just as the fish jumped trying one last time to throw the hooks.
…just as the fish jumped trying one last time to throw the hooks.
But the fish was hooked good...
But the fish was hooked good…
...and he was reaching for...
…and he was reaching for…
...early morning pay dirt.
…early morning pay dirt.
Good way to start the day.
Good way to start the day.
He removed the hooks from the fish...
He removed the hooks from the fish…
...then went back back to work along the huge seawall.
…then went back back to work along the huge seawall.
But he didn't stay after it long...
But he didn’t stay after it long…
...before making a move south...
…before making a move south…
...and beginning a long day of grinding...
…and beginning a long day of grinding…
...primarily with a big crankbait.
…primarily with a big crankbait.
He moved from waypoint to waypoint...
He moved from waypoint to waypoint…
...and fired cast...
…and fired cast…
...after long cast...
…after long cast…
...ripping line from his reel.
…ripping line from his reel.
But from a numbers standpoint, it was setting up to be a much tougher day of fishing for VanDam on Day Three.
But from a numbers standpoint, it was setting up to be a much tougher day of fishing for VanDam on Day Three.
He tried several different baits to get fish fired up where he had caught them the first two days.
He tried several different baits to get fish fired up where he had caught them the first two days.
He had long lulls without catching a fish...
He had long lulls without catching a fish…
...but kept grinding.
…but kept grinding.
He tried slowing down and fishing a worm for a few minutes...
He tried slowing down and fishing a worm for a few minutes…
...but would always go back to the bait that had earned him the lead.
…but would always go back to the bait that had earned him the lead.
And it would eventually pay off, BIG.
And it would eventually pay off, BIG.
The following photos show KVD catching his heaviest fish of the day, an 8 pound, 11 ounce fish.
The following photos show KVD catching his heaviest fish of the day, an 8 pound, 11 ounce fish.
Then there was another long wait for the next keeper.
Then there was another long wait for the next keeper.
And yes he is occasionally like the rest of us that bass fish - he gets hung up and breaks off.
And yes he is occasionally like the rest of us that bass fish – he gets hung up and breaks off.
After grinding for a few hours well south on Toledo Bend...
After grinding for a few hours well south on Toledo Bend…
...he made a move north that paid off.
…he made a move north that paid off.
He finally jerked another keeper into the boat...
He finally jerked another keeper into the boat…
...and was finally putting on another solid limit that would leave him with nearly a 5-pound advantage going into the final day of fishing tomorrow.
…and was finally putting on another solid limit that would leave him with nearly a 5-pound advantage going into the final day of fishing tomorrow.