Does Kevin VanDam have a legitimate shot at his fifth straight Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY) title? Although he currently sits at No. 11 in the standings, he most certainly believes that he does
"Until it's not possible anymore, anything can happen," he said. "With the 1-point increments it's a little harder to make up ground this year, but there's only a couple of guys who have a sizable lead on everybody else. That could be made up in two tournaments.
"I know I'm going to have to step it up over the next four tournaments, but this thing's a long ways from being over. (Leader) Randy Howell has had a really good year – he hasn't had a bad tournament at all yet – but one or two bad ones changes everything."
VanDam expressed major disappointment in his last two showings – a 45th at Bull Shoals and a 41st at Douglas. What made those mid-pack placements particularly galling was the fact that both were crankbait-dominated events, in which he historically fares extremely well.
Following the next event at Toledo Bend, the circuit will conclude with three derbies in the northern part of the country (the Mississippi River out of LaCrosse, Wis., the mystery venue and Oneida). The Michigander should feel like he's right at home for at least a couple of those.
"The bottom line is I need to go out and perform in all of the next four, and at least two of them (Toledo Bend and Oneida) are places I've fished before and feel real good about. I'll guarantee that the AOY standings will look a lot different after these next couple of tournaments – not necessarily for me, but all the way through."
He'd like to see the mystery event end up at one of the many premier bronzeback fisheries in or around the Great Lakes.
"It could be Bay de Noc, since we (had an Elite event canceled) there a few years ago, or it might be Green Bay. I like those smallmouth venues, not because I consider myself a better smallmouth angler, but just because I like to catch them so much. I want to go someplace fun."
