VanDam Retains Lead, Predicts Sunday 'Shootout'

By BassFan Staff

A typical summer Sunday afternoon with the VanDam family in Kalamazoo, Mich., usually involves 20 to 30 family members gathering at the grandparents’ house and relaxing. They fire up the grill, fish for bluegill in the nearby lake and generally unwind and relax.

Tomorrow won’t be a typical Sunday.

Kevin VanDam and his nephew, Jonathon, will be busy squaring off in what Kevin expects to be a “shootout” in northern New York as the St. Lawrence River Elite Series comes to a close.

The elder VanDam, who has eight full-field Elite Series truynogs among his 23 career B.A.S.S. victories, is chasing his fourth win in the last 13 months, not to mention his third win at the St. Lawrence. The wind was almost non-existent today and the calmer conditions helped him retain the lead for the third straight day with a 22-10 stringer, which was enough to push his total to 66-07.

Jonathon is his closest challenger with 64-00 after he hauled in 21-08 today, his third straight bag of 20-09 or better.

For as often as he’s won or been in contention to win over his career, Kevin VanDam said the feeling of having a chance to win never gets old.

“Without a doubt, you want to put yourself in position to do well and win,” he said. “I’m excited Jon and I are 1-2. He’s catching them good and it’s going to be a shootout. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity. I don’t take it for granted because you never know how it’ll go.”

The VanDams will have some potent challengers on their heels, most notably Brandon Palaniuk, who rescued his tournament with a 25-00 effort to climb into the top 10 on Friday. He tacked on 22-04 today and is up to 3rd now with 63-03 as he seeks to win a fourth career Elite Series event and his second at the St. Lawrence.

Brent Ehrler, who was in 7th to start the day, is 2 ounces behind Palaniuk in 4th after sacking 21-08. Casey Ashley slipped three spots to 5th with 62-01 after catching “only” 19-05.

There are few places the Elite Series has visited where a 20-pound average has been the benchmark to compete on the final day, let alone a fishery dominated by smallmouth, but that’s what’s happened this week.

More than half (27) of the 51 competitors today hauled in at least 18 pounds and 13 cracked the 20-pound mark, five of which were 22 pounds or bigger. When the dust settled, 11 of the 12 anglers who qualified for the final day have averaged at least 20 pounds per day so far. Alton Jones is the lone exception and he missed the mark by a single ounce.

Here's a look at the top 12 entering the final day, with deficit margin from VanDam indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Kevin VanDam: 66-07
2. Jonathon VanDam: 64-00 (2-07)
3. Brandon Palaniuk: 63-03 (3-04)
4. Brent Ehrler: 63-01 (3-06)
5. Casey Ashley: 62-01 (4-06)
6. Brock Mosley: 62-01 (4-06)
7. Gerald Swindle: 61-10 (4-13)
8. Bernie Schultz: 61-01 (5-06)
9. Brandon Coulter: 60-12 (5-11)
10. James Elam: 60-08 (5-15)
11. Jamie Hartman: 60-03 (6-04)
12. Alton Jones: 59-15 (6-08)

So is the St. Lawrence the smallmouth equivalent to Lake Falcon, circa 2008, or Clear Lake? Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota might have something to say about that, but until a full-field Elite Series tournament is held there, BassFans will be left to wonder.

The St. Lawrence has produced some prodigious numbers this week. By comparison, the Lake Erie/Niagara River Elite Series in August 2008 saw just five anglers enter the final day carrying a 20-pound daily average. In 2012, when Lake Michigan (Green Bay) hosted the mystery Elite Series tournament, the day-3 leader (Palaniuk) had 56-02. At the St. Lawrence this week, that weight would’ve finished 23rd.

New York native Jamie Hartman clinched his fourth top-12 finish of his rookie season, thanks to a 23-06 bag today that put him in 11th with 60-03. Justin Lucas, who’s had a rough season, dropped from 6th to 43rd after catching just 9-10, less than half of what he caught on the previous two days.

The slick, calm conditions spelled trouble for the fish today as they were easier to pinpoint visually, especially up shallow. Several of the contenders remarked that what they “saw” today has them juiced for tomorrow. There was a notable increase in local fishing pressure today as many competitors in the upcoming Thousand Islands Northern FLW Series tournament started their practice session today.

The wind is expected to turn around Sunday and blow 5 to 10 mph out of the east-northeast, which means it’ll be pushing against the current. That may force some of the finalists to adjust on the fly.

VanDam Likes His Chances

> Day 3: 5, 22-10 (15, 66-07)

Things have gone pretty much in VanDam’s favor all week, save for a 19-08 hiccup on Friday. After posting a 3rd-place finish at Lake Dardanelle last month and finishing 2nd at Ross Barnett Reservoir in May, he’s thirsty for another victory.

“I let a couple get away earlier this season that I felt I had a shot at and it didn’t work out,” he said. “It’s great to be back in the hunt.”

He’d much rather be leading at any point in any tournament as opposed to having to chase someone down. This week is no different.

“I’ve been on both sides and I always want to be in the lead,” he said. “There’s no upside to having to come from behind, especially here where the weights are so close and the fish are so similar. It comes down to execution. I had a better day today.”

The lack of wind slowed the current down a bit today and he said it moved the fish on a few of his spots. Once he relocated them, though, enticing bites didn’t take much work.

“The best thing about smallmouth is they are so aggressive and show themselves when you get around them,” he said. “The lack of wind helps because you can really control your boat better and control your drift better. It gives your baits a more natural presentation. The weights were a lot better, I think, because guys didn’t have to fight the wind.”

2nd: JVD Had Two Big Ones Get Away

> Day 3: 5, 21-08 (15, 64-00)

Jonathon VanDam let a couple opportunities get away today, but he’s confident he’s doing the right thing in the right areas. He just hopes the same caliber of fish show up tomorrow.

“I can only do what I can do,” he said. “I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing and hope to get the right bites.”

He had two fish get away today that he said were in the 5-pound range. He’ll need to execute better Sunday to have a shot to overtake his uncle.

“It will come down to getting a few of those big bites – that’s all it is,” he said. “For the most part, the average fish is generally close so 23 to 25 pounds tomorrow from someone in the top 5 will have a shot. There are a lot of fish in my areas and I leaned on a couple areas pretty good today, but I also lost those two good ones.”

He had a limit by 8:05 today and caught most everything on a dropshot.

“I feel pretty good about what I have going,” he said. “I’m rotating between five or six little areas and eventually you run into them on one. I feel like it’s possible to catch 25 in my areas, but there’s also the chance to not catch much at all.”

3rd: Palaniuk Pumped for Sunday’s Potential

> Day 3: 5, 22-04 (15, 63-03)

To put a little perspective on how well the St. Lawrence is fishing this week, Palaniuk was quick to point out his 25-pound stringer on Friday was bigger than any of the bags he caught during the catch-weigh-release Toyota Texas Fest that he won at Sam Rayburn Reservoir earlier this season.

He’s still in disbelief that he's sitting in 3rd after catching just 15-15 on Thursday, but like others near the top of the leaderboard, he has confidence he’s around the fish to win on the final day.

“To come from that and even make the top 12 is incredible,” he said. “Friday was such a momentum-changer for me. Thursday was the most stressful day all year, even more than Okeechobee, where I finished in the 100s. I was on a fishery where I felt I should do well and had the opportunities. I just didn’t capitalize.

“I’m actually amazed I even have a shot. I keep doing the math in my head making sure it’s even right.”

Now that he’s back in contention, he still thinks the caliber of fish he’ll need to overcome a 3-plus pound deficit are in the areas he’s fishing.

“I still think tomorrow the possibility for 25 to 30 is there,” he said. “I still feel like I’m around them. It’s just a matter of getting the right five bites.”

He started today with a 5-04 on his second cast, but said it was a little tougher overall with the calmer winds.

“It didn’t position them like Friday, when I could almost call my shot,” he noted. “I had to move more today.”

He’s been fishing a range of depths from 5 to 30 feet and is making moves based on conditions.

“I’m not just dialed into one thing,” he said. “There are different groups of fish that are spread out across the depths and I have several options. I’m playing the conditions as to which fish will bite better in those conditions.”

4th: Ehrler Encouraged by What He Saw

> Day 3: 5, 21-08 (15, 63-01)

The lack of wind allowed Ehrler to gain some valuable insight on the area he’s been fishing. He learned the fish to win the tournament are swimming around there. Now, he just needs to trick them into biting on Sunday.

“I learned quite a bit today because the weather was right,” he said. “There are a lot of big fish there that I didn’t know were there. I had an opportunity at a giant bag today in the 23- to 24-pound range. Those fish are still there, so the potential is still there, but it’s going to be tough.”

He said the fish seemed to bite better today, but he’s not sure if the weather was the key factor or if he’s started to dial in what they’re keying on.

“If we have the identical weather tomorrow, I’ve learned what to do,” he added. “The potential is there. From what I saw, I could weigh 22 to 24. I was blown away.”

His kicker today weighed 5-02 and his smallest was 3 1/2, which has been an average fish this week. He still thinks he has a shot to win his first Elite Series event.

“A lot has to happen,” he said. “I have to catch them really well and the fish are there to do it, but Kevin and Jon and Brandon have to not catch them. There’s a lot involved, but the potential is there. It’s slim, but from what I saw it’s actually doable.”

5th: Ashley’s Best Spot Went Cold

> Day 3: 5, 19-05 (15, 62-01)

The place Ashley had relied on the first two mornings for a solid 18-pound limit was a ghost town today, but he was able to fall back on other areas to stay in the top 5.

“I’m happy to be where I’m at,” he said. “Any time you’re in the top 5, you can’t complain. I need to stay there with the way the points situation is now.”

With Palaniuk charging into the top 3 today, Ashley ceded the AOY points lead to him (Palaniuk leads by 5 points entering Sunday).

Ashley thinks the lack of wind may have prompted the fish at his key area to move around. He’s hopeful they come back Sunday or he can relocate them.

“I have other stuff, but I just have to work a little harder for them,” he added. “That place was easy.”

Everything he weighed today was caught on a dropshot. He said the calm conditions allowed him to basically sight-fish in the crystal-clear water. He knows he’ll need to catch his biggest bag of the tournament Sunday to overcome his 4-plus pound deficit.

“I haven’t seen many 5s where I’m fishing, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there,” he said. “I just haven’t seen them.”

23rd: All Largemouth for Lefebre

> Day 3: 5, 16-14 (15, 55-08)

Dave Lefebre had smallmouth areas found heading into the tournament, but he ultimately opted to target largemouth and it carried him to a top-25 finish, his fourth such outcome this season.

“I feel good,” he said. “I really wish we had another day off. I’m glad I’m not fishing tomorrow because I’m beat up. I ran a lot of miles this week. As far as fishing goes, I feel pretty good. I’m going to focus on largemouth over at Champlain and I know I don’t have a crack at AOY anymore so I’m going to try to make the Classic and do it the way I like to do it.”

He committed to largemouth knowing the odds of winning were against him, but he also knew they’d receive less pressure than many of the key smallmouth stretches. He caught 50-plus bass each day out of areas he called “textbook” largemouth water.

“The potential to win on largemouth is there,” he said. “I understand how ridiculously hard it is because there are 1 million 4-pound smallmouth for every 4-pound largemouth, but it was easy to commit to it. I knew I got a check after day 2 and figured I’d go back there. If I’d have caught two 5-pounders I’d have been in (the top 12).”

He stuck with a 3/8- and 1/2-oz. jig (green-pumpkin/blue) all week rigged with a twin-tail grub trailer on 20-pound fluorocarbon line.

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 51 anglers, 51 limits.

> It’s the second time this season the VanDams have been in the top 5 going into the final day of an Elite Series event. Back in May, the VanDams were 3-4 after day 3 at Ross Barnett Reservoir and wound up finishing 2-3 behind rookie Dustin Connell, with Kevin notching a runner-up finish.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., July 23 – Mostly Cloudy - 73°/58°
- Wind: From the ENE at 10 to 15 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 66-07 -- 110 -- $500
Day 1: 5, 24-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08 -- Day 3: 5, 22-10

2. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 64-00 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 21-15 -- Day 3: 5, 21-08

3. Brandon Palaniuk -- Hayden, ID -- 15, 63-03 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 25-00 -- Day 3: 5, 22-04

4. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA -- 15, 63-01 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-00 -- Day 3: 5, 21-08

5. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 15, 62-01 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 20-14 -- Day 3: 5, 19-05

6. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 15, 62-01 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 20-08 -- Day 2: 5, 21-08 -- Day 3: 5, 20-01

7. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 61-10 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08 -- Day 3: 5, 23-06

8. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 61-01 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 21-12 -- Day 2: 5, 19-12 -- Day 3: 5, 19-09

9. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 60-12 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 22-08 -- Day 3: 5, 18-10

10. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 15, 60-08 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 21-12 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01 -- Day 3: 5, 20-11

11. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 15, 60-03 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13 -- Day 3: 5, 23-06

12. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 15, 59-15 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 20-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 5, 21-09

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 4.

13. Luke Clausen -- Otis Orchards, WA -- 15, 59-12 -- 98 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-12 -- Day 3: 5, 23-12

14. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 15, 59-01 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-10 -- Day 3: 5, 19-05

15. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 15, 58-11 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 23-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 19-02

16. Josh Bertrand -- San Tan Valley, AZ -- 15, 58-08 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05 -- Day 3: 5, 19-12

17. Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, FL -- 15, 57-15 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07 -- Day 3: 5, 21-11

18. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 57-03 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01 -- Day 3: 5, 21-11

19. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 56-09 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-00 -- Day 3: 5, 18-00

20. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 56-09 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04 -- Day 3: 5, 19-00

21. Dustin Connell -- Clanton, AL -- 15, 56-04 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-10 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01

22. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 15, 56-03 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10 -- Day 3: 5, 20-15

23. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 15, 55-08 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15 -- Day 3: 5, 16-14

24. Jesse Wiggins -- Cullman, AL -- 15, 55-00 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-05 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01

25. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA 15 -- 54-15 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 20-00 -- Day 3: 5, 17-11

26. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 54-15 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-09 -- Day 3: 5, 19-12

27. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 15, 54-15 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02 -- Day 3: 5, 16-15

28. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 54-15 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06 -- Day 3: 5, 17-08

29. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 15, 54-14 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 18-10

30. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 15, 54-09 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07 -- Day 3: 5, 18-13

31. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 54-07 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07 -- Day 3: 5, 16-08

32. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 15, 54-03 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10 -- Day 3: 5, 16-15

33. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 15, 54-02 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-08 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 17-13

34. Seth Feider -- Isle, MN -- 15, 53-14 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 22-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11 -- Day 3: 5, 15-08

35. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 15, 53-10 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 18-05

36. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 15, 53-04 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06 -- Day 3: 5, 18-04

37. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 15, 53-00 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-14 -- Day 3: 5, 18-03

38. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 52-11 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-06 -- Day 2: 5, 20-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

39. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 15, 52-08 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11 -- Day 3: 5, 17-07

40. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 51-15 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11 -- Day 3: 5, 16-02

41. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 15, 51-11 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 22-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03

42. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 15, 51-07 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 20-12 -- Day 3: 5, 16-04

43. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 51-05 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 20-03 -- Day 3: 5, 09-10

44. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 15, 51-02 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 5, 14-13

45. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 50-13 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

46. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 15, 50-11 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-14

47. Jacob Wheeler -- Harrison, TN -- 15, 49-12 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

48. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 15, 49-09 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-13

49. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 49-01 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

50. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 15, 48-07 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-09

51. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 48-00 -- 60 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14 -- Day 3: 5, 12-13