Kevin VanDam

KVD Hauls in a Giant 6.5lb Smallie on Film, Takes St. Lawrence River Title

For those who fish tournaments, THIS is the kind of fish you dream about catching.

Kevin VanDam's first B.A.S.S. tournament was back in 1987 on the St. Lawrence River. Two-hundred and ninety-nine B.A.S.S. events later, and he comes away a big winner on this same stretch of water. Fishing in the HUK Bassmaster Elite from July 20 to 23, VanDam put on a smallmouth clinic, beating out his closest competitor, Brock Mosely, by a commanding eight pounds.

KVD's total weight for the four days of competition was an astounding 90 pounds, 3 ounces - which is one of the heaviest bags ever taken to the scales by an elite series angler consisting solely of smallmouth bass. On the final day, VanDam caught five fish weighing a total of 23 pounds, 12 ounces - including a brute of a kicker which buried the scales to 6 pounds, 5 ounces!

Here's the awesome, and tense moments, of that big fish catch:

VanDam cashed a check for $102,000, bringing his career earnings to more than $6.2 million. His monster smallmouth from Sunday was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Week.

Kevin VanDam is a dominating force on the bass tournament trail - and always an odds-on favor to add another title to his name.

Congrats, Kevin. Another awesome event for you.

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