Another KVD Classic, Why is He So Good?

Another KVD Classic, Why is He So Good?

By Chris Yogerst

As the Bassmaster Classic comes to a close, no one is surprised to see Kevin Van Dam's name once again at the top of the list. It doesn’t matter what lake he is on or what the conditions are, one thing is almost always for certain; KVD is gonna' catch em. The latest edition of Bassmaster Magazine has an article by Louie Stout that discusses the mechanics that make KVD the machine that he is. Fellow Elite Series pro Gerald Swindle says VanDam is just better at using his tools:

"Alabama pro Gerald Swindle found that out one day when VanDam left his boat at Swindle’s house to fly home after a Wheeler Lake tournament. 'I started snooping around his compartments, thinking I'd find some secret bait," Swindle says. 'Darned if he didn't have the same baits tied on that I used, and he finished 40 spots ahead of me! That's when I realized he has no magic wand – just the ability to make magic happen on the water."

While I’m sure we all get a big laugh picturing G-Man digging through KVD’s boat compartments, but can we blame him? I have spent all of my days as a tournament angler admiring KVD, but it is less about his ability to catch fish. We can all catch fish, some are better at it than others (KVD is the obvious example). However, what separates him from the rest is the strength he has between his ears. I can’t remember a time ever seeing VanDam rattled…ever.

Stout’s article in Bassmaster breaks down KVD brilliantly in terms of on and off the water preparation. However, the one thing that is useful once you leave the boat ramp is mental strength. If you don’t feel you can win then don’t even launch the boat. This is why KVD is such a force to be reckoned with.

What sticks in my head lately is something from the end of the year shootout for angler of the year when VanDam was having a tough time keeping fish hooked. He hung a 5 pounder and lost it at the boat, for most of us this is where the wheels would start to come off. Instead of having a fit or taking a step back to reflect of the fish that could have been he just put that energy into whipping that next cast 100 yards.

For KVD, there is no time to waste on things you cannot change. This is what I respect him the most for. The ability to always maximize your time on the task at hand without letting debilitating thoughts get the best of you is a skill that can help all of us both on and off the water. The last few years I’ve modeled my fishing as well as my life as writer and graduate student on the way KVD keeps positive with mental toughness.

As I get better at continuously focusing on how to move forward no matter what the circumstances, I have noticed a large increase of success in all aspects of my life. KVD is an amazing fisherman and no one would dare question that. While we stand in awe at his amazing career, I suggest you take a look at the reason he is able to do what he does. We have all seen fisherman melt down on the final tournament day, those with the mental toughness always prevail. Apply this mindset to the rest of your life and it is guaranteed to prove useful.

Chris Yogerst is an aspiring tournament pro and accomplished writer. Each month Chris gives his readers the inside scoop on what it is like to push ahead to reach the upper ranks of elite tournament fishermen.