Any
look into sports history tells us that following a legend is a
challenging, if not impossible endeavor. Whether following a coach like
Bob Knight or athlete like Michael Jordan, there are more examples of
failures than success. These circumstances typically create unrealistic
expectations and mountainous pressure which can consume a mere mortal.
For some, though, there is no other option.
Consider Jonathon VanDam’s situation for a moment: his uncle,
Kevin, is the greatest bass fisherman in the world; his father owns the
Ohio state smallmouth bass record with a 9 pound, 8 ounce behemoth; and
his family has owned and maintained D & R Sports Center in
Kalamazoo, MI, arguably the best bass boat marina in the state, for
over 25 years. The very name “VanDam” is not only
the baddest name in bass fishing, but nearly synonymous.
Call
him cold-blooded, merciless, or the second-coming, but JVD stepped up
to the batter’s plate in his first BASS Open tournament
January 17, 2008 on the St. John’s River in Florida and
crushed one over the center field wall. With a third-place finish, the
statement was clear and assuredly sent chills up professional
anglers’ backs, “I am JVD, and I accept this
challenge.” Full steam ahead. Perhaps, JVD is not a mere
mortal and possesses the same supernatural abilities as another in his
family?
In
between attending classes at Western Michigan University, earning his
degree in business, and preparing his next assault on Santee Cooper in
May, the nineteen year-old JVD took time to answer several questions
about himself and why no one should mark him down as a typical prodigy.
Q:
What was your first BASS experience like? Did you expect to finish 3rd?
A: My
first BASS experience was so cool. I was definitely not expecting
to finish as high as I did, but I was confident in my abilities to do
well. That feeling was one that I cannot describe and this is an
experience I will always remember no matter how successful my career is.
Q: What did you
learn that will help you in future events?
A: I
learned that you cannot let the pressure get to you.
One of the biggest lessons that Kevin taught me was that no matter what
you are doing you must have confidence; especially on new water. One of
the biggest mistakes people make is that they get information on a
place they have never been to and that is all they focus on. They fish
in the past, and I am sometimes just as guilty, but you must be able to
drop the information you get if it doesn’t work. Then all you
have is your own abilities.
Q:
Did being a
“VanDam” alter the way people viewed/treated you?
Extra pressure?
A: It
definitely had an effect on how people viewed and treated me. With the
last name of VanDam in this industry you are going to have that, but
most of it is going to be positive. My hat goes off to the Elite series
anglers; they all have been a huge influence in the start of my career.
I fished some co-angler Elite events last season, and I got to hang out
with the biggest names in the industry and I have learned so much from
them that I think I did get different treatment than most would get.
As for the extra pressure, its there, but I’m not KVD,
I’m JVD, so I try not to let the pressure get to me and just
do my own thing.
Q: How do you
prepare for a multiple day event?
A: I
usually look online and study maps to learn as much as I can before I
even get to the body of water. But nothing beats time on the water - I
try to spend as much time as I can prefishing. And of course, I always
have a bunch of the lucky cookies with me as well!
Q: What about
Santee Cooper (next Southern Open 5/8-10)?
A: I
am looking forward to Santee here in a couple weeks. I am leaving to go
down early for about five days to get a look at the lake and to have a
more defined plan when I return for the official practice days and the
tournament.
Q: What motivated
you to jump to this level?
A:
Well, this has been a lifelong dream of mine to follow in my
uncle’s footsteps and become a professional angler. I
competed at the state level and again fished a few co-angler events and
I felt that I was ready to make the next step.
(Short excerpt from
Jonathan VanDam's 2008 Lansing fishing show – part 2 below)
Q: How did you know
you were ready to compete at this level?
A:
I didn’t know that I was ready to fish at this level. I
definitely wanted to, and I was confident in my abilities to do well at
this level.
I was doing very well at the state level and local level and I even had
some success at the co-angler events. So at these events, especially
the co-angler events, I tried to gauge my skills to that of the pros
that I fished with, and I was very competitive with them; and in some
cases out fished them. So I felt ready to start out my professional
fishing career.
Q: What are your
strengths?
A:
Well, with the last name VanDam, most of you already have an idea of
what my strengths are and they are right on the money: I am a power
fisherman. Power fishing is definitely my biggest strength.
Q: Weaknesses?
A:
Right now my biggest weakness is the lack of experience on the southern
waters. I have never seen the lakes that I fish in the Opens. I have a
lot to learn about them and what the fish do in these lakes given the
time of year. The good thing is that I can only get better as I gain
more knowledge and experience in these lakes.
Q: Did growing up
around D & R Sports Center help you develop? Explain.
A:
Growing up in my father’s sporting goods store was a huge
influence on my career and the development of my skills. I was
fortunate to have a boat at my disposal since I’ve been able
to drive. I could just hook up to a bass boat and go fishing any time I
wanted to.
I spent a lot of time on the water over the last few years developing a
database. Also, working in the store as a salesman, I learned a ton
about the industry and how it works; which will be very beneficial to
me when I work with sponsors and promoting their products. Also, while
working in the store, I got very good at communicating with customers;
which, again, helps me with the fans I may have.
Q: What are your
future aspirations in bass fishing?
A:
To fish the Elite series. But the biggest dream of mine is to win the
Bassmaster Classic. That is the ultimate goal. I want to be one of the
very best - up at the same level as Kevin and Skeet (Reese). I know
those are some huge goals, but I’m driven and I feel that I
will make it there.
Q: What are your
future aspirations in bass fishing?
A:
To fish the Elite series. But the biggest dream of mine is to win the
Bassmaster Classic. That is the ultimate goal. I want to be one of the
very best - up at the same level as Kevin and Skeet (Reese). I know
those are some huge goals, but I’m driven and I feel that I
will make it there.
Q: What kind of
advice did Kevin give you about competing at this level?
A:
Kevin told me that the biggest thing I can do is believe that I can win
every tournament. If I don’t, then I’m just
competing for
second. Also, have confidence in everything that I am doing. But, most
of all, fish your strengths on new water.
Q: How does living
in a region with ice 4-5 months a year, help you as an angler?
A:
Most people would say that it is a huge deficit, but it definitely an
advantage. We here in Michigan, see the entire cycle of the bass in a
much shorter time span so we are more adaptable than most of the
southern fisherman.
Q: What did you do
to make sure this (ice season) didn’t hinder your development?
A:
What I did was very simple: I was on the water as much as possible. I
was out there when not many others would be, like the worst cold front,
rain, snow and other crazy weather patterns. And, yes, many of those
days were unsuccessful, but I eventually learned how to catch the fish
in the worst of conditions. There have been many days where I had to
break ice with the boat to go fishing but those are some of the best
times.
Q: Since your
region lacks huge reservoirs how did your local lakes help you prepare
for this level or were you forced to travel?
A:
The great thing about Michigan is that we have so many different lakes.
You can find all kinds in a 30 mile radius.
We have reservoirs, natural lakes, man made, river systems, and all the
types of structure you will find around the country right here in our
own back yard. So I have spent a lot of time learning the differences
in these lakes and how to catch fish in them. Also, we have some of the
best local anglers. Most of the guys I’ve fished against are
the best in the area and that competition is what makes you advance as
an angler.
(Part
2 – Excerpt
from
Jonathan VanDam's 2008 Lansing fishing show)
Q: Just to stir the
pot, I gotta ask who’s a better fisherman; Kevin or your dad?
A:
Well everyone tells me that back in the day my dad was much better than
KVD, but now my dad doesn’t get to go as much as Kevin. So
Kevin is now much better. But he is still really, really good.
Q: Would your dad
agree?
A:
Yes, I think that he will agree with this statement.
Any
look into sports history tells us that following a legend is a
challenging, if not impossible endeavor. Whether following a coach like
Bob Knight or athlete like Michael Jordan, there are more examples of
failures than success. These circumstances typically create unrealistic
expectations and mountainous pressure which can consume a mere mortal.
For some, though, there is no other option.
In
between attending classes at Western Michigan University, earning his
degree in business, and preparing his next assault on Santee Cooper in
May, the nineteen year-old JVD took time to answer several questions
about himself and why no one should mark him down as a typical prodigy.
Q: Did growing up
around D & R Sports Center help you develop? Explain.