A VanDam will attempt to get back to the Bassmaster Elites, but not that one.
Jonathon VanDam, nephew of Hall of Famer Kevin VanDam and a former Bassmaster Elite angler, has left the MLF Bass Pro Tour and registered to fish the Bassmaster Opens.
“I want to get back to the Bassmaster Classic,” said the 36-year-old Kalamazoo angler. “It’s going to be tough, but I’m eager to fight my way back into the Elites.”
He fished Bassmaster Opens from 2006 through 2010, winning one event at Sandusky Bay, Ohio. He qualified for the Elites in 2011 and competed there before leaving in 2018. During his time with B.A.S.S., he logged 18 Top 10 finishes, including an Elite win at Green Bay, Wisc.
He’s won $563,000 with B.A.S.S. and competed in two Classics, finishing 23rd at Grand Lake, Oklahoma in 2013 and 16th at Lake Guntersville, Alabama in 2014.
VanDam was qualified to return to the MLF Bass Pro Tour but chose to work his way back into the Elites through a very tough Bassmaster Open format.
“I did well over at the other circuit, but I wanted to get back to the B.A.S.S. format which seems to fit me better,” he said.
He added the new Elite Series “no entry fee” policy is another motivator.
“The BPT requires a major financial commitment and increase in entry fees,” he said. “The fact that B.A.S.S. has eliminated entry fees for pros removes a huge burden.”
VanDam says his maturity and experience since leaving the Elites will be an asset. He and wife, Arika, have two children, Matthew who is 6 and Ava Grace who is 5. Plus, he’s assumed a management role at his father’s outdoor store and boat dealership, D&R Sports Center in Kalamazoo.
He plans to fish Division 2 of the Opens with tourneys at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Kentucky Lake, Norfork Lake and Leech Lake. He also has registered for the St. Lawrence River Open in Division 1.
“I’ve fished tournaments on all of those lakes so I am pretty familiar with them,” he said. “Although St. Lawrence isn’t in my division, I couldn’t pass that up. I love fishing there.”
VanDam said he isn’t intimidated by today’s forward-facing sonar trend.
“It’s part of the game and you have to learn it and be proficient with it if you want to compete,” he explained. “I’m constantly learning, but feel I can use it as a tool to enhance what I already know. I don’t view it as an end all to be all.”
He will retain his sponsors, Bass Pro Shops, Nitro Boats, T-H Marine, Humminbird, Minn Kota, D&R Sports Center and Miller Tech batteries.
