25 reasons why KVD is the BOAT

It's been a tough season for the best of all-time, but if you can count on anything in bass fishing it's that Kevin VanDam will be back.

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KVD stands for Kevin VanDam. BOAT stands for Best of All-Time. In the world of tournament bass fishing, the two go together. In 2014, VanDam had a tough year — the worst of his career, in fact. It's a good time to reflect on just how good he's been.
KVD stands for Kevin VanDam. BOAT stands for Best of All-Time. In the world of tournament bass fishing, the two go together. In 2014, VanDam had a tough year — the worst of his career, in fact. It’s a good time to reflect on just how good he’s been.
1. KVD is the youngest angler ever to win the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. When he won the first of his seven AOYs in 1992, he was just 24 — a full three years younger than the next youngest winner, Tim Horton in 2000.
1. KVD is the youngest angler ever to win the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. When he won the first of his seven AOYs in 1992, he was just 24 — a full three years younger than the next youngest winner, Tim Horton in 2000.
2. KVD's seven AOYs are second only to Roland Martin, but VanDam has four Bassmaster Classic wins to Martin's zero.
2. KVD’s seven AOYs are second only to Roland Martin, but VanDam has four Bassmaster Classic wins to Martin’s zero.
3. KVD is tied with Rick Clunn for most Classic wins with four, but he has seven AOY titles to Clunn's one.
3. KVD is tied with Rick Clunn for most Classic wins with four, but he has seven AOY titles to Clunn’s one.
4. KVD has appeared on the cover of Bassmaster Magazine more than any other angler — 16 times.
4. KVD has appeared on the cover of Bassmaster Magazine more than any other angler — 16 times.
5. KVD has appeared on the cover of B.A.S.S. Times magazine more than any other angler — 19 times.
5. KVD has appeared on the cover of B.A.S.S. Times magazine more than any other angler — 19 times.
6. KVD's 24 consecutive Bassmaster Classic appearances (1991-2014) are second only to Rick Clunn's 28 in a row (1974-2001).
6. KVD’s 24 consecutive Bassmaster Classic appearances (1991-2014) are second only to Rick Clunn’s 28 in a row (1974-2001).
7. KVD's 24 Classic appearances rank fifth-best all-time, behind only Rick Clunn (32), Gary Klein (30), Roland Martin (25) and Larry Nixon (25). And KVD isn't finished!
7. KVD’s 24 Classic appearances rank fifth-best all-time, behind only Rick Clunn (32), Gary Klein (30), Roland Martin (25) and Larry Nixon (25). And KVD isn’t finished!
8. KVD has led all B.A.S.S. anglers in prize money for five different seasons — more than any other angler. Four of the top 10 earning years in B.A.S.S. history belong to VanDam.
8. KVD has led all B.A.S.S. anglers in prize money for five different seasons — more than any other angler. Four of the top 10 earning years in B.A.S.S. history belong to VanDam.
9. KVD has won more than $5 million in B.A.S.S. prize money — far more than any other angler.
9. KVD has won more than $5 million in B.A.S.S. prize money — far more than any other angler.
10. KVD has won 20 B.A.S.S. events — more than any other angler. Roland Martin is second with 19.
10. KVD has won 20 B.A.S.S. events — more than any other angler. Roland Martin is second with 19.
11. From March 13, 2008 to June 13, 2009, KVD limited every day he was on the water in Elite competition. That's 57 straight rounds with a 5-bass limit — 10 more than the next longest streak and (for what it's worth) one more than Joe DiMaggio's famed Major League Baseball hitting streak in 1941.
11. From March 13, 2008 to June 13, 2009, KVD limited every day he was on the water in Elite competition. That’s 57 straight rounds with a 5-bass limit — 10 more than the next longest streak and (for what it’s worth) one more than Joe DiMaggio’s famed Major League Baseball hitting streak in 1941.
12. In 2005, KVD won three B.A.S.S. events in a row — including the Bassmaster Classic. The only other angler ever to win three in a row was Roland Martin.
12. In 2005, KVD won three B.A.S.S. events in a row — including the Bassmaster Classic. The only other angler ever to win three in a row was Roland Martin.
13. KVD has the record for the lowest winning weight in the Bassmaster Classic — 12 pounds, 15 ounces at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers in 2005.
13. KVD has the record for the lowest winning weight in the Bassmaster Classic — 12 pounds, 15 ounces at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers in 2005.
14. KVD has the record for the heaviest winning weight (with a 5-bass limit) in the Bassmaster Classic — 69 pounds, 10 ounces at the Louisiana Delta in 2011.
14. KVD has the record for the heaviest winning weight (with a 5-bass limit) in the Bassmaster Classic — 69 pounds, 10 ounces at the Louisiana Delta in 2011.
15. KVD is the only angler to win four Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles in a row.
15. KVD is the only angler to win four Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles in a row.
16. KVD has finished in the Top 10 of the AOY race 20 times — second only to Rick Clunn's 22.
16. KVD has finished in the Top 10 of the AOY race 20 times — second only to Rick Clunn’s 22.
17. KVD has finished in the Top 5 of the AOY race 15 times — tied with Larry Nixon for the most ever.
17. KVD has finished in the Top 5 of the AOY race 15 times — tied with Larry Nixon for the most ever.
18. KVD has weighed in more bass in Elite competition than any other angler — 1,252.
18. KVD has weighed in more bass in Elite competition than any other angler — 1,252.
19. KVD has the highest career bassing average in Elite history — 4.8340. That's the average number of bass he brings to the scales on a competition day.
19. KVD has the highest career bassing average in Elite history — 4.8340. That’s the average number of bass he brings to the scales on a competition day.
20. KVD has won more Elite Series tournaments than any angler — six. The next best is four.
20. KVD has won more Elite Series tournaments than any angler — six. The next best is four.
21. KVD is the all-time leader in career Bassmaster Classic weight with 784 pounds, 5 ounces.
21. KVD is the all-time leader in career Bassmaster Classic weight with 784 pounds, 5 ounces.
22. In 2002, KVD won fishing's first ESPY as
22. In 2002, KVD won fishing’s first ESPY as “Best Outdoor Sports Athlete.”
23. Though the Bassmaster Classic has been held on the same waters multiple times, KVD is the only angler to win it twice on the same fishery — the Louisiana Delta in 2001 and 2011.
23. Though the Bassmaster Classic has been held on the same waters multiple times, KVD is the only angler to win it twice on the same fishery — the Louisiana Delta in 2001 and 2011.
24. KVD and Louie Stout have paired to create a couple of great bass fishing books — Kevin VanDam's Bass Strategies and Secrets of a Champion — that can help anyone catch more bass.
24. KVD and Louie Stout have paired to create a couple of great bass fishing books — Kevin VanDam’s Bass Strategies and Secrets of a Champion — that can help anyone catch more bass.
25. KVD and Mark Davis are the only anglers to have won Angler of the Year and the Bassmaster Classic in the same season. But KVD has done it twice!
25. KVD and Mark Davis are the only anglers to have won Angler of the Year and the Bassmaster Classic in the same season. But KVD has done it twice!