VanDam Rallies to Punch His Ticket to the Knockout Round

Jonathon VanDam used a late surge to move into 15th and advance to the Knockout Round. Photo by Garrick Dixon

February 15, 2019 • Mason Prince • Bass Pro Tour

CONROE, Texas – It was moving day on Lake Conroe in Elimination Round 1 of the MLF Bass Pro Tour Huk Stage Two presented by Favorite Fishing.

Forty anglers in Group A fought to make it inside the Top 20 and move on to the Knockout Round, but they were up against high winds, and the bite was tough early in the day. This made it a struggle for several anglers to put fish in the boat, including Jonathon VanDam.

VanDam started the day in 12^th place and caught a 3-pounder about an hour and a half into Period 1. However, after that fish, things went downhill for the Michigan native. He went five hours without a scoreable bass, and he dropped well below the Elimination Line in Period 3.

With only 45 minutes left in the round, things turned around for VanDam.

“I feel pretty good right now,” VanDam said before the Postgame Show.

He should feel good. Looking up at Mike Iaconelli for the final spot in the Knockout Round, VanDam needed to make a big move in the final 45 minutes. A 2-pound, 1-ounce bass started his sprint, putting him in 21^st place. With 30 minutes remaining, the MLF newbie reeled in four fish weighing in at 1-13, 2-4, 3-14 and 4 pounds, respectively.

The bites came as a surprise to VanDam because he wasn’t doing anything special.

Jonathon VanDam celebrates after catching a 4-pound bass to secure his place in Saturday’s Knockout Round.

“I was doing the same thing I had been doing all day,” VanDam explained. “I just happened to be fishing over the top of them. I had my boat sitting where the fish wanted to be sitting. Took me awhile to figure it out but I did.”

It was a back-and-forth battle between VanDam and Iaconelli in the final period with each angler in 20th place multiple times. While the drama unfolded on MLF NOW!, VanDam says that the screen didn’t do it justice.

“Unless you’re in this battling it out, you have no idea what it’s like,” VanDam said. “It’s like a shot of adrenaline every time you set the hook. You’re hoping for a big one because you’re so close to the Elimination Line. It just makes it that much more intense.”

VanDam finished the day comfortably above the Elimination Line, in 15th place with a two-day total of 13 bass for 35-3. Now, he’s moving on to Saturday’s Knockout Round.

As a nephew of hall-of-famer and MLF veteran Kevin VanDam, Jonathon is familiar with the MLF format even though this is only his second MLF event. But he figured out the new format quickly, making it to the Knockout Round in both Stage One and Two of the Bass Pro Tour.

“I really love this format. It’s exciting, it’s intense and I’m enjoying every second of it,” VanDam raved. “It’s good to start the year off strong and hopefully get some points towards the first Cup and get a couple of paychecks.”

The Top 20 anglers from Group A are moving on to the Knockout Round. On Friday, we’ll find out which 20 anglers from Group B will advance. In the Knockout Round, the weights will reset and the Top 10 anglers will move on Sunday’s Championship Round. Watch Friday as Group B’s Elimination Round plays out on MLF NOW! starting at 10 a.m. CT on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the free MLF app.