In the days leading up to his final regular-season tour-level bass tournament – at Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Suzuki on Saginaw Bay, Michigan – Team Toyota pro Kevin VanDam was reflective about a 33-year run that has taken him to all four corners of the country. He’s racked up an astounding resume of accolades and tournament winnings, but the things he’ll miss are a lot less obvious to the public: time with his bass-fishing “family.”
That said, VanDam is very much looking forward to time with his own family, and a less demanding schedule that will allow him time to do things and go places that are on his bucket list.
Alaska, for one. In this Q&A shot the day after VanDam advanced to the Knockout Round at Stage Seven, the G.O.A.T. shared some of the things that were on his mind as his tournament career wound to a close.