Meet The Host
![Kevin VanDam]( "Kevin VanDam")
Kevin VanDam
In the world of professional bass fishing, Kevin VanDam is at the pinnacle and arguably the best in the world. He’s the complete package – fierce competitor with multiple championships, ambassador to the sport, and family man.
Professional bass fishing has risen to a major sports
level in recent years with regular season and national championships televised
on ESPN2.
“When it comes to professional bass fishing, Kevin VanDam
is as close to perfection as I’ve ever seen,” says ESPN Outdoors Commentator
Mark Zona. “In my mind, he is the best of this era and will be the best I cover
as long as I am a commentator.”
In fact, VanDam was honored with the first-ever
Outdoorsman of the Year ESPY trophy at ESPN’s televised awards program in 2002.
As the all-time money winner on the Bassmaster
Tournament trail, VanDam has earned more than $5 million through February,
2012, captured four Bassmaster Classic titles (2001,2005, 2010, 2011) and seven
Toyota Tundra Angler of Year titles (1992, ‘96, ‘99, ‘08, ’09, '10 and ‘11).
The Bassmaster Classic title is the most coveted in bass
fishing, attracting the best anglers in the world who qualify for it through a
regular season schedule. VanDam has earned berths in 24 consecutive Classics
since he turned full-time pro in 1992, the longest running Classic
qualification streak of any active pro.
In 263 career Bassmaster events, he’s won 20, finished
second 13 times and landed in the top 10 an amazing 100 times!
The 46-year-old pro honed his angling skills while
growing up in Michigan where he had the opportunity to fish for a variety of
fish species, including trout, salmon, muskies, walleyes and northern pike.
“You can learn a lot by fishing different species in the diverse variety of
lakes and rivers we have in Michigan,” he offered. “But bass is my first love.”
As a teenager, VanDam dominated tournament circuits
around his Kalamazoo home, winning The Michigan BASS Federation Angler of Year award twice before turning pro. At age 23, he became the youngest to win the Toyota
Tundra Angler of the Year title, collected an unprecedented 23 consecutive
in-the-money finishes and shattered tournament records.
VanDam and his wife Sherry have two twin boys, Jackson
and Nicholas.
When he’s not touring, you’ll find him spending time with
his boys – fishing during the summer and deer hunting in the off-season.