Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

[MYTJC]

CELEBRATION, Fla. -- Kevin VanDam, the top-ranked angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, has been disqualified from the third stop of the 11-event CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series, "The Santee-Cooper Showdown", for violating rule 12, BASS announced today. <br /> BASS officials were notified that VanDam's co-angler, Jim Stawiarski, was driving VanDam's boat while the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion was on the front deck looking for beds on Santee-Cooper Reservoir Monday, the first day of the official practice period for the tournament.<br /> According to rule 12, "Non boaters are only allowed to drive the boat in emergency situations in both practice and competition with the exception of loading and unloading from trailers."<br /> Additionally, Stawiarski is disqualified from the tournament for his part in the rule violation. Co-anglers are sent rules in advance of any tournament and Stawiarski confirmed receipt.<br /> The tournament will take place March 30-April 2 and daily weigh-ins will begin at 3 p.m. at John C. Land III Landing on Greenall Road in Summerton.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Thats a b#tch,he was on a roll.I would,nt of thought it would of mattered in practice.but rules are rules.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

I'da liked to have seen him go for ten in a row. Oh well. At least he handled it like a pro. <br /><br />spots

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Did any of you see him pitch the little fit and throw his rod out of the boat??????<br /><br />Whats wrong with that boy????????

 

[Ron G]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Yea i seen him,maybe all the preasure is finaly catching up to him now.throwing a small fit is all about fishing i thought i've thrown my rod down and said a few choice words before,but i picked it back up and went back to it.when your that passinoate about something your going to slip up ever now and then.

 

[Gone]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

I didn't see the "tantrum". I'm sure that it will be played over and over on BassCenter on Saturday like they did with Ike. <br />(As Don Henley says: Give us dirty laundry)<br /><br />It doesn't change my opinion of KVD, though!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Originally posted by Ron G:<br /> Yea i seen him,maybe all the preasure is finaly catching up to him now.throwing a small fit is all about fishing.

People have no Idea what kind of preasure is there when there is that kind of money involved, I have never fished tournaments like that, but even in any kind of tournament its easy to get stressed out. I know a lot of fishermen that couldnt take it and quit tournaments just for that reason. When you ask them why, they always say that it took the fun out of it, but it was the preasure they couldnt take. Tournaments are not for everyone.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Also, did anyone see KVD pull that 4-5#er out of the lake and it came off and bounced over the side????????????????? He kept his cool pretty good then. <br /><br />I can see no reason in the world to land fish that way in any tounament, I would not do it and would never do it for any reason. A tournament angler has to be out of his mind to land fish that way and I see it all the time.

 

[MYTJC]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Its still a sport.........shouldn't it be fun?? I'm aware of the $$$ thats involved....I'm i missing something?? Like all sports, they have rules for a reason. My 2 cents

 

[Ron G]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

I've never fished for that kind of money either,but your right theres alot of preassure but i enjoy it at times, what sucks is when you still do'nt have any weight with an hour left thats some stress there and then the second guessing starts.<br /> Yea i seen him bonce that fish off the deck,a big fish i would have lipped it but those 2-3lbs i swing them in the boat too but only when im throwing a worm or something like that on heavy line.there not allowed to use nets either.

 

[Gone]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

KVD is a Class Act most of the time. The pressure of losing out on $10,000 to $100,000 over this incident had to be brutal. KVD can probably afford it, but how about the co-angler? Percentage wise, he probably took it in the shorts a lot worse than KVD, losing his entry fee and all. KVD probably feels worse for this guy than himself. The Pro is supposed to know the rules!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Ron, we seem to be pretty much on the same track in our fishing, I think Im a bit older than you though, (Just a statement), not that I know any more than you. You seem to have a great understanding on the subject.<br /><br />I havnt fished a tounament for about 23 years or so. I got married and that seemed to take a back stage. I also dont belong to a bass club anymore. However, I have to admit, that the tournament competion feeling is rising up within me the last year or so and I think that I may fish at least one this year, guide scedule permitting. I beleive that I am a "MUCH" better fisherman now than I was back then, I look back and see what I was doing wrong very easily now, and I understand the Bass much better.<br /><br />You description is so accurate about the last hour it hurts to think about it as I have been there.<br /><br />I remember one tournament with a very good freind of mine right here on my home lake right in the middle of the dog days of summer that was exactly like what you describe. I dont know how many times we turned to each other and said. "If the Devil himself told me that he would bet my soul against if I could catch one keeper size bass on my home lake in eight hours, I would have bet him in a heartbeat". I would have told the Devil, "Who do you think you are dealing with here, after all, we are Stiltner and Stinnett and we rule this lake"? We got skunked that day, how embarrased we were coming in with no fish to weigh. We were not alone though.

 

[StormRunner]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

It's not necessarily about the winnings, but the sponsors, future sponsors, and promotions. That's where it's at. Sponsors don't like it when their $$ is on someone who gets disqualified for breaking the rules. They put the pressure on.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Hey LD your right we seem to be on the same page about alot,you are older.i just started when you was quiting tournys,Ive learned alot over the years but not as much as you know,with age comes alot of wisdom and how to read the water.I cant afford right now to fish the big tournys but i'm in 2 clubs which fish once a month each,then when the time changes next week i fish a wenesday nighter everyweek.i really enjoy the big tournys i've fished the state federation tourny 4 times and that was a pretty big tourny and lots of fun.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

There was a time when I was in between marriages that I concidered going on the trail, I just didnt have to capital to step out and actually do it. Id never made it though I dont think, but ya never know. Back then, it wasnt necesarily the best fishermen that were winnining, it was the ones that were able to finacially afford to follow the trail.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

I here ya LD,thats still the way it is,even in the BFL and other tours it takes the capital.think about all the practice days.You got to be on the water and it costs gas,oil upkeep,motel rooms etc....A bunch of buddies really want me to start fishing in some real money tournys,but like tell them i've got a new wife and im thinking about starting a family soon,i just cant afford to speand 200-300 dollars a weekend not including enty fees now.and i could'nt never make it anyway i second guess myself to much.I'm talking out my arse here but if i did'nt have to worry about money or my family i could give them guys a run for there money.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

so...you're fishing the first day of practice, and here comes a boat idling by not ten yards away, with none other than Kevin VanDam standing on the bow and his partner driving...do you call it in...or blow it off...

 

[brownies]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

Wonder if Ike called it in?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

I actually got DQed once myself, but it was worth it.<br /><br />Want to here about it? Ya, sure ya do! <br /><br />There was this guy that was known for being a jerk that fished tournaments. Not me. Well, I pulled up to this place ouside of where I was going to start fishing and slowed down when out of nowhere came this boat blasting right past me right into the place where I was going to fish. I mean, the guy had to know that I was going to fish there, right? So I pulled up to his boat with my trolling motor and not so politly told him that if he didnt get the h*ll out of here that there was going to be a problem. He then told me to F*ck off so I jumped into his boat and we both went into the water. Not the smartest thing I ever did, but I got his attention with about three quick shots and he lost his pole. Happened that one of the tournament boats saw the whole thing and went with us back to the weighin site after we got out of the water. We were both DQed, but d*mn it felt good. OK, I was a bit of a hot head when I was younger.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Bass Fishing Pro Kevin VanDam Disqualified

LOL@ LD and Brownie