VanDam proves fan-tastic during opening round of FLW competition on Red River

Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., shows off a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass during weigh-in. VanDam used a five-fish, 16-pound, 12-ounce stringer to grab the lead in the Pro Division after day one of FLW competition on the Red River. Photo by Gary Mortenson. Angler: Kevin VanDam.

May 16, 2001 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Szwankowski grabs early lead in Co-Angler Division

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, La. – Riding the strength of a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass, a five-fish, 16-pound, 12-ounce stringer and some expert shallow-water fishing, Kevin VanDam raced ahead of the competition during the opening round of the FLW Tour event on the Red River. VanDam, who is leading the overall point race on the FLW Tour despite fishing in his first full season on the circuit, said he was pleased with his overall performance. However, the legendary angler from Kalamazoo, Mich., said there was still much work to be done.

“Tomorrow is a whole other day,” said VanDam, who caught his tournament-leading limit by 11 a.m. “To tell you the truth, it wouldn’t have been that good of a day for me today had I not landed that big fish. It was a lot tougher out there than I thought it would be. I have to do well tomorrow … the finals are a long ways away.”

Although VanDam is taking a guarded approach regarding his early dominance of the leaderboard, he said that the current river conditions suit his overall fishing style.

“I like this kind of fishing. I love to flip, throw spinnerbaits and fish in this shallow, dirty water,” he said. “I’m fishing the flooded backwaters and I’m doing what I like to do. But this is a really good fishery and there are going to be a lot of good stringers caught. And I’m fishing with some really good fishermen. Who knows, I could easily go out there tomorrow and not even get a bite. It’s sort of all-or-nothing for me out there.”

VanDam said that he has staked out one general area and he will continue to fish it extensively tomorrow.

“I’ve found a pretty good-sized area to fish. I stayed there all day today and I’ll probably go back there tomorrow,” said VanDam, who believes that he needs a total of 26 pounds to make it to the top 10. “There’s a lot of big fish in that area. I really want to catch a decent stringer tomorrow.”

VanDam also walked away with the Big Bass award in the Pro Division for his 7-pound, 8-ounce fish – the largest of the tournament to date. VanDam received a $750 check for his efforts.

The contenders

Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, WV., found himself sitting all alone in second place after recording a catch of 15 pounds, 5 ounces. Chapman, who has finished in 11th, 12th and 13th place on the FLW Tour, but never qualified for the top 10, said he is ready to take the next step.

“I was leading last year’s Beaver Lake tournament after the first day and then I fell on my face,” said Champman, who is fishing in only his second year on the FLW Tour. “So, I’m trying not to get too excited. I’ve missed the top 10 once by 4 ounces and another time by 5 ounces, so I know that I need to stay focused. I want to win this tournament, but I really want to make the top 10.”

Champman, who spent 9 days practice fishing on the Red River before the tournament even started, said that his research appears to be paying dividends.

“I’ve been here 10 days now and I’ve had some 20-pound stringers in practice,” said Chapman, who caught his limit by 9 a.m. “I found six good spots and I fished three of them really hard today. And I have three more that I’m going to try tomorrow. I’ve really done my homework on this river and it looks like it’s starting to pay off.”

Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., was in third place after day one of FLW competition after recording a catch of 15 pounds, 1 ounce. Morehead said that a fast start helped pave the way for his stellar, early round performance.

“It feels great. I felt really blessed today to catch what I did so early,” said Morehead, who landed his astonishing limit by 7:15 a.m. “It was fast and furious out there today.”

Morehead said that he has found a location that could land him in the championship round.

“I found a spot today that has been producing about 7 to 12 bites a day,” he said. “After I caught my limit, I didn’t want to move off it because I was worried someone else was going to move in there. But then again, I didn’t want to beat it to death because I wanted to save some of those fish for later. I’m definitely going back there tomorrow.”

Despite his high finish in today’s competition, Morehead said that his plan is to just go out and relax tomorrow.

“The hard part is over with,” he said. “I’m going to go fishing tomorrow. And if I catch them, I catch them. And if I don’t, then I don’t.”

Sam Sweet of Covington, La., finished in fourth place with a catch of 14 pounds, 14 ounces. Kelly Jordan of Mineola, Texas, and Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., tied for fifth place with a catch of 14 pounds, 10 ounces.

Szwankowski captures lead in Co-Angler Division

Tommy Szwankowski of Hope, Ark., used an 11-pound, 2-ounce stringer to take the top spot in the Co-Angler Division heading into tomorrow’s semifinal round. Darell Fletcher of Newport, Ark., was in second place with a catch of 10 pounds, 10 ounces. Frank Smith of Shepherdsville, Ky., finished in third place with a catch of 9 pounds, 6 ounces.

Rounding out the top five were Brad Peterson of Benton, Tenn., with a catch of 9 pounds, 4 ounces; and John Bruce of Buford, Ga., with a catch of 9 pounds, 2 ounces.

Richard Lowitzki of St. Charles, Ill., won the Big Bass award in the Co-Angler Division after landing a 5-pound, 7-ounce fish. Lowitzki won $500 for his efforts.

Competition will resume tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. at Clark’s Marina in Elm Grove, La., off Highway 71.