Kevin VanDam featured in The South Bend Tribune Sunday March 10 1991.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how young the field is getting.  I tend to say that’s crazy.  It’s just old anglers get older and forget they were young when they first arrived on the scene.  A good example of that is today’s piece, Kevin VanDam 1991.

In 1991, KVD, or better yet, the Kalamazoo Kid, which was his first nickname, broke onto the scene and had everyone talking.  By the midway point in the season, he was in first place in the Bassmaster Invitationals with no sign of slowing down.  VanDam was all of 23 years old at the time of the photo above and wouldn’t turn 24 for another seven months.

By the end of the season, VanDam would win the coveted AOY title in the Invitationals and secure his spot in his first Bassmaster Classic.

But the 1990/91 season wasn’t KVD’s first jaunt into the realm of competitive bass fishing.  He’d fished three Bassmaster events from 1987 to 1989 finishing in the money in two of three events.  He’d also been on a tear in the Michigan Federation, winning AOY in 1986, 87, and 1989.  He finished second in 1985 and 1990.

In the article that accompanied the lead-in image, written by Senior Bassmaster Writer Louie Stout, there is one funny quote by Bo Dowden when asked about KVD’s stellar year.  Dowden said, “I just hope he doesn’t step on his bubblegum.”  I wonder if Dowden wished he’d never said that.

The article also states that KVD was the first Yankee to lead the AOY race this far into the season.  VanDam would be the first angler from the north to wipe out that stereotype.

VanDam credited his successful year to the versatility of waters in Michigan as well as hard work.  He also credited his job at his brother’s sport shop, D&R Sports Shop in Kalamazoo, MI, for allowing him to be on top of all the latest trends in the sport.

Finally, there was another subject that caught my eye, that having to do with VanDam’s opinion on sponsorships.  He stated that he wasn’t looking for any product endorsement deals.  He felt that by working at the shop, he’d rather stay tied to the brands his brother sold, two of which were Tracker Marine and Evinrude.

KVD would soon become the poster boy for Johnny Morris and his Bass Pro Shops.  He’d also become the most marketable angler on tour and winningest angler of all time.

For Louie Stout’s complete article as printed in The South Bend Tribune Sunday March 10 1991, please look below.