ProBassAnglers.com's
Person Of the Year
2005
Kevin Van Dam
In a year riddled with controversy, an angler still stands out as making the single greatest impact on the sport of bass fishing. While the world of bass fishing saw it's landscape change over and over again, Kevin Van Dam was still there in the head lines both as an angler, as well as an ambassador. Kevin's achievements in 2005 encompass several different categories which serves to demonstrate why, of all the head line grabbers in 2005, Van Dam's influence continues to be felt in several arenas.
Fishing-In what can be considered the greatest tour season of all time, Kevin Van Dam's accomplishments rival or surpass those of any past bass fishing superstars. While it should be noted that there are more opportunities for today's anglers, Van Dam's 2005 has established a new standard for what will be considered to be a great season for anglers in the future. Consider these accomplishments:
Bassmaster Classic Champion at the Pittsburgh Classic in August.
Victories in two Elite 50 events, Lewisville and Lake Wissota
3 straight tour level victories, (Lewisville, Wissota and the Pittsburgh Classic.)
8 Tour Event Cuts made in 2005. (That's 8 times on the big screen for his sponsors.)
$471,200.00 in tournament winnings.
VanDam's tour victories in 2005 came at events, that were easily the most difficult events of the season, bringing into focus, VanDam's innovation, and prowess as the greatest angler in professional fishing today.
The PAA-As the President of the PAA, VanDam was instrumental in helping form the organization that many people thought would never be formed. Daring to "bite the hand that feeds him," VanDam has had a hand shaping the angler advocacy group known as the PAA, which has in many cases clashed with the standing powers that be. VanDam, established in this sport long before his angling accomplishments of this season, could have taken the easy route and ignored his less established brethren, however with others such as Jay Yelas, Tim Horton and Edwin Evers, acknowledging a need for anglers to be represented in the world controlled by corporations, VanDam continuously puts his well being on the line, so that others at the bottom of the ladder will have a fair shot at the big time world of professional angling.