Union Springs, NY — KVD needed to come from behind to get it done, but the living legend did so to take his second Elite Series trophy in six weeks.
Coming into Sunday, VanDam was in third place and two pounds out of the lead. 15 pounds, seven ounces later, KVD hoisted his 22nd Elite Series trophy, further extending the record he set in May.
VanDam had to bring a full quiver of baits and tactics to bear to get the win. He spent a good deal of his week sight fishing for bedding bass, and having to toss every color and tactic in the book at them.
When the sight fishing started to disappear, he had to make a change. Switching over to flipping over grass flats and a wacky rig started putting fish in the boat again.
“They were cruising on the inside grass lines. I was catching them with a wacky rigged Ocho,” VanDam said.
As often happens in big tournaments, the heavy fishing pressure drove bag weight down heading into Sunday. The 15 pounds and change KVD brought to the stage was strong enough to leapfrog Jordan Lee and secure the victory by a one pound, one ounce margin.
Greg Hackney DQ’ed
In a more bizarre twist, perennial fan favorite Greg Hackney was disqualified for fishing an off-limits area of the lake.
Wait, what?
Yeah, you read that right.
Here are the confusing details.
Even though Cayuga Lake is public water, the state allows private land owners to maintain ownership rights of land, even if it is under water. This amounts to 11 off-limits areas throughout the lake. B.A.S.S. sent out e-mails with pictures and locations in an attempt to guide anglers.
Now, allow me to dive into editorial on this subject for a moment.
Pictures of locations should not be the only guidepost here, especially with so much at stake. The marinas and boat basins which make up the off-limits areas, should have some type of posting on them. Also, what is the point of having a marshal for a tournament if not to help in these situations.
Marshals are instructed not to affect outcome—they are strictly observers. Of course, the observer’s paradox comes into play so in a rhetorical sense, that’s a stupid rule because it’s actually impossible.
B.A.S.S. must follow state law in these situations. So by fishing in an area like this, Hackney essentially broke an incredibly pointless and stupid law, but a law nonetheless. Why would a marshal not be instructed to help guide an angler in the event that a law is going to be broken?
This was a huge deal for Hackney. The DQ cost him his lead in the AOY standings, allowing Gerald Swindle to take the lead. The financial windfall is huge.
So while the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Cayuga Lake saw history in the form of KVD locking up number 22, it was marred by a disastrous DQ that ultimately could have been prevented quite easily.