Three of professional bass fishing’s most decorated anglers and legends of the sport - Kevin VanDam, Larry Nixon and David Fritts — are hanging it up after years of running the roads and casting for cash.
VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, retired from tour level competition in August following the completion the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season. His departure brings to an end a storied 33-year tour level career that saw him become the sport’s winningest angler of all time. VanDam seemingly won all there is to win in the sport — multiple times. He won his first Bassmaster event in 1991 at the age of 23 and went on to win 25 others. He was a four-time Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of eight Angler of the Year titles with career earnings totaling more than $7 million. Bass Pro Shops was his title sponsor for years.
Now 54, VanDam told Major League Fishing he plans to remain active in the game at a different level.
