Martha Rial, Post-Gazette Kevin VanDam shows his trophy to the Mellon Arena crowd after winning the 2005 Citgo Bassmaster Classic. Click photo for larger image. More Bassmaster Classic Coverage: Fishing event shows city from best angles Bassmaster Classic Notebook: Doves launched at launch CITGO Bassmaster Classic: Yesterday's results Bassmaster Classic Photo Journal

Amid a hail of confetti and fireworks last night at a jam-packed Mellon Arena, Kevin VanDam hoisted high his second CITGO Bassmaster Classic trophy of his 17-year BASS pro career.

Despite a 4-ounce penalty for a dead fish at the final weigh-in, VanDam weighed a three-day, 11-fish total of 12 pounds, 15 ounces. He targeted bridge piers with a 20-year-old Smithwick Rogue jerkbait that's not made anymore.

It earned him $200,000 and more than double that in commercial endorsements.

His total shattered the record for the lowest record weight in the Classic's 35-year history. The old mark was 15 pounds, 5 ounces in 1987.

Fans at Mellon Arena rose to their feet as Aaron Martens weighed in at one of the most suspenseful Bassmaster Classics in the 35-year history of BASS. Martens, a former West Coast wunderkind and Bassmaster Angler of the Year, was the last of 25 anglers to bring fish to the scale. But the 3 pounds, 15 ounces he needed to beat VanDam weren't in the bag.

When it was clear that VanDam had clinched the title, the crowd erupted in cheers while fireworks shot like fountains on stage and VanDam's family rushed to embrace him.

It was a heartbreaking moment for Martens, who placed second for the third time in four Bassmaster Classics.

"I don't want to think of second as a first-place loser, but it kind of is," said Martens, who admitted he may have thrown away a borderline keeper fish that would have measured legal. "I might have gambled myself out of the tournament."

Mike Iaconelli, the 2003 Classic champion who had been seeking a second Classic win, made no attempt to hide his emotions.

Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette Gerald Swindle of Hayden, Ala., brings in a fish along the Monongahela River yesterday. Click photo for larger image.

"I'm [ticked] off," he said, after last night's fifth-place finish. "I hate losing. I hate not being a success on the water. The fish beat me today. But you can only be [ticked] off so long and then you move on to the next tournament.

"If this was four or five years ago, I'd be devastated, but I've learned to put it behind me, quickly."

A fan favorite, Iaconelli is one of the more flamboyant anglers on the BASS pro tour. Despite blowing an engine Saturday after getting stuck in the mud and losing two keeper-size fish, he was second behind Martens going into yesterday's action.

But the momentum he needed to move to the top died with a two-fish total. He could be seen swallowing hard on the 12-foot-high screens at Mellon Arena when he realized the Classic was not to be his.

Others in the top six, who weighed in last to build suspense, included Gerald Swindle, Edwin Evers and George Cochran, who was competing in his 20th Classic for a third win.

Cochran, who recently won $500,000 in the FLW championship, called VanDam "the best angler I've seen, the most consistent. It doesn't matter where he's fishing, he's tough."

A three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, VanDam came to Pittsburgh confident, saying river fishing for smallmouth in summer is what he does best. He mixed it up over three days, looking for subtle points, seawalls and any structure with current alongside and ultimately settled on bridge piers, targeting the top of the water column with his favorite jerkbait, the Smithwick Rogue, a long minnow-type plug with three treble hooks and shallow lip.

"It's super buoyant and can be jerked hard," said VanDam, who chose a chrome color because of the shad he saw feeding on algae around bridge pilings. "I used it a lot as a kid, before I was 16, and hadn't thrown it in years."

	Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette Aaron Martens of Castaic, Calif., finished in second place to Kevin VanDam yesterday. Click photo for larger image.

He said he has done well with it in other tournaments this year and has been scouring the Internet for more.

"Smallies are suckers for jerkbaits but you have to jerk them real hard. You can do that with this bait. Those old ones are really good," he said.

Cochran's prediction -- that the Classic in the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny rivers would break the low-weight record he set in 1987 on the Ohio River near Louisville -- proved true by 3 pounds.

Yesterday and Saturday, identical records were set for lightest daily lunker. Jeff Reynolds and Evers each weighed a 1-pound, 15-ounce smallmouth. As for the biggest bag limits caught here, Evers and Jimmy Mize landed identical daily totals of 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Cochran's other prediction -- that 4 or 5 pounds would be the daily average -- was optimistic. No angler came close.

"If you think you're a good fisherman, come here and prove it," said Marty Stone, who made the final cut but finished 18th. Stone fished the Monongahela River, which was a clear favorite with the field. Most of the Classic anglers covered a lot of water, but, by yesterday, many had focused on pools below the first dam on the Mon.

They praised the efficiency of lockmasters, who moved them through quickly and, aside from a few complaints about spectator boats crowding them, said fans were exceptional.

"I'd come back tomorrow," said Stone, who had been harassed by dock owners during practice week in June but had a positive experience at the Classic. "I've never seen folks like this in a place. They're friendly and appreciative."*Weight is listed by pounds-ounces.